What is Trance State?

Imagine sitting on your couch watching a movie.  You are both aware of the room and of the scenes unfolding on the screen.  You are both focused, inspired by what you see and hear, and aware of your surroundings.  This is an example of a trance state.  It is completely natural, and we go in and out of trance, dozens of times every day.

In trance, the state most associated with being hypnotized, we are completely aware of everything that is happening around us.  Trance state is simply a state of deep focus.  In this state of deep focus, the “normal” experience of the brain keeping track of a hundred different things (what am I doing now, how is this going to be perceived, did I forget to respond to that text, what’s for lunch), falls away.  We are much better able to focus on just one or a few things at once. 

Now think of a time when there was something you wanted to do, or wish you could do, but hadn’t.  Notice how many self criticizing thoughts were coming up, for why you can’t, or shouldn’t attempt that thing.  Those negating thoughts are good, and healthy.  They protect us from doing stupid shit all the time.  Sometimes though, they are too hypervigilant. Overprotecting us from attempting something that might actually change our lives for the better.  Those overprotective thoughts can sound like doubt, shame, fear, judgement.  We can even find examples in our past experience that prove those protective thoughts right.  So we don’t go through with the exciting but scary new thing. 

In a state of trance, you are able to focus only on the thing you want.  The critical mind, the doubts and fears aren’t there.  You can experience the behavior, or try on a different way of being without hearing that voice that tells you why you can’t or shouldn’t. 

You might have noticed that the trance state happens both ways: you can be deeply focused on something positive, or you are totally focused on a negative emotion.  Our brains are wired for threats and danger, so they have a tendency to focus on life’s negative experiences over the positive ones, which is why entering trance with a clear, useful goal in mind should always be done with intention (whether with a hypnotherapist or on your own). 

Now imagine a new scene. You’ve received an email that makes you so mad, the rest of the world just falls away.  You’re now entirely focused on your screen, and you can only feel and hear the clicking of the keys as you furiously type your response.  The experience is all encompassing, jolting you into a state of trance, leaving your senses completely engaged with the words on the screen and the task of responding. All distractions fall away.  What you were doing before you received the email, and what you plan on doing next are now far from your mind. This high alert, single focus is the trance state.

As in the example above, to get into this powerful, hyper-focused experience, we want to engage all of our senses.  When using trance to effect change, it is necessary to relax the mind and body, before we begin the hyper-focused change work.  Think of sitting in a comfortable chair, focusing on your breath, and listening to a peaceful soundtrack.  This is the simplest way to experience something very close to the kind of relaxation you will feel in trance during a hypnosis session.  As you sit in your chair, of course, you can choose to think about your tasks, your anxieties.  But if you allow yourself to let them go (by simply listening and sending your attention to follow the voice of your hypnotherapist), you can softly transition into trance.  This will allow your critical mind to chill out, and your unconscious narrative to come forward. 

It is 100% up to you.  Can anyone be hypnotized?  Yes, if they choose to.  Because you will be completely aware of your physical body, of your surroundings, you can choose to “go in” and relax into the experience, or to let your mind wander and follow those distracting thoughts.  You can be hypnotized by a therapist, or continue to be hypnotized by your own inner dialogue. Thinking new, positive thoughts or continuing to loop on that old dialogue of doubt and fear require the same amount of work.

Assuming you were able to release yourself into a slower breathing pattern, followed the voice of the hypnotist, and have found yourself very relaxed, you are now in the perfect, primed state to continue following the instructions and go into any number of experiences presented by the therapist.  This is why trusting in the goodwill of your hypnosis practitioner is of the highest importance.  Trusting that you will only be taken into situations in your past, or imaginary instances of your future (your own highest self), that will most benefit you and your journey – is key. 

In trance state, you can listen, speak, laugh, cry, scratch your leg, all the things you can do in your normal waking life.  You will likely feel more physically relaxed, but otherwise, it is just another waking experience where the usual distractions simply fall away. 

At the end of your session, I will bring your attention back into the room, and into the body and you can easily transition back into your surroundings, and reintegrate into your day.  You can’t get “stuck” in a trance, though you may feel the positive effects of a clearer, calmer mind for a few hours following the session.