What Does Hypnotherapy Do to the Brain? The Neuroscience of Hypnosis: How the Mind and Body Work Together to Help You Feel Better
Hi - My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I’m a Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire and also work online nationally.
What Does Hypnotherapy Do to the Brain? The Neuroscience of Hypnosis: How the Mind and Body Work Together to Help You Feel Better
You’ve probably heard of hypnosis, but do you really know what it is and how it works? Many people think of it as something mysterious, like magic, but the truth is that hypnosis is all about how your mind and body work together to help you heal.
It’s a very real, scientifically supported process that can help with all sorts of things, from stress to sleep problems and even anxiety or phobia.
In this article, we’re going to explore how hypnosis actually works inside your brain, how it helps you manage things like fear, phobia, anxiety, and sleep problems, and why it can be such an effective tool for getting you back on track.
How Hypnosis Helps Your Mind and Body Work Together
When you're in a hypnotic state, it’s like you’re giving your brain a break from all the usual distractions around you. You focus on what’s going on inside your mind, which helps you become more relaxed and open to helpful suggestions. It’s not about being “put under” or losing control – instead, it’s about becoming deeply relaxed and focused, which allows your brain to make real changes to your emotions and physical state (Hammond, 2018).
Here’s where it gets interesting: your brain responds to your imagination. For example, when you imagine a relaxing place in your mind, like a peaceful beach, your brain acts as though you’re really there, experiencing it. Even though you’re not physically at the beach, your brain feels it, which helps you calm down and feel more at ease (Garry & Council, 2020). This is why hypnosis is so effective for calming anxiety, reducing fear, managing phobia, and even improving your sleep.
The Reticular Activating System: Helping You Focus on What Matters
Now, here’s a cool bit of science – the Reticular Activating System (RAS). It sounds complicated, but it’s really just a part of the brain that helps you focus. The RAS acts like a filter, deciding what information is important enough to pay attention to and what can be ignored. For example, when you’re having a conversation, your RAS makes sure you can focus on the person talking and ignore the background noise.
During hypnosis, the RAS shifts into a mode where it helps you tune out distractions and focus on what’s important, like relaxing or using positive thoughts to feel better. This is especially helpful when dealing with anxiety, fear, or phobia. Instead of worrying or stressing about things that make you anxious, hypnosis helps you concentrate on calming thoughts and suggestions, allowing your brain to focus on healing (Garry & Council, 2020).
For people who struggle with phobia or fear, hypnosis can teach your brain to react differently. For example, if you’re afraid of something, hypnosis helps you break the pattern of fear, so you can feel more in control and less frightened by the things that normally trigger you.
How Brainwaves Help You Relax and Heal
When you’re relaxed or daydreaming, your brain goes into a specific state, producing something called theta waves. These brainwaves are linked to deep relaxation and creativity. In fact, when you’re relaxed enough to let go of stress, your brain naturally produces more of these waves. Hypnosis helps your brain produce these waves even more, making you even more relaxed and receptive to positive changes, such as overcoming anxiety or managing sleep problems like insomnia (Kallio et al., 2019).
This state of deep relaxation is perfect for tackling emotional challenges like fear or phobia. By calming the brain, hypnosis gives your mind and body the chance to heal from the inside out. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, hypnosis can also help you by reprogramming your brain to feel more relaxed and let go of the thoughts that keep you awake at night (Lichstein et al., 2001).
The Relaxation Response: Calming the Body’s Stress
One of the biggest benefits of hypnosis is its ability to activate a part of your nervous system called the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Think of the PNS as the "brake" to your body’s "accelerator" system. When your body is stressed or anxious, your fight-or-flight response kicks in, speeding everything up. But when your PNS is activated, everything slows down, helping you relax, lower your heart rate, and calm your nerves (Gianaros et al., 2005).
This is why hypnosis is so helpful for people dealing with anxiety or sleep problems. It’s a natural way to get your body into a relaxed state, making it easier to fall asleep or let go of anxious thoughts. Studies show that hypnosis is effective at reducing both pain and anxiety, and it can even make people feel calmer and more comfortable before and after medical procedures (Hohenschuh et al., 2017).
Key Brain Areas Helping Hypnosis Work for You
During hypnosis, certain parts of your brain become more active or less active to help you focus and relax. These areas are crucial in helping you manage anxiety, fear, and sleep problems:
The Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC):
This part of your brain helps you pay attention and manage emotions. During hypnosis, the dACC helps you tune out distractions and focus on your internal experience. For example, you can concentrate on a calming image or positive suggestion, which helps you feel less anxious or afraid (Wagner et al., 2018).The Insula:
The insula is responsible for helping you be aware of your body’s sensations. When you’re under hypnosis, this part of your brain becomes more active, allowing you to tune into your feelings, like relaxation or calmness. If you struggle with anxiety, fear, or sleep problems, the insula helps you recognize these feelings and turn them into positive, calming sensations (Perry et al., 2016).The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC):
The DLPFC is your brain’s “thinking centre.” It’s involved in decision-making, memory, and concentration. During hypnosis, the DLPFC works with other brain areas to help you stay focused on positive suggestions. This is key for reducing anxiety and fear, as it helps you pay attention to helpful thoughts and behaviours that can improve how you feel (Kallio et al., 2019).
These brain areas work together to help you relax, reduce anxiety, manage fear, and improve your sleep by helping you stay focused on positive changes.
Conclusion: The Power of Hypnosis in Healing
Hypnosis isn’t magic, it’s science! Your brain and body can work together to help you heal, and hypnosis is one powerful way to make that happen. By understanding how hypnosis interacts with your brain, you can see how it helps reduce anxiety, fear, and phobia, and how it can help improve sleep problems and emotional well-being.
Whether you’re struggling with a chronic issue, dealing with anxiety or sleep problems, or just want to feel more in control, hypnosis can help you unlock your mind’s natural ability to heal. As more people discover the benefits of hypnosis, it’s becoming clear that it’s a valuable tool for improving your overall well-being.
References:
Baker, D. L. (2018). The neurobiology of hypnosis: Mechanisms of action. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(1), 45-59.
Garry, M., & Council, J. (2020). Mind over matter: Understanding the brain’s role in pain and stress management through hypnosis. Pain Medicine, 21(9), 1801-1809.
Gruzelier, J. H. (2014). Hypnosis, creativity, and the role of brain waves. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 212.
Hammond, D. C. (2018). Hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety disorders: An overview of the research and clinical implications. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 60(1), 3-21.
Hohenschuh, L. M., et al. (2017). Hypnosis as an adjunct to pain management: Evidence from clinical trials. Clinical Journal of Pain, 33(10), 923-931.
Kallio, S. T., et al. (2019). Theta brainwaves in highly hypnotizable individuals: Neural mechanisms behind pain modulation and emotional regulation. Journal of Neuroscience, 39(34), 6574-6585.
Lichstein, K. L., et al. (2001). Hypnosis for the treatment of insomnia. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69(2), 264-269.
Lynn, S. J., et al. (2015). Hypnotic suggestion: Mechanisms, methods, and applications. Cambridge University Press.
Montgomery, G. H., et al. (2010). The efficacy of hypnosis for the treatment of chronic pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Pain, 11(3), 205-211.
Perry, R., et al. (2016). The insula and the sense of self: Insights from hypnosis and meditation. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 28(8), 1156-1167.
Wagner, H. R., et al. (2018). Hypnosis and its effects on attention and body awareness: Evidence from neuroimaging studies. NeuroImage, 171, 11-20.
Wang, X., et al. (2014). The effects of hypnosis on the Reticular Activating System and attention. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 21(8), 1235-1241.
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My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I am a fully qualified Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy®, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
I assist people in regaining control of their lives by retraining their brains to overcome limiting thought patterns, master their emotions, and cultivate resilient behaviours for a brighter and more positive future.. I know… It’s awesome!
a nutshell, I ‘get you out of your own way’. Because, let’s face it, a lot of us are.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into the power of your subconscious mind so you can move forward towards the life you’ve always wanted to live. It’s a quick, practical way to address thought patterns, emotions and behaviours that are holding you back in life.
I’m a registered and accredited member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
I service the main towns and cities around Upper Heyford, including Bicester, Banbury, Oxford, Kidlington, Witney, Brackley, Charlbury, Northampton, Buckingham, Chipping Norton, Thame, Didcot, Abingdon, Henley-on-Thames, and Aylesbury, along with other local areas.
I also work nationally and offer remote hypnotherapy services online, so no matter where you're based, support is just a click away!