Hypnosis Success Stories

Woman being hypnotized with pendulum

What It’s Really Like to Be Hypnotized: Sixteen People Share Their Surprising Experiences

Hypnosis has long lived in a strange cultural limbo. On one hand, stage performers make it look theatrical and absurd—people clucking like chickens, forgetting their names, or collapsing into chairs on command. On the other hand, hypnotherapy is used in clinical settings for everything from smoking cessation to trauma recovery. So which is it? A gimmick, a therapeutic tool, or something in between?

To get a clearer picture, Reddit user Bigpaw2003 posed a simple question: “What is it like to be hypnotized? Is it fake?” The responses were candid, varied, and surprisingly compelling. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, these firsthand accounts offer a fascinating look into what hypnosis actually feels like.

1. “I didn’t believe in it… and then I quit smoking for 20 years.”

One user said they doubted hypnosis even while experiencing it. Yet after a single session, they walked out and didn’t smoke—or even think about cigarettes—for two decades.

—Bacore

2. A childhood fear of aliens, gone in one session

A hypnotherapy session designed like a guided imagination exercise helped a child overcome a deep fear of extraterrestrials. Within days, they could go outside at night without panic.

—SaneMann

3. Night terrors reduced from nightly to a few times a year

Someone with PTSD‑related night terrors described their session as the most relaxed they had ever felt. What felt like two hours was actually four. Afterward, their night terrors dropped dramatically.

—pixiepeg

4. “You’re not a chicken—you just don’t care if you pretend to be one.”

For some, hypnosis feels like a deeply relaxed, uninhibited state. You’re aware of what you’re doing, but everything feels so calm that going along with suggestions seems natural.

—CameoAmalthea

5. Therapeutic hypnosis vs. stage hypnosis

Another user emphasized that real hypnotherapy is nothing like stage shows. It’s more like guided relaxation, and they believe repeated sessions could have helped them quit smoking.

—DTownForever

6. Time distortion and effortless focus

One person described hypnosis as a half‑asleep, lucid state where time becomes slippery. They held their arms up for ten minutes without realizing it—something they normally couldn’t do for even one.

—Dahns

7. Anxiety relief despite skepticism

Even while doubting the process, one user found hypnosis surprisingly effective for anxiety.

—dougxiii

8. A high school stage show that actually worked

A participant realized halfway through that they were mostly playing along—but their friends onstage seemed genuinely hypnotized. They forgot suggestions, followed instructions, and believed nothing unusual had happened.

—JoeyJoeJoeJrShab

9. “Maybe it worked… maybe I just didn’t want to waste the money.”

Another smoker quit after a hypnosis session, unsure whether it was the hypnosis or their own determination. Either way, it worked.

—jenemb

10. Relaxed, aware, and cooperative

Group hypnosis left one user deeply relaxed and willing to follow instructions, even though they remained fully aware of their actions.

—Mmmmee2005

11. A fear of white dogs—completely erased

A person terrified specifically of white dogs found relief through sessions with their hypnotherapist father. They remember peaceful imagery—steps, blue light—and now can spend all day with a white dog without fear.

—ConfusedFanGirl0502

12. YouTube hypnosis as structured meditation

Some people find online hypnosis videos helpful for focus and relaxation. For them, hypnosis feels like meditation with guidance.

—Prezumoto

13. A hypnotist of ten years weighs in

A professional hypnotist said hypnosis depends heavily on confidence and belief—but it’s absolutely real. They’ve seen everything from phobia removal to erotic hypnosis effects.

—Spookwagen_II

14. A deep meditative state where time disappears

Listening to a hypnosis CD felt like slipping into meditation so deep that an hour passed in what felt like seconds.

—Viiibrations

15. “All hypnosis is self‑hypnosis.”

A student hypnotist shared the mantra repeated in every class: hypnosis only works if the participant allows it to.

—noahsalwaysmad

16. Accidental toilet hypnosis

One user joked that they may have hypnotized themselves by zoning out on the toilet for hours… or maybe they just fell asleep.

—Dewy_Wanna_Go_There

So… is hypnosis real?

Based on these stories, hypnosis isn’t mind control, and it doesn’t override your will. Instead, it appears to be:

• a deeply relaxed, focused state

• a tool for bypassing certain fears or habits

• something that works best when the participant is willing

• an experience that varies dramatically from person to person

Whether it’s therapeutic, meditative, or simply a structured way to access the subconscious, many people swear by its effects. And if nothing else, these stories show that hypnosis is far more than stage tricks and swinging pocket watches.

References

• Reddit thread by user Bigpaw2003: “What is it like to be hypnotized? Is it fake?”

• User‑submitted anecdotes from Reddit (Bacore, SaneMann,