Question: Is there a problem if I go to sleep while I’m hypnotized? In other words, if I go to sleep while I’m hypnotized, will I wake up?

Answer: Hypnosis is a natural state of awareness, and is simply a description of a process we use to communicate with the subconscious mind. When a person goes into a light stage of hypnosis, they’re in the same state that they’re in when they’re daydreaming, focused on a project, praying or watching television. Everybody goes through this stage of awareness as they’re going to sleep.

The activity of the mind has started to slow down, and their subconscious mind is more amenable to suggestion. A person in hypnosis may descend into a deeper level where they’re not aware of their outer circumstances, even though their subconscious is still responsive. This is a drowsy state, where sounds fade away.

Below this state is deep sleep. If a person “falls asleep” when they’re in a deep level of hypnosis, they’ll just awaken naturally when their body has been rested.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart