20/10/2025
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a pleasant and enjoyable way to make positive changes. Call Anne at Blackwood Hypnotherapy for a consultation.
🤔 It’s a common question: “How do I know if I’ve really been hypnotized?”
The truth is, hypnosis is a natural state that most people drift in and out of every day - sometimes without even realising it! Let’s clear up some of the mystery and help you recognise the signs.
How to Know You’ve Been Hypnotized....
1. A Shift in Focus or Awareness
Hypnosis often feels like being deeply absorbed in a daydream or a good book. You might notice your attention turning inward, with the outside world fading into the background. Sometimes, your sense of time changes - you may feel like only a few minutes have passed, when it’s actually been much longer.
2. Physical Signs
People in hypnosis often show subtle physical signs: glassy or fixed eyes, slower blinking, or even rapid eye movement (REM) under closed eyelids. You might feel your body becoming heavy, light, or pleasantly relaxed, almost as if you’re floating or sinking into the chair.
3. Vivid Imagination and Inner Experience
In hypnosis, your imagination becomes more vivid. You might see images, recall memories, or experience sensations as if they’re real - even though you know you’re safe and relaxed. Sometimes, you may forget parts of what was said, just like forgetting a dream.
4. Automatic Responses
You may notice your hand or arm moving “by itself” (a phenomenon called catalepsy), or you might respond to suggestions without consciously trying. For example, you might feel warmth when asked to imagine the sun, or calm when guided to recall a peaceful place.
5. A Sense of Detachment or Dreaminess
Many people describe hypnosis as feeling “dreamlike” or “not quite here.” You might feel detached from your usual worries, or as if you’re watching yourself from a distance. This is a sign your mind is in a receptive, learning state.
and....
6. You May Not Notice Anything Dramatic
Sometimes, hypnosis feels very ordinary - just a deep sense of relaxation or focus. You don’t have to feel “out of it” or unconscious. In fact, you might be more aware of your thoughts and feelings than usual.
Remember, hypnosis is a continuum. Some people experience dramatic effects, while others notice only subtle changes. Both are perfectly normal! The real test is whether you notice positive changes afterward - like feeling calmer, more confident, or less bothered by old fears.
If you’re curious, try to notice these signs next time you listen to a hypnosis session or work with a hypnotherapist. You might be surprised at how natural and familiar the experience feels.
What signs of being hypnotized do you experience?
