Hypnotherapy Daily Bulletin

There are also activities requiring a certain amount of self-confidence to start with, and fear or uncertainty may present a serious handicap. Everybody finds among his friends a number of people unable to swim, for instance. Were swimming a skill acquired only after considerable training, this should be expected. But the facts are quite different. Most animals who fall into the water usually have no great difficulty in scrambling out and learning how to swim as a result. Boys and girls are hardly different in this respect. The art of swimming comes to them naturally, in due course of time, unless the fear of water is suggested to them. But some adults simply can't acquire the skill, no matter what they do. A deliberate effort to learn how to swim has, it seems, no advantage over an accidental fall into deep water. An acquaintance of mine once assured me that she can swim in four feet of water; but the moment she gets into a deeper place, she goes down like a stone. Ridiculous, is it not? Yet she cannot help it; like so many other people, she is wrongly conditioned to swimming. There is but one method of fighting against this fault, and it is to modify the psychological attitude and to inspire the subject with confidence, be it only for the few moments of retraining. Hypnosis can be of obvious assistance in such cases.Swimming is but one of many skills depending on self-confidence in the first minutes, hours or days of practice.

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Among the faults usually yielding to suggestion or hypnosis, but requiring repeated sittings as a rule, are the following :

Stage-fright and uneasiness in addressing the public Fear of examinations
Excessive blushing
Shyness in specific circumstances
Various forms of inferiority
Poor handwriting
Incorrect posture in sitting or walking
Faults of pronunciation
Nervous stuttering
etc., etc.

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The records from which all the above data are taken are still further substantiated by indirect evidence. In this respect, clinical observations and theoretical considerations fully agree. We are justified, namely, in believing that any malady which is known to have been relieved, in some instances, by faith-healing or psychoanalysis, is likely to yield also to a proper hypnotic treatment. Unfortunately, we do not often know exactly what this treatment should be. Our information concerning the techniques required to assure success is still sadly lacking, and much research work is needed to find and determine them in detail. In order to grasp clearly the possibilities as well as the limitations of hypnotic treatment, let us keep one fundamental rule in mind that might help us escape the temptations of superstition and mysticism. It may be put in the words of John Hunter, English physiologist, who said that "as one state of the mind is capable of producing a disease, another state of the mind effects a cure."

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Hypnotherapy Info Blog

Just to convey a general idea as to the progress of hypnotic therapy, I wish to give at this point a representative list of ailments that have been and can be relieved or cured by suggestion, whenever diagnosis indicates a functional cause:

SCIENTIFIC HYPNOTISM

Stomach aches
Indigestion
Constipation
Loss of appetite
Headaches
Sea sickness
Asthma, of nervous origin
Functional heart disorders
Neuralgia
Sciatica
Physical allergy (supersensitiveness) and hay fever Eczema, in several forms
Chronic alcoholism
Drug addiction, such as morphinism

Hypnotizm Daily News Blog

After the source of natural anxiety and distrust has thus been removed, and after every precaution to save the subject any unnecessary physical uneasiness has been taken, the subject is hypnotized in an ordinary fashion. Few people are ever annoyed by the state of hypnosis in general, but in reports on oneirosis the expressions of surprise and pleasure are particularly common. "It was a very enjoyable and agreeable state," writes one. "I felt like remaining that way for a long time," confesses another. "I did not want to come out of the state," asserts the third. "There seemed to be one thing that held my attention; it was the warm, joyous blood in my veins," states the fourth.

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I contend that the subject can even be made to commit murder under hypnosis-or, rather, an unintentional homicide, if you please-if the suggestion in question is given in a manner misleading the senses or concealing the final result. To make the argument more conclusive, suppose you are challenged (in the normal waking state, again) to play a practical joke on a friend of yours, by putting some sleeping powder (or laxative) into his coffee. You may be tempted to do so, if you are in a proper frame of mind. And in all probability you will not investigate to discover whether the powder you had been handed is actually a harmless somniferous drug. It might be a poison! Now, if there is a chance of being made an unconscious partner to a murder plot in ordinary circumstances, there is obviously a greater probability of being so fooled under hypnosis. And perhaps to be made to forget the act!

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This surprising lack of harmful effects of scientific hypnosis has been observed and commented upon by such noted authorities as Liébeault, Wetterstrand, van Eeden, de Jong, Moll, Bramwell, Schilder and Kauders. A. Forel asserted that he has never come across a single instance of physical or mental harm caused by hypnosis. Bernheim recorded but on case (Revue Médicale de I'Est, for February, 1895), "in which death followed hypnosis induced by a medical man. The patient suffered from phlebitis, accompanied by severe pain; and to relieve this, Bernheim hypnotized him. He died two hours afterwards, and post-mortem examination showed that death was due to embolism of the pulmonary artery. . . Bernheim has hypnotized over 10,000 hospital patients; sometimes this would be done for relief of pain associated with inevitably fatal maladies, and, therefore, the matter for surprise is that death has not more frequently occurred during, or shortly after, the induction of hypnosis."

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Hypnotherapy Scoops

Amnesia, as an automatic result of deep trance or as Sch¡lder and Kauder", an intentional inhibition of memory, remains of considerable interest to us. But we also begin to discover that post-hypnotic suggestion has a positive value, that numerous things can be accomplished through it in medicine, psychology and education. We find here a definite proof that human behavior depends largely on the autonomic nervous system, in its effects upon the mind and body, and also that physiological processes, no less than conscious activities, are constantly being conditioned by suggestion.

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The Hypnotic State Bulletin

Through a careful and realistic approach, with the subject's own views as the starting point, he can be convinced of many a thing which he might reject as impossible or ridiculous if approached bluntly, without due preparation and transition. Nothing is cruder in suggestion than to command, for instance: "You must imagine you are traveling in a train. You must. You must!" I have seen persons under hypnosis, who smiled at such commands in a way indicating beyond doubt that their ability to criticize, and differ with, the practician is not totally absent in the trance. How much finer it is to convey the same idea in a casual, conversational manner, such as: "I like to travel in trains. I get the feeling of doing something adventurous, and look forward to seeing new faces, new places. When I am alone in the compartment, it seldom occurs to me to read a newspaper or magazine. Like a little boy, I eagerly look out of the window and find so many interesting things to observe, to admire." Before you complete the monologue and come to the intended suggestion, the subject already shares your imaginary experiences. The picture is in his mind, realistic and personal, before you have had a chance to express it fully.

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So-called "passes,"extensively used in the nineteenth century, are quite superfluous, unless the subject had been made to believe in their power. Nor is there any need to hold a hand on the subject's forehead, hand or knee; in general, no bodily contact is required. One's voice is a sufficient channel of communication for suggestion. If, however, you want to be sure of the normal heart-beat of your patient, have your fingers on his pulse.Pre-hypnotic suggestions should begin soon or even immediately after the subject is placed in the chair. You may be saying, for example, something of this sort: "Look steadily at the ball in front of you. Look steadily and do not wink. After a while your eyes will become weary and shut by themselves. Do not try to close them deliberately, nor make any efforts to keep them open. Forget about everything except that you must look at the ball. I shall be watching you closely, to help you enter the state of hypnosis. When you are ready, I shall say 'Keep your eyes closed'. As you enter the state, your entire organism will cooperate with the suggestions I am going to give you. You will find it a calm, pleasant state, during which you enjoy thorough relaxation. But you will be aware of everything I say and of everything you do. Now relax, feel well. Let your breathing be light; let your heart beat evenly, just as in the state of normal sleep. Your eyes are getting tired, but they will be relieved now that a pleasant drowsiness envelops you."

Hypnotic Experiments Info Blog

The term ordinarily used in this connection is "rapport." According to an old belief, rapport constitutes a special and necessary relationship, by virtue of which the subject responds exclusively to suggestions of the hypnotist. No other person supposedly can influence the subject, not during the trance at least. Rapport so understood is not, indeed, a rare phenomenon. Any practician remembers numerous cases in which the subject, easily reacting to his suggestions, remained completely deaf to the voices of other persons.

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Hypnotism Daily Scoops

And numerous psychiatrists succumbed to the temptation of fashionable theories and resorted to them to explain the phenomena of hypnosis. Witness, for instance, the following interpretation of what happens during the trance: "You are in touch with the unconscious mind of the subject, which is just as capable of handling the body and is just as acute as is the individual's conscious mind. . . This simple technique puts you in touch with the unconscious mind of the subject, which explains (sic!) the spectacular results which are observed. First of all, this unconscious mind is extremely suggestible . . ." What is it, mere naiveté?How easily one succumbs to the apparent plausibility of such interpretation is obvious from the following R. Mucller-Freienfels, The Evolution of Modern Psychology, 362. 3G. H. Estabrooks, "Hypnotism," Scientific American made of "negative hallucination," as related with comments by W. McDougall.

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Hypnotherapy Daily Scoops

All the have been made by reliable authorities and repeatedly verified. Several of them have been once or more reproduced in my own experiments. Striking they may be, yet there is nothing miraculous about them. There is no need to invoke a supernatural agency for their explanation. The mystery of nature is invariably the ignorance of men, be it justifiable or not. Nothing miraculous or unnatural, indeed, can be attained by hypnotic procedure. It deals with, and is limited by, certain powers within the human organism, that can be made to work once we know how to stimulate the mechanism involved in its activities. However, as the effects described above cannot be produced at will, merely by wishing for their appearance, it is obvious that hypnosis implies some physiological mechanism which is not open to a direct voluntary control. This mechanism will determine what can and what can not be accomplished by means of hypnosis.

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Under the pressure of expanding knowledge, however, all prejudice collapses sooner or later. The study of hypnotic phenomena bids definitely today for acceptance into the family of recognized sciences. In the manner shown by medicine, astronomy and chemistry, in their emancipation from crudity and superstition, the science of hypnotism promises to open new vistas for research and practice. To facilitate this transition- which has yet to be accomplished-it will be necessary, I believe, to forbid the practice of hypnosis to the untrained and unqualified and to discourage idle public demonstrations, at least until suggestion acquires a solid and verified foundation of knowledge.

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Ending the State Bulletin Updates

The hypnotic state can be prolonged almost indefinitely, without fear that the subject might incur harmful effects. The practician will find, however, that all he needs, in most instances, to imprint his suggestions upon the subject's mind and through it upon the subject's autonomic nervous system, is five minutes. He may be willing to spend an hour or two keeping the subject in the trance. He may transfer the power of suggestion (or "rapport," as it is called technically). Or he may even leave the subject alone in the state, until he comes back. But sooner or later the trance must be broken, and the normal waking state restored.

Facts About Hypnotism News

A few examples will help illustrate the nature of hypnotic phenomena. Time: early fall. Place: New York City. A subject is hypnotized in an ordinary room, with normal temperature, and the following suggestion is given to him in a calm yet emphatic voice:

The hypnotist stops for a few seconds to observe the subject and then resumes: "You look quite warm, too. You don't seem to be able to endure high temperature. No, you don't. I see beads of perspiration on your forehead. Can I do anything for you ? Some lemonade? Of course. I shall be back in a minute. "He leaves the room and returns promptly with a glass of lemonade-or it might be plain water-saying: "Lemonade is very refreshing. Here it is. Take the glass. I am sure you'll like it."As the experimenter proceeds with the monologue, the subject clearly develops the appearance of a man suffering from intense heat.

The Cataleptic State Daily

There is a pretty well-authenticated report of a young girl who after an intense fright, fell into a lethargic condition which lasted for four years. Her parents were poor and ignorant, but, as the fame of the case spread abroad, some physicians went to investigate it . Her sleep had never been interrupted. On raising the eyelids, the doctors found the eyes turned convulsively upward, but, blowing upon them, produced no reflex movement of the lids. Her jaws were closed tightly, and the attempt to open her mouth had broken off some of the teeth level with the gums. The muscles contracted at the least breath or touch, and the arms remained in position when uplifted.The contraction of the muscles is a sign of the lethargic state, but the arm, remaining in position, indicates the cataleptic state. The girl was kept alive by liquid nourishment poured into her mouth.

Self-Hypnotization Bulletin

This is, so to speak, a process of self-hypnotization, and I have often practiced it when going from house to house, when in the midst of a busy practice, and I sometimes have amused my friends and family by exercising this faculty, which I do not think it very difficult to acquire. (We also know that many persons can wake at a fixed hour in the morning by setting their minds upon it just before going to sleep.) Now, there is something here which deserves a little further examination, but which it would take too much time to develop fully at present. Most people know something of what is meant by reflex action. The nerves which pass from the various organs to the brain convey with, great rapidity messages to its various parts, which are answered by reflected waves of impulse. If the soles of the feet be tickled, contraction of the toes, or involuntary laughter, will be excited, or perhaps only a shuddering and skin contraction, known as goose-skin. The irritation of the nerve-end in the skin has carried a message to the involuntary or voluntary ganglia of the brain which has responded by reflecting back again nerve impulses which have contracted the muscles of the feet or skin muscles, or have given rise to associated ideas and explosion of laughter. In the same way, if during sleep heat be applied to the soles of the feet, dreams of walking over hot surfaces--Vesuvius or Fusiyama, or still hotter places--may be produced, or dreams of adventure on frozen surfaces or in arctic regions may be created by applying ice to the feet of the sleeper.

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