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Every so often, someone will tell me, “I don’t believe in hypnosis,” or even, “Isn’t hypnosis fake?” It’s a fair question—especially if your only exposure to hypnosis has been stage shows or Hollywood. But hypnosis is about brainwaves—and more specifically, accessing a relaxed and focused state of awareness called Theta.

To understand hypnosis, we first have to understand the four common levels of consciousness, or brainwave states, that every human cycles through every day.  Most of us have the experience of being awake or asleep: conscious or unconscious.  However, consciousness is a spectrum with three different levels of focus and awareness.

1. Beta (Waking Mind – Logical, Focused)

This is the state most people associate with being “awake.” In the Beta state, your brain is functioning at a higher frequency (about 13–30 Hz), ideal for thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and getting things done. But too much Beta for too long often leads to stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue.

This is where modern life keeps us—busy, alert, and often overstimulated.

2. Alpha (Relaxed Awareness – Calm, Reflective)

The Alpha state (8–13 Hz) occurs when you’re calm but alert—think daydreaming, meditating, or that peaceful state you feel after a walk in nature. Alpha is the bridge between your conscious thinking mind and your deeper subconscious.  It’s also the first stepping stone into the process of hypnosis.

3. Theta (Trance State – Deep Relaxation, Insight, Healing)

Theta waves (4–8 Hz) occur during deep meditation, light sleep, or hypnosis. This is the zone of imagination, intuition, and emotional processing. In Theta, the critical filter of the conscious mind relaxes, allowing us to access the deeper subconscious patterns that often run our lives behind the scenes.

This is the state where hypnosis happens.
Whether guided by a professional or self-induced, hypnosis is a natural Theta state that allows the conscious and subconscious to communicate and collaborate. People often experience profound insights and emotional breakthroughs not because they’re “out of it,” but because they’re more deeply in touch with themselves than usual.

4. Delta (Deep Sleep – Regeneration, Unconscious)

Delta brainwaves (0.5–4 Hz) are the slowest and occur during deep, dreamless sleep. In this state, the body undergoes repair, the brain consolidates memory, and consciousness as we know it is offline. This state is critical for physical healing and restoration, but it is not used in hypnosis—because the person is fully unconscious.

So, Is Hypnosis Real?

Yes—hypnosis is as real as dreaming, sleeping, or daydreaming. It’s simply a shift in brainwave activity, most commonly to the Theta range. Everyone passes through Theta multiple times a day: right before falling asleep, and just as you’re waking up. If you’ve ever “zoned out” while driving or lost yourself in a great book or movie, you’ve likely slipped into Theta.

The only difference in a formal hypnosis session is that you’re guided there intentionally—with a specific goal for change or deeper insight.

When people say, “I don’t believe in hypnosis,” what they usually mean is: “I don’t understand it.”  Hypnosis isn’t magic. It’s neuroscience—and it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to communicate with the deeper parts of ourselves.  By learning to work with the Theta state, we can finally shift the patterns that logic and willpower alone often don’t touch.

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Disclaimer: The “Just Suppose Blog” shares ideas in exploring personal progress as derived from various sources.  It is intended as information only and is not intended as advice to engage in any specific physical or mental activity.  Always consider whether these ideas, concepts, techniques & activities are right for you & always confer with your health professionals.