Think Hypnosis Is Woo-Woo? Think Again.

Let’s stop treating hypnosis like a woo-woo party trick.

Most people think it’s about losing control — someone waving a pocket watch while you cluck like a chicken. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Hypnosis is simply a natural brain state. You already slip into it a dozen times a day... when you’re daydreaming, zoning out on a drive, or getting lost in a good book. It’s your brain in a focused, relaxed state.

And when you learn how to use that state intentionally, it becomes one of the most powerful tools you have for change.

What’s Really Going On in Your Brain

When you’re in hypnosis, your brain moves into slower brainwave states called alpha and theta — the same ones linked to creativity, imagination, and healing.

In theta, your brain doesn’t distinguish between imagination and reality. That’s why athletes visualise winning before a race — their brains wire the imagined success as if it already happened. It’s also why guided imagery can reduce pain in hospitals: the brain interprets imagined comfort as real.

So, hypnosis isn’t magic. It’s neuroscience. And it works because it speaks directly to the part of your mind that actually runs the show — your unconscious.

Why Willpower Isn’t Enough

We’ve all tried to “just decide” to change something.

“I’ll stop eating sugar.”

“I’ll speak up in that meeting.”

“I’ll stop scrolling at midnight.”

And maybe it works… for a week. Then life gets stressful, and we’re back to old habits.

That’s because willpower lives in your conscious mind — the part that analyses, plans, and makes decisions. It’s only about 5% of the picture.

The other 95% — the part driving your habits, fears, and beliefs — lives in your unconscious. So if your unconscious still links sugar to comfort or believes that speaking up is risky, no amount of “deciding” will override that for long.

It’s like trying to steer a car while the cruise control is still on. You can fight the wheel for a while, but eventually the autopilot wins.

Hypnosis works because it updates that autopilot. It quiets the inner critic and rewires the unconscious, so your behaviour finally matches your intention.

“I Can’t Be Hypnotised” (Really?)

I’ve heard this a number of times… “I can’t be hypnotised.”

Sorry — but you already have been.

And when I say, you’ve been hypnotised, I mean, you’ve hypnotised yourself. Let me explain.

If you’ve ever missed part of a conversation because you were daydreaming, or driven home and barely remembered the trip, you’ve been in a trance – or ‘hypnotic’ – state.

Hypnosis just uses that natural state deliberately.

The only people who truly 'can’t' be hypnotised are those who refuse to follow along. And that often comes down to fear, disbelief, or something deeper known as secondary gain — the hidden benefit you get from keeping a problem around.

If you’re in pain, maybe it means people look after you.If you’re anxious, maybe it lets you avoid situations that scare you.If you keep saying, “I can’t change,” maybe it means you don’t have to try.

Those hidden payoffs can keep you stuck, even when consciously you say you want things to be different. Hypnosis helps bring those patterns to the surface so you can finally choose: keep the secondary gain or take back your freedom.

Not All Hypnosis Is the Same

There’s more than one way to do hypnosis.

Direct suggestion is the classic… “You will stop smoking.” “You will feel confident.” For some people, that’s all it takes.

But for most, especially those with busy, analytical minds, Ericksonian hypnosis is more effective. It works through metaphor and storytelling, guiding your unconscious to find its own solution. It’s gentle, subtle, and it bypasses that part of your brain that loves to argue back.

It’s less like pushing, and more like planting seeds. The change doesn’t feel forced, it feels natural, because it grows from within.

Real-Life Results

So what can hypnosis help with?

✅ Reducing stress and calming an overactive mind

✅ Building confidence and shifting old self-beliefs

✅ Breaking habits like smoking, nail-biting, or overthinking

✅ Easing chronic pain and reducing reliance on medication

✅ Quieting the inner critic so you can finally act, not just analyse

For some people, the change feels instant. For others, it’s gradual, like one day you just notice you’re calmer in situations that used to throw you. Either way, it lasts because it’s happening at the level where change actually sticks.

The Bottom Line

Hypnosis isn’t about giving up control. It’s about taking it back.

It’s how you make your brain your ally instead of your enemy, so you can stop trying to will yourself into change and finally rewire the patterns that have been keeping you stuck in habits you don’t want.

If you’re curious about how hypnosis could help you - with anxiety, habits, confidence, or even chronic pain - you can listen to Episode 37 of The Brain Changers™ Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi. I'm Rebekah.

I work with clever, capable professionals who feel mentally overloaded and can’t switch off... even when they try. Using neuroscience-backed brain training, I help you clear your head, build confidence, and perform at your best - without burning out.

🔗 Want to know more? Book a no-obligation Clarity Call with me today to find out how I can support you. No pressure, just a matter-of-fact conversation https://bit.ly/ConnectWithRebekah

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