
Hypnotic sleep, also known as hypnosis, hypnotism, or hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It is a complementary therapy that can be used to address various issues, including sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and weight management. During hypnosis, a person is guided through a series of exercises and meditations that help them relax and focus their minds, making them more receptive to suggestions and able to explore their subconscious minds. While under hypnosis, the individual remains awake and aware but may appear to be in a trance-like state, and their brain activity changes. Hypnosis does not involve losing consciousness or being controlled by the hypnotist; instead, the individual always maintains control over their mind and thoughts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. |
| Synonyms | Hypnotism, neuro-hypnotism, nervous sleep |
| Origin | The term hypnosis is derived from the ancient Greek "hypnos" (sleep) and the suffix "-osis", or from Greek "hypnoō" (put to sleep) and the suffix "-is". |
| Induction | A therapist guides the patient through four stages of relaxation and focus. |
| Trance | Hypnosis fosters a trance-like state, where the patient is awake but zoned out, with reduced peripheral awareness. |
| Brain Activity | Brain activity changes under hypnosis, creating receptiveness to new ideas. |
| Suggestibility | Hypnosis increases suggestibility, making patients more open to suggestions about making healthful changes in their perceptions, sensations, emotions, memories, thoughts or behaviours. |
| Consciousness | Contrary to popular belief, a person does not lose consciousness or go to sleep under hypnosis. |
| Memory | Most people remember everything that happens during a hypnosis session. |
| Control | A person under hypnosis always maintains control of their mind and thoughts. |
| Therapeutic Use | Hypnosis is used to treat depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sleep disorders, compulsive gambling, phobias, post-traumatic stress, smoking, and weight management. |
| Effectiveness | The effectiveness of hypnosis varies across individuals, with some being highly receptive and others resistant. |
| Safety | Hypnosis is generally safe and free of side effects. |
| Self-Hypnosis | Self-hypnosis is possible using audio recordings, videos, or smartphone apps. |
| Drug | Hypnotics are a class of psychoactive drugs that induce sleep and treat insomnia. |
| Addiction | Many hypnotic drugs are habit-forming. |
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What You'll Learn

Hypnosis is a state of consciousness
The process of hypnosis involves a series of exercises and meditations that promote relaxation and concentration. It is often facilitated by a trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist, who guides individuals through different stages of relaxation and focus. During hypnosis, individuals are more open to suggestions, which can be used to encourage positive changes in perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
Hypnosis is not a form of mind control or brainwashing. Individuals undergoing hypnosis remain in control of their minds and thoughts, and most people remember everything that occurs during a session. While it is not suitable for everyone, research suggests that hypnosis can be particularly effective for those who are highly receptive to suggestion, with approximately 15% of the population falling into this category.
Hypnotherapy, the use of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes, has been employed to address various health issues, including pain management, side effects of cancer treatment, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. It can also be used to treat underlying issues contributing to sleep problems, such as stress, and to promote healthy sleep habits. Sleep hypnosis aims to change negative thoughts and habits related to sleep, improving sleep quality once the hypnotherapy is complete.
The effectiveness of hypnosis for treating sleep disorders is still being studied, and it is generally recommended that individuals consult with a trained health professional before undergoing hypnotherapy. While some people may be resistant to hypnosis, many initially sceptical individuals have found it to be an effective approach to improving their sleep.
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Hypnosis does not involve falling asleep
The term hypnosis is derived from the ancient Greek "hypnos", meaning sleep. Hypnosis, however, does not involve falling asleep. Instead, it is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration, where the hypnotised individual appears to heed only the communications of the hypnotist and responds in an automatic fashion while ignoring all aspects of the environment.
During hypnosis, a person remains awake, but their focus is fixed in a way that may make them seem zoned out or in a trance. Their brain activity changes, creating receptiveness to new ideas. It is a common myth that people lose consciousness or go to sleep when under hypnosis, but in fact, most people remember everything that happens during a session. Hypnosis can be a very active process, where the individual is thinking about making positive changes in their life, and they are always in control of their mind and thoughts.
Hypnosis is often used to treat sleep disorders, and it can be a safe and effective way to improve sleep. Sleep hypnosis can help individuals explore their subconscious mind and promote healthy sleep habits. It can also be used to treat underlying issues that may be contributing to sleep problems, such as anxiety or stress. The goal of sleep hypnosis is not to make a person fall asleep during the hypnosis itself, but to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep so that the person can sleep better once the hypnosis is complete.
Hypnosis is also used in other areas such as forensics, sports, education, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. It has been employed by artists for creative purposes and has been used to re-experience drug states and mystical experiences. Self-hypnosis is used to quit smoking, alleviate stress and anxiety, promote weight loss, and induce sleep hypnosis.
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Hypnosis can be used to treat various health problems
The term hypnosis is derived from the ancient Greek "hypnos", meaning "sleep", and the suffix "-osis", or from "hypnoō", meaning "put to sleep". Hypnosis is often associated with sleep, and while it can induce a hypnotic sleep-like state, it does not cause an individual to lose consciousness. Instead, hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration, with individuals remaining aware and in control of their mind and thoughts.
Hypnosis has also been used in forensics, sports, education, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. It can be a powerful tool for individuals seeking to quit smoking, alleviate stress and anxiety, promote weight loss, and improve sleep. While the effectiveness of hypnotherapy has not been fully studied, many people have experienced positive changes in their lives through its use.
The process of hypnosis involves a trained, certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist guiding individuals through a series of exercises and meditations that help them relax and focus their minds. This heightened state of concentration and attention makes individuals more receptive to suggestions and ideas that can promote healthy changes in their perceptions, sensations, emotions, memories, thoughts, or behaviours.
While hypnosis is generally considered safe, it is important to work with a trained and certified therapist to avoid any potential negative side effects. Additionally, it is crucial to understand that hypnosis is not mind control or brainwashing. Individuals undergoing hypnosis always have control over their minds and thoughts, and any changes that occur will come from their own willingness to make them.
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Hypnosis is derived from the Greek word 'hypnos' meaning sleep
Hypnosis is derived from the ancient Greek word "hypnos", meaning sleep, and the suffix "-osis", or from "hypnoō", meaning "to put to sleep", and the suffix "-is". The term was coined by Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers in the 1820s as "neuro-hypnotism" or "nervous sleep". Scottish surgeon James Braid popularised the term in English around 1841.
Hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It is a type of complementary therapy often used alongside medical or psychological treatments. A trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides the patient through a series of exercises and meditations that help them relax and focus their minds. The therapist will help the patient focus their attention and ignore distractions, often by focusing their thoughts on a specific image or idea. This reduces their peripheral awareness and fosters a trance-like state.
Hypnosis is not about losing consciousness or being put to sleep, and most people remember everything that happens during a session. The patient is always in control of their mind and thoughts and will be actively thinking about making positive changes in their life. While hypnosis is not suitable for everyone, it can be a very effective treatment for those who are highly receptive to it, estimated to be around 15% of the population.
Hypnosis has been used to treat a variety of health problems, including pain, side effects of cancer treatment, mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, and behaviour changes such as quitting smoking or losing weight. Sleep hypnosis is a specific type of hypnotherapy that helps patients address sleeping problems. It does not make a person fall asleep during the hypnosis itself but helps to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep so that the patient can sleep better after the hypnotherapy is complete. Sleep hypnosis can also be combined with other treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).
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Hypnosis is a complementary therapy
The words hypnosis and hypnotism derive from the term neuro-hypnotism (nervous sleep), coined by Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers in the 1820s. The term hypnosis comes from the ancient Greek "hypnos", meaning sleep, and the suffix "-osis", or from "hypnoō", meaning "to put to sleep".
Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes. It is often used to treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression and may assist with behavior change such as quitting smoking or losing weight. Sleep hypnosis, a type of hypnotherapy, is used to address sleeping problems. It does not involve falling asleep but rather aims to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep so that the patient can sleep better afterward. Sleep hypnosis can also be combined with other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).
Hypnosis has also been used in forensics, sports, education, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Additionally, hypnotic drugs are sometimes prescribed to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. However, these drugs can be habit-forming, and physicians may recommend non-pharmacological interventions before prescribing medication.
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Frequently asked questions
Hypnosis, also known as hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It is a type of complementary therapy that can be used alongside medical or psychological treatments. A trained, certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist will guide the patient through a series of exercises and meditations that help them relax and focus their mind.
Hypnotic sleep is a state of consciousness in which a person is intensely focused on a particular idea or image, reducing their peripheral awareness and fostering a trance-like state. The goal of hypnotic sleep is not to make a person fall asleep but to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep so that they can sleep better once the hypnotherapy is complete.
Hypnosis is a general term for the process of guiding a person into a state of deep relaxation and focus. Hypnotic sleep specifically refers to the use of hypnosis to address sleeping problems. It involves therapeutic suggestions targeted at improving sleep habits and treating underlying issues that may be contributing to sleep problems, such as anxiety or stress.































