How does hypnosis work and can anyone be hypnotised?

Hypnosis is commonly described as an altered state of awareness, which we all actually experience naturally at least twice per day - just as we are waking up, and again as we are about to fall asleep, and also if you find yourself daydreaming whilst relaxing at any time, you can be described as being in a hypnotic trance.

The conscious mind only makes up 10% of our mind; this part of our mind is logical and analytical, and governs our decision-making. The other 90% of our mind consists of the subconscious mind; this part of our mind automatically controls bodily functions such as our breathing, heart rate, immune system and metabolism. The subconscious mind is creative, non-analytical and does not recognise logic; it also governs our emotions and habits, our self-image and, just like a computer, it stores all the information relating to every personal experience we have had during our lifetime.


When a person is in a relaxed state the conscious mind switches off and the subconscious mind becomes highly receptive to positive and beneficial suggestions. It takes us a long time to develop habits such as smoking or overeating, but through hypnosis our subconscious mind can easily be reprogrammed, so that we quickly form new habits, new feelings and a new self-image.


Virtually anyone who is willing to be hypnotised can be. Hypnosis is not recommended however for children under the age of 6, because of the need to focus and concentrate; it is also not suitable for anyone who has epilepsy, or is suffering from a depressive illness, taking major tranquillisers, or who is mentally unstable (e.g. schizophrenic), or mentally deficient, i.e. with an I.Q. of less than 70.