Hypnosis, in a narrow sense, is the stimulation of visual, auditory or tactile sensations (and verbal suggestion in humans) to induce a semi-sleepy state in humans or animals. In a broader sense, it refers to the alteration of mental states produced by specific stimuli. Hypnosis is a state that is highly suggestible. and responds accordingly in perception, memory and control. Although hypnosis is much like sleep, sleep does not play any role in hypnosis because if a person were to actually fall asleep, he or she would not respond to any suggestion. This state of sleep is different from ordinary sleep. In fact, when one communicates with one’s senses, or is doing inner visualization work, one is in a certain degree of hypnosis. Hypnosis is a technique to induce a person to enter into a state similar to sleep rather than sleep, in which the person’s consciousness enters a relatively weakened state and the subconscious mind becomes active, so that his mental activities, including perception, emotion, thinking, will and behavior, are closely connected to the hypnotist’s words and actions, like a sponge that can fully absorb the hypnotist’s instructions. The technique is called hypnosis. The depth of hypnosis varies depending on the individual’s hypnotic sensibility and the prestige and skills of the hypnotist. Hao Bin, a famous domestic psychologist, said in an interview that “the proper use of hypnosis is scientifically proven to achieve the elimination of tension and anxiety and the establishment of an optimistic and positive state of mind.” 1.Q: Hypnosis is to make people not know anything, and then some magical changes will happen? A: Hypnosis is not to deprive people of their mental activity. Although the level of conscious activity is reduced, the level of subconscious activity is more active, and at this time, some patients will have the feeling of confusion and unconsciousness, as if they can only hear the voice of the hypnotist; while some patients feel that they are awake and can hear everything, and even think that they are not hypnotized at all. All these sensations may occur in the hypnotic state, and they do not affect the hypnosis process or the therapeutic effect. Of course, the more the subject feels and experiences (rather than examines) as instructed by the hypnotist, the more beneficial things can be obtained from hypnosis. 2. Q: In many movies and literature, I have seen that after being hypnotized, the hypnotist will do whatever he or she wants and say whatever he or she wants, is it true? Is it true? Will this be controlled by others or will it expose my privacy? A: Many depictions of hypnosis in film and literature are exaggerated and misrepresented. Each person’s subconscious mind has a steadfast and unwavering task to protect that person. In fact, even in the hypnotic state, the subconscious mind protects itself like a loyal guard. Hypnosis can communicate better with the subconscious mind, but it cannot drive a person to do something that his subconscious mind does not approve of, so there is no fear of being controlled or of revealing one’s secrets. And, even if it is not a private matter, it is a basic professional ethics for a hypnotist to keep the secrets of the subject about the hypnosis process. 3. Q: Hypnosis is to be suggested, so is it that only those who have no opinion or are not strong-willed, or those who have a low level of education and no class will be hypnotized? A: The causes of hypnosis are quite complex, and suggestion is only one of the factors, not the whole content. At the same time, according to the latest research results in the hypnosis field, the first level of hypnosis is the material level – the function of the brain nervous system; the second level is the acceptance of the individual’s mental activity. Therefore, we can see that the more educated, well-qualified and sensitive people are, the more they can benefit from hypnosis, while children who are too young, the elderly who are over-aged and the less intelligent people in life are difficult to be hypnotized because of the functional state of the brain and nervous system. It is difficult to be hypnotized because of the poor functional state of the brain nervous system. 4. Q: Does hypnosis have any adverse effects on mental health? A: Hypnosis itself is a very safe technique for psychological adjustment and treatment, and as long as the practitioner operates in a standardized manner, it will not have adverse effects on mental health. Even if one feels discomfort after hypnosis, it can be relieved in the next hypnosis and will not leave “after-effects” to the patient. Of course, due to the special nature of hypnosis, hypnosis, especially hypnosis with psychotherapy and training, should be performed by hypnotists who have received professional training and practical experience. 5. Q: Hypnosis? Then won’t all my secrets be known to others? A: This is the concern of many people. They think that as long as they are hypnotized, it is as if they have lost their consciousness, and all that they can or cannot tell are told. …… How embarrassing it is! This is because the general public has a preconceived notion that hypnosis is like being nudged by someone or being unconscious after eating LSD. This may be a misunderstanding caused by some stage hypnosis shows and exaggerated descriptions of hypnosis in movies and novels. In fact, when you are hypnotized, your consciousness is awake, sometimes even more awake than usual because your inner thoughts are calmed down, and your subconscious mind will protect you, so you can choose to say or not to say. But then again, there is nothing new under the sun, what you have desires; others also have, what you have greed, anger, obsession, worldly people also have, although you can choose yourself to say or not to say, but in my experience, as long as you trust your hypnotist and you yourself uphold an open heart, then you will be the biggest beneficiary of this hypnosis process. Since the person’s consciousness is awake during hypnosis, and it makes some people doubt whether they are really hypnotized? One cannot help but ask: Will this hypnosis be effective? Yes, it will work! Almost all hypnotherapy can be done in a hypnotic state of “feeling awake”. 6. Q: Why are some people easy to be hypnotized while others are hard to be hypnotized? A: Generally speaking, about 90 percent of people have a considerable degree of hypnotic sensitivity, and 5 percent of them are very easy to be hypnotized, while the other 5 percent are difficult to be hypnotized. Most people can be hypnotized, but some people have to be induced repeatedly and for a long time, for example, two or three hours, before they can enter the hypnotic state, which is more than the normal load of the hypnotist. The master hypnotist Milton Erickson often uses boredom. Erickson often uses boring, repetitive language and goes through long periods of time to successfully hypnotize people that other hypnotists consider difficult to hypnotize. The younger the person, the easier it is to be hypnotized, because the brain cells of young people are more energetic, while the older the person, the more difficult it is to be hypnotized because the brain cells have lost their vitality. Generally speaking, people who have the following qualities have higher hypnotic sensitivity. (1) young age; (2) easy relaxation; (3) security and trust in the hypnotist; (4) rich imagination; (5) high concentration; (6) strong curiosity; (7) high IQ.