One of the most common questions I get asked is: can anyone be hypnotised?

Hypnotherapy Worthing

People often wonder if they can enter a hypnotic state and benefit from hypnotherapy. I%u2019m going to explain the states of mind involved with hypnosis because I think this is the real challenge between not understanding hypnosis and worrying about whether it will work or not.

Hypnotherapy Worthing

So to begin with, a little about how our mind works. The first thing you need to know is that our mind works in three main states of brain activity:

Beta state %u2013 Full awaking consciousness
Alpha state %u2013 State of lesser waking awareness
Sleeping / regeneration state %u2013 Sleeping & extreme relaxation
In hypnosis, we use alpha state in order to create change. When in alpha state, you%u2019re not needing 100% of your brains functionality. This is a relaxed state, for when you don%u2019t need to be fully alert or perform tasks which require high levels of precision.

This is also the state you enter when you are doing something you know how to do, familiar with and no high levels of learning are required.
For example, when you%u2019re walking, riding your bicycle, watching TV, reading a book or cleaning. Your brain has slowed down a little bit, you%u2019ve cycled down to a state of reduced neurological activity. This is alpha state.

So the important point to remember %u2013 you enter a state we could call hypnosis any time your mind is slowed down a little bit and in alpha state.

Beta state sits above alpha, and is defined as full alertness and maximum waking consciousness.

We all yo-yo in and out of beta and alpha states hundreds and even thousands of times a day, depending on our environment and tasks to be performed. The switch is fast and seamless, and you won%u2019t have much awareness that it is happening.

So here is an example of how fluid these state transitions are:

You wake up in the morning, hit the snooze button and put your head back on the pillow. You are going from the beta, alert state when you hear the alarm, to alpha state once you%u2019ve hit the snooze button.
Realising you might be late for work, you become alarmed and go back up into full alertness, beta state and you%u2019re wide awake.
You then go to have a wash or a shower, and head back down to alpha state.
The simple thing to remember is sometimes you need to be fully alert and awake, or you are prompted to be fully awake but other times you can relax and you don%u2019t need to be fully alert.

This also puts an end to the myth of people being hypnotised against their will. Someone in this situation, resisting hypnosis will be in the beta, fully alert state. In this state, hypnotherapy doesn%u2019t work.

So to answer the question %u2013 yes, everyone has the ability to be hypnotised. More interestingly, you are in a hypnotic state, off and on, everyday. You always have been, and you always will be.


Hypnotherapy Worthing