Getting stuck in trance state is what most hypnotic subjects fear more than anything else. It is for this reason that you must put the subject’s mind at ease by telling them how simple the wakening procedure is.

Also, every so often you will come across a subject who will refuse to awaken. The reason behind this is that if a person´s life is very dull they will enjoy the trance state so much that they will want to stay in it. It’s like going to sleep and having a wonderful dream and not wanting to wake from the experience. If you find yourself faced with such a subject all you need to do is gradually bring them round in the same kind of fashion that you would gradually ‘put them under’. You can do this in several ways. If you are particularly good at gaining rapport and pacing and leading a subject you can use this method by simply gaining rapport and then slowly getting the subject to follow you out of trance.

Another, and a lot simpler method, is to tell the subject that you are going to count up from one to ten and when you reach ten they will be wide awake. Then proceed to start counting and as you do interlace the numbers with suggestions of becoming more and more alert. Using this method you will often find that the subject is awake and back to their normal state before you can get as far as the number five. If you are still having problems then you can use shock tactics. Simply turn to another volunteer and request that they go and fetch you a bucket of water as you are having problems getting one of the volunteers to wake. The hypnotized subject will hear this request and will instantly awaken so as to avoid a soaking. When you awaken the volunteers, except in the case just discussed, never use shock. Always make sure that you awaken the volunteers gradually and in a good mood. To do this you can use an affirmation on the subject prior to the awakening.

An affirmation can be as simple as telling the subjects that when they awaken they will look and feel better than they have ever felt in their entire lives. Be careful with your language here, as the hypnotized subject´s mind is very literal. I’m sure you can imagine the difference between metaphorically feeling and looking a thousand dollars and actually believing that you do feel like and look like a thousand dollars. When you are putting your affirmations together you must always speak in a positive context and in the present tense. What you are basically trying to do with the affirmation is make the subject feel wonderful upon awakening. You can achieve this in many ways. If you like, tell the subject that they have just had a relaxing and refreshing five hours sleep and upon awakening they will feel refreshed, relaxed and alert. If you prefer, then tell them they are beautiful or amazing or whatever. As long as you remember to keep the affirmation positive and in the present tense you really can’t go wrong.