Since I frequently hear the phrase "Is hypnosis real?", I understand that some people will want to know if they have been hypnotized. The main problem about proving hypnosis is, that it is a natural state of mind. Not only is it a natural state, the cures that hypnosis provide are also perceived as being something natural. This is good for the client, let me explain how this is.

When a client has a severe problem, that really bugs him/her in his/her everyday life, you could expect an enormous amount of celebration from the person, when he/she realize that the problem is gone. This is often not the case with hypnosis. You can have a client that is extremely phobic of something, conduct hypnotherapy to help the client, and have the client walk out the door without feeling any different than when he/she walked in the door (assuming that the person wasn't experiencing the feeling of the phobia when walking in). Suddenly, the client realizes that the phobia isn't an issue, because it just feel so natural. Without knowing this, you might expect someone to feel an incredible amount of freedom when he finds out, that he isn't bothered by a phobia anymore. But since this doesn't happen, you will not see these big celebrations of newfound freedom. I think this is really good! I wouldn't ever want someone to think that I was the true source to their freedom.

I have seen a lot of religious cults that has their own rituals, which I would describe as a form of hypnosis. It's nothing like the formal hypnosis you find at a hypnotists office, it's a different kind, that they don't even know they are doing. When they "accidentally" cure people of some problems with these rituals, they come to believe that their spiritual leader is in fact connected with God. I'm not a very religious person, but if you are, don't take this as discredit. I merely would suggest that you think of these miracles as miracles of the body (a creation of God, if you will), instead of an attribute of the religious leader!

This took a slightly different turn, but my point is, that the state of hypnosis and the effects of hypnosis, will probably not feel that new to you. For some people it does, for some it don't, and that's fine. Now you also know why there is no great celebration when hypnosis is used as the cure, it's a natural way of change. Some hypnotists will make sure that you experience something different after being hypnotized. It can be as simple as suggesting that you will see the color "red" everywhere it's present. This will most likely convience you that hypnosis did have some effect, and that you were in fact hypnotized.