What if I Fall Asleep During Hypnosis?

“What if I Fall Asleep During Hypnosis?” I think this is the number one question I am asked.

Other ways the question has come up is:

“Is Hypnosis still effective if I fall asleep?”

So, let’s examine what is happening during sleep and what is happening during Hypnosis and how these are different “states” shall we?

Let me answer this by making a comparison between Jogging and Driving a Car.

The only similarity between Jogging and Driving a Car is that you are in motion. They serve two entirely different purposes.

So, if your purpose for being in motion is to burn calories, will you burn calories while you are driving a car? Actually, yes, you’ll burn a few. About the same amount I am burning right now, writing this article. But, if you’re serious about burning calories, you would jog, would you not? Even walking slowly, you’ll burn more calories than you will by driving really fast.

How does this relate to hypnosis?

Because you need to understand that thinking you are going to get any benefits out of doing hypnosis by falling asleep is like thinking you can drive and call it exercise. The Hypnotic State and the Sleep State are different levels of brain function and they serve two entirely different purposes.

Just like your body needs to expend energy in order to burn calories and make a physical change, your mind must be in the right state to optimize and experience the suggestions you are giving it. In other words, hypnosis requires your active participation.

Can we learn new material while asleep? The popular press has heralded sleep learning as an easy way to learn. Imagine playing a tape of course material while you sleep and waking the next morning with the material in your memory. Unfortunately, laboratory evidence reveals that although we may process some sensory information during sleep, as when we awaken to the sound of a fire alarm or a crying baby, we do not retain information for later recall. Some individuals who appeared to retain information from their sleep were actually awake, based on EEG records, during the playing of the tape. Thus sleep learning appears to be a myth born of wishful thinking (Badia, 1993).

In order for hypnosis to be effective, there are a few things to consider in understanding how your mind works:

• Whatever it is that you desire to change in your life is going to require you to change your belief at the deepest level of mind, your subconscious level.
• The subconscious mind does not respond the literal meaning of words. The subconscious mind responds to the images and the feelings that you associate with the words. When you hear the words money, health, love, relationships, etc … you quickly formulate a feeling or an image as you are hearing it consciously and it’s that feeling or image that “talks” to the subconscious mind.
• It really does not matter whether or not you “feel” hypnotized or “deep”. What’s important is that you are focusing on your hypnosis session.
• Also, you may notice your mind drifting off and that’s alright because as long as you are conscious, your brain is still in a very receptive mode and you are still getting the information. However, when you do notice you have your attention elsewhere, gently bring it back to focusing on your hypnosis session.

Hypnosis is like Exercise and Vitamins for your mind. If you are still of the mind set that there is a magic pill you can take to eat fattening foods and not work out and let the pill take care of your problems, then you may be frustrated to find that hypnosis also is not a magic pill. Hypnosis is an effective tool when used properly to make any kind of change imaginable. Hypnosis is simple, but yes, it does require your concentration, willingness, and dedication.

So, if you are committed to changing your life, Hypnosis may be just what you have been looking for.