Actually, a hypnotized patient will fall into a hyper-attentive state, mistakenly considered half-asleep. Thankfully, through the wide availability of information, we understand now more about hypnosis than we used to back then. Hypnosis, in fact, has ceased to be such a phenomenon and is now a more acceptable form of treatment for many mental and sometimes physical problems.
This form of treatment has been largely researched since it was first introduced and used to cure people. And we have yet to find the complete answer to that question. How does hypnosis actually work? And why does it work? What we are seeking to do is to find out how the mind works. It is unlikely that we will be unearthing any ‘deep and dark secrets’ about hypnosis nor will we ever find out about the magical appeal it has but many do understand what hypnosis is.
Hypnosis is a process of leading a patient into a trance-like state. The patient will have to be totally relaxed and his/her imagination will be heightened. Being in the state of trance is totally different from being half-asleep. When you’re in a trance-like state, you will be completely obsessed with something. Your mind is focused and sharp and yet you remain relaxed; this relaxed-but-focused state will help imagination soar. When you are half-asleep, you will have difficulty focusing. Therefore, being hypnotized is not like being half-asleep. If there’s a conscious state that we can draw a similarity with, it’s daydreaming. Being hypnotized is like being sent into an unrestrained state of daydreaming.
When under hypnosis, you will feel a lot of very real emotions - fear, sadness or happiness. It's a mental state, where you are totally uninhibited and relaxed, whole-heartedly embracing the idea the psychiatrist suggests. But when you’re daydreaming, everything seems real to you and the line between imagination and reality is blurred.
As an example, hypnosis makes easier for some people to overcome their fears. For instance, someone who has a fear of heights could be sent soaring happily in the skies with birds and planes during hypnosis treatment. Slowly, this patient will relax and eventually get over his or her fear of heights.
By hypnosis you can only be urged to do something, in order to help you solve your problem. But you cannot possibly be forced to do something you don’t want to - even in a state of trance.
