“You are getting sleepy” is a quote that quickly stirs up several images. We picture a cartoon-ish man waving a pocket watch in front of someone’s face and making them cluck like a chicken at the snap of a finger. Hypnosis is portrayed as a magical ability to brainwash people into acting, however, the hypnotist designs. The recent (and very popular) horror film “Get Out” featured a mother that could control the main character’s thoughts with a spinning spoon and her words. An episode of “Gotham” featured a cracked hypnotherapist that hypnotized people into murder. This theme of brainwashing people to act against their interests persists in everything from children’s cartoons to horror movies. Because most people do not know much about hypnosis, these media representations affect people’s beliefs in how hypnosis works.

These misconceptions create fear around a real psychological tool that therapists can and do use for their patients. Hypnotherapy is an important option within therapy practices. When people are scared of it, they will not accept treatment and use the benefits. Therapists can teach their patients to hypnotize themselves to help ease anxiety or talk themselves out of habits they do not want to partake in, such as nail biting, alcohol use and overeating. It can also be used to remain calm while examining traumatic memories and talking things out with therapists.

In reality, hypnosis has similar benefits to taking some medications, according to the Mayo Clinic. The only difference is that the person is actively doing things or talking while in that calm, focused state. The most common example of falling into trance is doing an activity done every day and forgetting it has been done after completion. For example, one might take the time to brush their teeth, but wonder if they did immediately after doing it because they were daydreaming so much.

Hypnosis can also be an intimate or romantic experience. People cannot be made to do anything they do not want to do, so they would want to participate in hypnosis with someone they trust. The other would have to know the types of things they would like to do and the types of words that will bring them under a trance more easily. Some people are talked under by a countdown, whereas some prefer body focus, like in meditation.

A small example of a hypnosis script might go something like this:

“As you read these words, you will feel more relaxed. You will take a deep breath and relax your shoulders. As I count down, each number will help you feel more calm. When I reach one, you will have entered trance. Five…calm…four, more relaxed…three, deeper…two…and one… drop down into that calm feeling.”

Once the subject is feeling calm enough, the hypnotist could then describe calming environments for the subject to imagine or ease the transition into sleep. While calm and focused in trance, it is easier for the person under trance to picture and imagine scenarios.

Not everyone enjoys being talked into trance, but almost everyone is capable of doing so if they want. It is a much simpler and more pleasant experience than many people realize.

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