People always want to know what they're getting into before they try something. So when it comes to hypnosis, the common question I hear is how does it feel? I understand why they ask this question. They want to know what they're supposed to be feeling or experiencing during hypnosis. What they are really asking, in essence is how will I know when I get there? They want to be sure that they will know when they reach hypnosis.

It’s human nature to ask or question this, but it’s something that has no clear, specific answer that will be common for everyone. What I want to explain to people is that hypnosis doesn’t have a clear entry point. There is no line that you cross over that clearly indicates your arrival into hypnosis. It isn’t a zone that is marked off inside your mind. First time subjects often have that same concern, that they won’t be doing it right, or won’t know when they are there. But in reality, there isn’t any defining element to watch for. With practice, you’ll become better at relaxing, and just letting yourself go. Trying too hard to achieve, or recognize that you have achieved hypnosis is the first thing that will actually impair your ability to be hypnotized.

So to investigate the question a bit further, there is no real identifiable psychological experience that confirms hypnosis. There are changes, certainly, and those can occur to varying degrees depending on your susceptibility, and your level of relaxation. And you’ll even experience a slightly different psychological experience every time you do it, as you get better at it, more comfortable. You will potentially reach different depths of relaxation. Just remember that there isn’t a right or wrong here.

There is no question that you will experience some changes. Remember that your entire being works as a system, comprised of many complex elements, all working together. Of course when you have a shift in one of your system’s components, it stands to reason that the ripple affect will reach all the other components to some degree, and impact the overall system. Example: if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, like cancer, you’re going to go through drastic physical changes and all of your physical components will be affected. And your psychological being will be affected too. Even if your cancer is centered in your leg, for instance, your mind will be enormously affected. That’s an extreme example, but it makes the point. It’s inevitable that your emotions will be affected. You’ll feel many physical characteristic of the illness, and you will feel psychological characteristics, emotions.

Emotions are mental feelings. In hypnosis, you may experience these psychological changes too, because you will use your imagination to bring on mental feelings.

Physical shifts are a direct result of your completely relaxed state. Some people experience the sensation of their limbs becoming heavier, while others report the exact opposite, and describe a feeling of weightlessness. Others still identify no particular change in their limb sensation.

In trying to find ways to describe hypnosis to the general population who haven’t done it, the common description is that your body goes to sleep while your mind remains awake. You may look as though you’re asleep to an outside observer, because you’re so completely relaxed, and focused on your therapy, that you won’t even react to them entering the room. But unlike a sleeping person, you typically won’t twitch or shift around, either.

Rapid eye movement occurs in some cases, but not always. The lack of REM or any other particular sensation is not indicative of hypnosis failure. The point is that we can generalize, but there’s no set of indicative characteristics that define success or failure in hypnosis. There’s no such thing as getting it wrong.

The most important thing to grasp here is that everybody will have a different experience, because there are countless variables at play. We all have our own unique make-up, and theoretically, we are using hypnosis to address a unique, focused problem or issue, so no two therapy sessions will ever be exactly the same.

The only request I make, and the best advice I can give to new hypnotic subject, is don’t try too hard. Do not consciously try to guide or direct, or force your thoughts. Just relax and let yourself go with the flow. You can’t possibly do it wrong. And you will inevitably experience some level of altered awareness. The varying degrees are related to so many factors, including your susceptibility. So just give yourself a chance to relax, and don’t over think it.