You’ve Been Hypnotized Without Realizing It

I’ve heard it all. When I talk to the clients at my hypnotherapy practice about the therapeutic benefits of hypnotherapy, these are just some of the concerns they share.

It’s natural to be afraid or skeptical of something you don’t understand. But I believe no one should ever be afraid or uncomfortable about the process. That’s why, when clients come to me for hypnotherapy, we begin with a frank talk about what being hypnotized is, and what it isn’t.

In case you’re still scared to be hypnotized, remember:

You get hypnotized several times a day without even realizing it! Here are some examples.

7 Everyday Chances for Trances

1. In Yoga Class
Have you ever noticed that, although you may be contorted into a twist or straining to balance on one foot, you feel perfectly at ease in yoga class?

The flow of words from your instructor, your breathing patterns, and your body motions change the way your brain behaves, relax you, and put you into a trance. If you don’t get there before, you’re sure to be completely blissed out in rest pose at the end of the session.

2. On Your Commute
Your brain needs a lot of entertainment, so when it does something over and over again, it no longer pays attention to the details. This can be the case with your commute.

Whether you drive the same route daily or take a bus, train, or ferry, you’ll probably notice that you rarely think about the details of the ride. That “lost time” you experience while you’re commuting is often because you fell into a trance state.

3. Watching TV
TV is a guilty pleasure for some, and for many, a constant companion. The flashing light that emanates from the screen looks unassuming enough, but in fact, that alone is enough to put you into a trance by changing your brain’s wave dominance.

In many cases, people feel so good when they’re in the middle of a video binge trance, they don’t want to stop watching TV. That must be how the world got “couch potatoes,” and why you probably have more “As seen on TV” products than you’ll ever need.

4. Listening to Music
Watch what happens when you put your earbuds on and crank up the volume on your favorite tunes. Whether you dig the symphony or groove to actual “trance music,” it isn’t hard to see that this is another way to get to Theta wave domination, and yes, a state of trance.

Your mind finds pleasure in being stimulated by sound, and lets you get lost in it. Watch out if you happen to get totally detached from what’s going on around you. When you’re about to jump into the crosswalk, it’s time to come out of your trance.

5. Getting Into the Flow State
Whether you’re thinking, drawing, writing, or out on your morning run, any time you’re “in the flow,” you are in a trance. Your conscious awareness takes a break and allows you to experience the ease of being on “autopilot”.

You feel like you’re at one with the task you’re performing, and you easily filter out any and all distractions. Your friends and co-workers might find it really hard to distract you when you’re in this state — because you’re “in a trance!”

6. Using Your Smartphone
It isn’t just kids playing video games who become entranced by digital interaction and entertainment. Like a TV, your smartphone flashes light and tricks your brain into a trance. Combined with your impulsive need to interact, this can grab your attention completely.

You’ve probably seen a couple sitting in a restaurant, both on their phones, texting and playing games rather than gazing into one another’s eyes. Or, you might have done this yourself. In either case, someone’s in a trance!

7. Praying and Chanting
In many traditions, the act of worship involves the use of a repetitive prayer or mantra, chanting, or both. If you’ve experienced this, you know how you can shut out the rest of the world while you engage in these practices.