Can You Perform Self-Hypnosis with Your Eyes Open?

Do you close your eyes during self-hypnosis? Most people do. This is an easy way to minimize distractions. You'll have nothing competing for your visual attention. Closing your eyes is preferred if you're in a setting where a lot is happening around you.

A busy environment isn’t where you usually think of having an auto-hypnosis session though, is it? However, when you can grab a few minutes to enjoy a productive self-hypnosis session, even when a lot is going on around you, why not try? Practice will make you better at hypnosis with your eyes open, so you can do it even when the setting is chaotic.

So, should you keep your eyes closed during hypnosis? This question cannot always answered with a simple yes or no. For instance, you access your subconscious every day without realizing it, and yet your eyes are open as you engage in some conscious activity.

What do hypnotherapists say?

Hypnotists and hypnotherapists have differing opinions on the subject. According to the website SelfHypnosis.com, hypnotist Barrie Saint John says that the public perception of hypnosis always envisions the patient with their eyes closed. Movies, films, and books have driven home this belief, as well. Sometimes, however, a hypnotherapist will ask that a patient open their eyes after a hypnotic state has been induced.

It really depends on the hypnotist. Regarding self-hypnosis, the recommendation is to try with your eyes open and closed and see how you feel. You should choose whichever method reaps the best results.

When your attention strays you could be under hypnosis, with your eyes wide open.

We've all listened to someone talk endlessly at some point in our lives. The rambling goes on and on and on, with no end in sight. You're politely listening and possibly even nodding your head and making attentive gestures; however, at the same time, your mind strays. You're not deep into the conversation anymore. You might pick up bits and pieces, and the person talking thinks you're actively listening, but in reality, you're miles away in your mind.

You can see the room around you. You are aware of your environment and everything that's going on. Your eyes are wide open. You could act consciously and physically on what you're seeing, hearing, and smelling.

Yet, you are in a state of hypnosis. Your eyes are open, but your mind has taken a journey somewhere else.

Like in a self-hypnosis session, you can voluntarily bring yourself back to your current state. You can answer a question posed to you or otherwise engage in a conversation. This is a simple example of hypnosis with your eyes open.

We'll go back to what we recommended earlier. Try self-hypnosis with your eyes closed. If that works well, there might not be any need to try the other option. On the other hand, there may be times when having your eyes open is preferred. Having your eyes open or closed won't guarantee or limit the success of a self-hypnosis session, so, again, use whichever method brings about the best results for you!

To learn more about the benefits of self-hypnosis, check out our course, Improving Your Life with Self-Hypnosis here.