What Does Hypnosis Look Like & Feel Like?

Hypnosis

Apr 17

Being hypnotized is a different experience for everyone. That may not be the answer you were looking for, but that's the consensus. As unique as we all are, that is how individual our experiences come. Some will feel light and floaty, others will feel heavy and grounded, and some will feel no physical sensations but have mental clarity from their regular thought rumination. Each of these sections will be based on my experience working with client’s over the years. Know that you can fall into several categories; remember, we are complex humans, so it makes sense that we can embody several different occasions throughout trance. This is not a one size fits all approach, so as you read, notice what resonates with you, and what doesn’t. This will help you better understand where you fall on the spectrum.

The Deep Divers

Those who struggle with constant thoughts are deep divers. You know the type; when they are trying to relax, they find themselves thinking about how their day went well or how their day went poorly. They bring up memories from the past to worry over them as though the worry will change the outcome, and they love to prevent anything wrong from happening in the future by diving into every possible thing that could go wrong. These are the deep divers. They ruminate a lot, and they LOVE hypnosis. In trance states, they find that their minds are put at ease. They begin to stop worrying about the “what if’s" and the "have not's" and settle into the present moment.

The Sleepers

These groups of people need interactive sessions. If you don't know what that is, head over to an article that I published called "What is hypnosis used for" In this, I talk about the different kinds of sessions I offer and go into detail as to why interactive sessions are so great. For sleepers, however, it's the only session I will do. Why, you may ask? Well, folks who fall asleep do so for three reasons. 1: they are tired (this is the least likely), 2: they have subconscious protective mechanisms that keep them from doing the work they came there to do (this is called a trauma response), and 3: they could be thinkers, and when they get this relaxed, there is a chance their mind uses this time to slow down and rest (this does happen, but not as often as you think).

Out of all of these, the most common reason is subconscious protection. When someone has a solid escapist part within them (this is the part of you that uses sleep, video games, shopping, alcohol, etc. to dissociate from your problems), they tend not to want to confront what is happening, All of this being said, if you fall into this category, make sure you work with a practitioner who practices interactive sessions and is gentle and firm. You want someone to push you out of your comfort zone, but you also want them to do it safely. When a sleeper works with a practitioner who meets their needs, they find incredible results on the other side.

The Knower

Alright, so in a trance, only some are visual. There are a lot of folks out there who can imagine pictures in their mind from a thought, or maybe they know that they are recalling a memory, but have no picture, feeling or sound associated to it. Or maybe they have a thought that turns into imagining a sound, picture or feeling. Make sense? No? Let me explain. I want you to think of a flower; now do you see that flower as though it is confirmed in our 3D reality? Or do you think about what it would look like and imagine it in your mind? Thinkers will use their imagination to shift their thoughts into pictures. They don't see the flower in their palm as though it is there; they use their imagination to remember what a flower may look like, and conjure it up in their minds eye..

As we go through these, just know there is no right or wrong way to experience a trance. Some people are feelers, some are visualizers, and some are knowers. It's just like learning. Some folks need to practice something in order to understand it; others need to hear a lecture to process it in their mind. There is no right or wrong way; it's all about finding the modality that works for you and leading with that.

The Feelers

If you are a feeler, you are highly kinesthetic. You may be particular about how your clothes feel on your body or the ambiance in your home. You feel things deeply, energy and emotions alike, which is why when a feeler goes into hypnosis, they get body sensations that feel soothing and comfortable. They may feel heavy like wet sand on the beach or as light as a feather. Some feel tingling in their fingers and toes, and others lose the ability to tell the difference between their left arm and their right arm; some feelers can even sense when energetic blocks leave their body. I have had clients explain how they felt a shift when a belief was released. Some feel it in their gut, and others feel it in their heart. This is because feelers can connect both their mind + body in a way that cultivates deep healing and understanding on a somatic level. When in a trance and instructed to walk down a flight of stairs, they may not see a staircase or know it's there, but they can feel the wood on their feet and the feeling of taking each step.

The Visualizers

If you have ever done a guided meditation and have been asked to visualize something, and it came easy to you, then you are a visualizer. This is a rarity. More people are feelers and deep divers. A visualizer in a trance can see everything as though they are there. Let's say the hypnotist guides them to a beach in their mind. A visualizer will see the ocean crashing on the shore, the sky stretching as far as the eye can see, and the grains of sand pillowed on their feet. All this, as though they are genuinely there, and as they move, they construct new visuals as though it's a living movie. In daily life, visualizers pay attention to the lighting in their space, the colors, and the details, they see it all so clearly, and it takes priority over how something feels to them; the view is what's important.

The Listeners

These are the folks who can listen to an audiobook and retain all the information. In a trance, they hear sounds in their environment first and foremost. When a hypnotist asks them to experience a calm day in the forest, they hear the tree branches rustling, bird chirping, and winds flowing. They move through their sessions with sound. Instead of simply understanding what someone is saying, like a knower, they hear the person's voice in trance, as though they were in the room with them. Listeners are keen on auditory stimuli and can hear sounds as if they are actually happening in their environment.

Being Hypnotized Can Look & Feel Different For Everyone

Now that you know how hypnosis can feel, look, and sound, do you know where you fall on the spectrum? Maybe you are super visual, or a deep diver. Or perhaps you think you may be as sleeper, but when working interactively, you notice that you are also a listener and a feeler. Remember, you can be one of these, some of these, or there could be a little bit of you in all of them. I hope this gave you insight into what it's like to be hypnotized and how you can experience something unique.

If this intrigues you and you are looking for a hypnotist, look no further! Hey there, my name is Emily Rose, and I work with clients worldwide searching for a solution to their problems. As a hypnotherapist, I am formally trained in Timeline Therapy, NLP, Regression, Parts Integration, and Coaching. I use all of my tools in session to help you create the foundational change you so deeply desire. If you want to know more about me, head over to my "About Me" page. If you're thinking, "This is so cool, and I have questions about how to work with you!" Check out my scheduling page where you can book a free 20-minute clarity call to get to know one another. I'm happy to lend any resources I have to your journey and answer any questions about Hypnotherapy. I appreciate your love and support for Mystic Rose Medicine, and thank you for taking the time to read and sit with me as I help you make sense of the hypnotic world!