Can You Be Addicted to Hypnosis? And what do do about it if you think you are: A Professional Perspective.
Hypnosis can be addictive. Anything can be. But you’re probably not addicted to hypnosis even if it feels compulsive. I received this Free Advice question, well its more of a statement I guess, but it was followed by describing a particular type of non therapeutic hypnosis, so to speak. I wanted to provide some insight and advice on regulating your nervous system and regaining agency if you’re experiencing a compulsive or unhealthy relationship with hypnosis.
If you’re used to the more candid and informal language typically found in my advice articles you might find this an easier read on my Substack for Hypnosis and compulsive behavior. There are a number of technical restrictions for queer and alternative lifestyle affirming therapists, hypnotherapists, coaches and educators on clinical sites that are proving challenging to navigate in our current political climate.
Why is this content so addictive?
Just like other explicit media, it’s coded to create massive dopamine surges. This is particularly tough on anyone neurodivergent, depressed, stressed, burned out, over or under-stimulated. It targets people who are often desensitized to visual stimuli from excessive use and looking for something else. There is already that neural pathway ready to be hijacked again.
For auditory processors and anyone auditory sensory seeking for relief or engagement it checks that box. People who love music, podcasts, ASMR, guided meditations and particularly those who use enjoyable sounds to recover from the onslaught of unwanted sounds. Sometimes it starts as hypnosis for sleep or stress management and as humans we often think: this would be even better if it were more adult. Algorithms know this too and can funnel users seeking relief towards more explicit content.
But why is it so effective?
A lot of it is designed to captivate attention. The stuff that is effective combines attractive voices, pacing that is fast enough to prevent the mind wondering off but slow enough to feel patient and indulgent; it includes a lot of repetition and a predictable formula that the brain finds soothing to process, and it nearly always involves permission to explore interests and fantasies.
Why do we need permission to explore these areas?
A lot of us experience shame. Even if we’ve worked to dismantle oppressive systems around gender and power dynamics, it’s never uncomplicated in our society. Being told you feel these feelings even though you don’t want to—but you do—is a way to bypass that shame and have free rein to express a fantasy. Or for some it might just be chasing novelty.
Can you be forced to do something under hypnosis that you don’t want to do?
No. Believe me when I say that no one is having a Manchurian Candidate style conditioning from online hypnosis. No matter how intense it is or how much they do it, it can only reduce inhibitions, make boundaries more flexible and give you an excuse. All hypnosis is self hypnosis on some level. Even in the small percentage of the population who are highly suggestible, there still has to be consent for that trance to change actions or thoughts over just being spaced out.
What happens if it was consensual but then consent is withdrawn?
Most of the time as soon as you stop listening to a track the “spell” is broken. If it lingers and you don’t keep re-engaging with it then it typically fades pretty quickly. I have worked with a few people who needed a quick fix to clear out some conditioning to certain words or felt they needed help to regain agency to step away from a track or online creator.
I typically suggest that my words are now their words and their words override all others. Use the same techniques and words that got you into it, to get you out. Every time I remember that voice saying X, I hear my own voice saying Y. Every time I feel sensation X, I feel sensation Y getting stronger and stronger. You can even record your own voice notes or search online for some free deprogramming or deep reset tracks.
Five ways to regain agency if you feel stuck:
- Use other kinds of hypnosis, meditation or audio content to soothe and regulate your nervous system.
- Get out of it with the same script you got in, just layering then replacing the triggers you don’t want anymore with ones you do (record yourself or search for deep resets online).
- Cold turkey works best. If it’s too much, try listening in a different place, a different position, or moving (particularly outside) then have digital free days leading to a taper off.
- Try engaging in any of the interests or activities without the hypnosis so you break the dependency. Do some sensation mapping exercises to really get to know what turns you on. Anything you do that nurtures your energy will help.
- Figure out what unmet needs are prompting you to listen: is it task avoidance, chasing dopamine, or because you’re bored or lonely?
Non-therapeutic hypnosis content can be fun, but it can slip into a harmful maladaptive coping strategy for managing a world that isn’t fun to exist in. The last thing you want to do is make your inner world a place where you believe someone else has all the power. Your mind is way more powerful and expansive if you give it a chance.
I have a version of this article using more candid and informal language on my Substack for Hypnosis and compulsive behavior. . There are a number of technical restrictions for queer and alternative lifestyle affirming therapists, coaches and educators on clinical sites that are challenging to navigate in our current political climate.
