If you still think hypnosis involves swinging a pocket watch in front of someone’s eyes until they cluck like a chicken, you’ve been watching too much Saturday night TV. Hypnosis isn’t mind control, it’s not wizardry, and I can assure you, no one’s going to make you rob a bank while you’re in a trance (unless, of course, you already wanted to rob a bank -  in which case, hypnosis isn’t the issue, your moral compass is).

What hypnosis is, however, is a scientifically-validated way to access the brain’s wiring panel and do a bit of mental DIY. Think of it like calling in a friendly 'neuro-electrician' who knows how to flick the right switches to shut down the noise and open the door to real change.

So, let’s dive in - minus the fluff and fairy dust.

 

First things first: What actually is hypnosis?

In simple terms, hypnosis is a naturally occurring altered state of consciousness. You’re not unconscious, and NO, you’re not asleep. You’re hyper-aware, oddly enough. Think of it like being in that weird halfway zone just before you doze off, when the outside world fades, your imagination kicks in, and your critical inner monologue shuts up for five minutes.

It’s the bypass moment. Your conscious mind takes a tea break, and your unconscious - the bit that’s been running the show behind the scenes your whole life - finally steps up to the mic.

And that’s when the magic (read: neuroscience) happens.

 

The brain on Hypnosis: What’s going on upstairs?

Let’s talk science. Real science. Brain scan science, actually.

Neuroscientists - bless their caffeinated, sleep-deprived hearts - have been poking around the brain for decades trying to figure out what makes hypnosis tick. With the help of fancy gadgets like fMRI and EEGs, they’ve discovered that hypnosis isn’t just someone sitting with their eyes shut looking peaceful. On the contrary - there’s a lot going on under the hood.

During hypnosis, several key brain regions start playing musical chairs:

1. The Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)
   This part deals with attention and error detection. Under hypnosis, it becomes hyperactive, meaning you’re more focused, not less. Think laser beam rather than disco ball.
   
   
2. The Default Mode Network (DMN)
   This network is your inner chatterbox. It’s the bit that narrates your life like David Attenborough on a sugar high. Under hypnosis, it quiets down. You stop overanalysing everything and start feeling things directly. It's blissful silence in a normally noisy pub.
   
   
3. The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)
   Apart from the abbreviation sounding like someone falling down a flight of stairs, this guy is responsible for executive decisions and self-awareness. Under hypnosis? It chills out, making you more open to suggestion and less likely to argue with yourself. Similar to after you have fallen down a flight of stairs… huh, strange coincidence.

Essentially, hypnosis creates a perfect storm where the brain becomes more plastic, more open, and more willing to accept new ideas - provided they don’t clash with your core values. (Sorry, still no chicken-clucking.)

 

Okay, but can it REALLY rewire the mind?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Hell Yes!

Wait… WHAT?

See, the brain is a wonderfully lazy organ. It loves routines and habits because they save energy. Once you’ve hardwired a thought, belief, or behaviour into your unconscious, your brain runs it on autopilot. That's why breaking habits like biting your nails, procrastinating, or thinking you're not good enough feels like trying to steer the Titanic with a toothpick.

Hypnosis helps you sneak past the brain’s bouncer (the critical factor of your conscious mind) and waltz right into the control room. Once inside, you can do a little rewiring. Want to quit smoking? Sure. Want to stop panicking every time your boss emails you? Done. Want to believe you’re actually good enough for once in your bloody life? Well, roll up your sleeves and watch this, Watson.

 

Neuroplasticity: The fancy word for brain rewiring

Now here’s the real star of the show: neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change itself. It’s the reason stroke victims can relearn how to walk. It’s why musicians have freakishly fine-tuned auditory processing. And it’s how hypnosis becomes a tool for transformation, not just relaxation.

When you're in a hypnotic state, your brain is more plastic. Not Play-Doh plastic, mind you - I mean malleable, adaptable, capable of forging new neural pathways. When you visualise a positive outcome, rehearse a new behaviour, or reinforce a belief during hypnosis, your brain responds as though it’s real. It literally starts laying down new tracks.

Do it often enough, and voilà; a brand-new default setting.

 

Alright, but where's the PROOF?

I thought you'd never ask.

Let’s get clinical for a brief moment (hold your yawns please).

• A 2016 study published in Cerebral Cortex found that hypnosis significantly altered brain activity in regions associated with attention, body awareness, and emotional regulation. Translation: you focus better, feel calmer, and stop spiralling over every imagined worst-case scenario.
  
  
• Harvard researchers have shown that hypnotic suggestion can alter perception. In one famous study, participants under hypnosis experienced changes in the colour they saw on a screen. In essence proving that the brain, not your eyeballs, is calling the visual shots.
  
  
• In pain management, hypnosis has been so effective it’s been used in place of anaesthesia during surgery. Yes, actual surgery. With knives. On humans. Who were fully awake and pain-free. (Suddenly your fear of public speaking seems a bit less dramatic, doesn’t it?)

 

What can Hypnosis help with?

Let’s run the list, shall we? Brace yourself, it’s a long one.

• Anxiety and stress
• Phobias and irrational fears
• Smoking cessation
• Weight management
• Insomnia
• PTSD
• Low confidence and imposter syndrome
• Nail biting, teeth grinding, nose picking (don’t lie)
• Exam stress
• Public speaking
• Chronic pain
• IBS
• And yes, even performance in sport, business, and bed. (Not necessarily in that order.)

Basically, if it’s a behaviour, belief, or emotional pattern, there’s a good chance hypnosis can give it a tune-up.

 

Common Misconceptions (Let’s clear the air, shall we?)

Let’s knock out some of the biggest myths before someone writes to the Daily Mail in a panic.

"I can’t be hypnotised."

Unless you’re dead, drunk, or deeply distracted, chances are you can. Hypnosis is a skill, not a talent. Some go deep fast; others take a bit more work. But if you’ve ever daydreamed, driven on autopilot, or cried during a film, congratulations - you’ve been in a trance.

"I’ll lose control."

Nope. You’re always in control. You can’t be made to do anything against your values. If a hypnotherapist told you to rob a bank or propose to a pigeon, you’d snap right out of it. Your unconscious isn’t stupid.

"It’s just relaxation."

It can be relaxing, but it’s not just that. Meditation is relaxing too - but it doesn’t usually help you stop wetting yourself every time you speak in public. Hypnosis goes deeper. It rewires, reshapes, rebuilds.

"Only weak-minded people get hypnotised."

Wrong again, Sherlock. Hypnosis works best on people who can focus, imagine vividly, and follow instructions. That makes them intelligent, not gullible. Besides, if being open to positive change is weak, I’d rather not be strong, thanks.

For a deeper dive into this and other common myths about hypnosis, check out Hypnosis Explained: Debunking the Myths and Why It’s NOT Mind Control!

 

How hypnosis actually works in practice

A typical hypnosis session goes something like this:

1. Induction – You’re guided into a calm, focused state. Not unlike meditation, but with purpose.
2. Deepening – Techniques are used to take you deeper into trance. (Still not asleep, by the way.)
3. Suggestion – Here’s where the magic happens. Positive, personalised suggestions are given that target your goals and problems.
4. Reintegration – You’re brought back to full awareness feeling like you’ve just had a mental spa day, minus the cucumber slices.

Some hypnotists also use regression to explore root causes, or parts therapy to get different bits of your psyche to stop fighting each other like toddlers in a sandpit.

And yes, you can hypnotise yourself. It’s called self-hypnosis. It’s marvellous. You don’t even have to put on trousers.

But we’ll get to that in a future blog post or podcast. So YES, you will need to stay tuned and check back, REGULARLY.

 

So, should YOU give hypnosis a go?

If your brain was a smartphone, hypnosis would be the software update you didn’t know you needed.

It won’t make you superhuman, but it will help you ditch the mental junk files, recalibrate your settings, and maybe even upgrade a few apps. You might not float out of the chair glowing with enlightenment, but you will notice shifts - sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic, but always meaningful.

And best of all? No side effects, no hangovers, no ten-page warning labels. Just a better version of you with less self-sabotage and more mental swagger.

 

A final word from Yours Truly

The science of hypnosis isn’t smoke and mirrors - it’s psychology, neuroplasticity, and suggestion all rolled into one gorgeous, mind-bending package. It’s about learning to use the operating system of your brain to your advantage instead of running old, outdated code.

So next time someone rolls their eyes and says, “Hypnosis? Isn’t that just for stage shows?”, smile politely… then hypnotise yourself into not allowing that type of negativity into your life.

Because you, my friend, know better.

 

If you enjoyed this post and you're curious about rewiring your inner world, keep an eye out and stay in touch. I’ve got courses, tools, and one hell of a hypnotic podcast in the works.

But for now, go flex that brain of yours. It's more powerful than you think.