The Secret History of Hypnosis — And Freud’s Forgotten Obsession

When people hear the word hypnosis, they often think of stage shows or movie myths. But behind the swinging watches and “mind control” stereotypes lies a fascinating history — stretching from ancient rituals to Sigmund Freud’s early experiments and the modern science we rely on today.

Ancient Roots

Using trance-like states for healing is not new. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Hindu cultures used forms of ritual trance or “sleep temples” for spiritual and physical healing. People would lie in quiet, sacred spaces, chant, and enter dreamlike states believed to restore balance and insight.

Mesmer and Animal Magnetism

The modern chapter of hypnosis began in the 18th century with Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian physician. Mesmer believed in an invisible force he called “animal magnetism,” which he claimed flowed through all living things. He said he could channel this force to heal patients.

Although Mesmer’s ideas did not stand up to scientific testing, they caused a sensation in Europe. His dramatic sessions — complete with iron rods, group ceremonies, and magnetic props — gave us the word mesmerize. While many dismissed him as a fraud, his work triggered real scientific curiosity.

Hypnosis Enters Medicine

In the 19th century, Scottish surgeon James Braid gave hypnosis a new, more medical foundation. He coined the term hypnotism from the Greek word for sleep (hypnos), although he later regretted the name because hypnosis is not true sleep — it is a state of focused awareness.

Doctors began using hypnosis as a form of anesthesia decades before modern chemical anesthetics were invented. In India, British surgeon James Esdaile famously performed hundreds of operations under hypnosis, significantly reducing pain and surgical mortality rates at the time.

Freud’s Early Fascination

Sigmund Freud, best known as the father of psychoanalysis, was once an enthusiastic student of hypnosis. In the late 1800s, Freud studied under French neurologists Jean-Martin Charcot and Hippolyte Bernheim, who were pioneers in using hypnosis to treat hysteria and other psychological conditions.

Freud used hypnosis to help patients access unconscious memories and emotions that were shaping their lives. However, he found that not everyone responded well to hypnosis, and he disliked feeling limited by the technique. This led him to develop free association and the classic “talking cure” that became the foundation of psychoanalysis.

Ironically, Freud’s fascination with the unconscious mind helped keep interest in hypnosis alive. His ideas about buried memories and hidden beliefs remain central to modern hypnotherapy.

Modern Hypnosis

By the 20th century, hypnosis had evolved far beyond Mesmer’s magnets and Freud’s couch. Practitioners like Milton Erickson refined hypnotic techniques into a flexible, practical tool for helping people manage pain, anxiety, phobias, and unwanted habits.

Today, hypnosis is supported by neuroscience and clinical research. Studies using brain scans confirm that hypnosis can change patterns of brain activity, enhancing focus and making the mind more receptive to positive suggestions. Major hospitals and therapists use hypnosis to support real, lasting change — a long way from its myth-filled beginnings.