Question:

If a hypnotized subject is really ‘in control,’ how can a hypnotist hijack their body functions—slowing or speeding up their heartbeat, making them sweat, or even giving them goosebumps as if it’s freezing—all things they couldn’t achieve by thought alone? 🤔

Answer:

This question seems to be coming from a misunderstanding of both what hypnosis is and what the human body can do. That’s not an attack, most people without specific training also get that wrong.

The hypnotist doesn’t ‘hijack’ anything, they just guide the hypnotee to a place they can do what’s needed. That can be (limited) physical actions and reactions, but it is much more likely to be mental. Hypnosis is like a dance, the hypnotist is leading, but the hypnotee is free to follow or do something totally different as they desire.

As for things that can’t be done by thought alone, they actually can. Get a friend to take your pulse, then focus on being comfortable and relaxed, think of your heart rate slowing and count the beats you want it to take slowly in your head, after a moment or two your friend can take another reading. It will be slower than the first, it may not be much slower, like all things you can get better with practice, but it will be slower. And that was done purely by thought alone. Another common example is imagining you have a freshly cut lemon in your hand, really try to picture it, feel the weight, bring it up to your nose and smell the zest. You’ll probably notice your mouth begins to water, this salivation is over a purely fictional fruit you created in your mind.

Hypnosis simply shows us what our minds are capable of when conscious resistance is set aside

Prefer to visualise the main key points? Here’s a quick infographic recap:

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