A New Approach To Self-hypnosis When All Else Fails
Let us assume that you have tried diligently to learn self-hypnosis for
a month or more but have failed. You have worked faithfully following
the instructions outlined in this book and other books on self-hypnosis,
but somehow the state of hypnosis eludes you. Should you give up in
despair, or is there still hope for you? Let me assure you that you can
still become an excellent subject. Let us examine several areas of this
You must, first of all, ask yourself if you are feeling better and
whether you have made strides in the direction you desire while giving
yourself suggestions in whatever stage of hypnosis you have achieved. If
your evaluation is affirmative to any degree, you can expect even
greater results. "But," you may say, "how can I expect greater results
when I haven't achieved self-hypnosis?" My answer is you may be
achieving self-hypnosis and not know it! The change to the self-hypnotic
state from the waking state can be imperceptible. Many times, prior to
testing subjects under hypnosis, I ask them if they think they are in
the hypnotic state. The answer is invariably no. When asking the
subjects for a cogent reason for this answer, they usually exclaim that
they are aware of what is going on and do not feel any different than
they did before I started working with them. They are amazed to find
that various tests work so perfectly.
Some subjects do not respond to hypnotic tests no matter how long you
work with them. For these persons, I usually de-emphasize the need for
passing the tests and concentrate on the therapeutic results which are
desired. This approach lessens anxiety and usually results in a
deepening of the hypnotic state. It is my feeling that many subjects
resist any tests as the implication is that once the tests work, the
subject is under complete control of the hypnotist. The subject may fear
this supposed subjection on one hand and yet want it on the other hand.
These forces can work unconsciously, and thus the attainment of hypnosis
becomes a very intricate, perplexing and trying procedure. Even though
this may be so, I can assure you that the problem and attainment of
hypnosis can be resolved. It is only a matter of motivation on the part
of the subject. This is the main ingredient necessary for successful
hypnosis.
Let me now explain a technique which has worked admirably for many who
have been frustrated because of their inability to achieve
self-hypnosis. It involves pretending you are hypnotized and going
through the motions of the various tests as though you were a perfect
subject. You will recall that one theory of hypnosis is that the
subject behaves in a manner that he believes is in keeping with hypnotic
behavior. This role playing is the basis for our unique approach. As
the subject continues this procedure, he takes on the conditioned
response mechanism necessary for self-hypnosis. Let us look at the
following examples of role playing.
During the war, many soldiers who wanted to leave the army would pretend
something was wrong with them. They would convince the authorities of
the authenticity of their "illness," and since nothing seemed to make
them better, they eventually were separated from the service because of
the incapacitating disorder. But what happened to many of these
malingerers after they were released from the service? I'm sure you know
the rest of the story. The constant malingering was transformed by this
role playing into a conditioned response pattern, eventually bringing
about the very undesirable condition responsible for their leaving the
service. I saw some of these individuals and more than once they told me
that they had unwittingly hypnotized themselves into having the ailment.
They wanted me to dehypnotize them. They actually turned out to be very
easy subjects as they had become highly suggestible. Unfortunately,
their super-ego structure was weak, they had difficulty in identifying
strongly with anyone, and the relationship in hypnosis was superficial
and without depth.
I am going to relate another example which I hope will help you
understand the role-playing technique for self-hypnosis. I have had the
following experience many times in giving hypnotic demonstrations before
various organizations. For some reason, even though I carefully ask that
only those who desire to be hypnotized volunteer as subjects for the
hypnotic demonstrations, an individual who has no intention of
cooperating comes up on the stage to poke fun at the hypnotist. In
giving public demonstrations, I usually work with about ten subjects
and simultaneously give them the same suggestions and posthypnotic
suggestions. Once the subjects are hypnotized, I work with them with
their eyes open. Using this technique, with each subject carrying out a
posthypnotic suggestion, intensifies the responses of other subjects.
There is also competitiveness to become the best subject.
In the meantime, the individual who is really not under hypnosis has let
the audience know about it by winking or making a grimace when I was not
looking at him. Observing laughter and other audience reactions which
are not in keeping with what is happening at the precise moment during
my lecture is my cue that I have an egocentric person on stage. You
might ask, "Can't you tell when someone is faking?" It is extremely
difficult many times to do so. Once you are aware of it, however, you
give certain tests to the group. The exhibitionist doesn't know how to
respond each time and you soon pick him out.
Even when I know specifically who it is, I do not dismiss him.
Interestingly, it is invariably a man. I continue with the
lecture-demonstration; but I let the audience know that I am aware of
the situation. This is the interesting part of this example. The
bumptious subject, by giving himself autosuggestions to comply with
various posthypnotic suggestions, is actually engaging in our technique
of role playing. The inevitable happens. He finds himself hypnotized
despite his obvious intention not to be affected in any way. Any
hypnotist can recount similar incidents.
What can you learn by the example just presented? What if you purposely
set about doing the same thing in your attempt to achieve self-hypnosis?
The obvious answer is that the technique has a good chance of working,
and as a result you will achieve self-hypnosis. This method has worked
with many recalcitrant subjects. To follow this plan, go back to chapter
six, "How To Attain Self-Hypnosis," and use the role-playing technique.
You'll be pleasantly surprised at how this approach will act as a
catalyst. Remember, once you obtain the eye closure, give yourself
whatever therapeutic suggestion you desire plus the posthypnotic
suggestion that the next time you will fall into a deeper and sounder
state of hypnosis at the count of three or any other cue you desire.
I know you may protest using the role-playing technique with the
question, "If I'm not under hypnosis, why give myself therapeutic
posthypnotic suggestions to condition myself to go under hypnosis at a
specific count?" You may further protest that you are only fooling
yourself. My answer is, "What if you are?" What is lost by doing it? You
have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Are you not really
interested in the end result and not the means? The attainment of the
self-hypnotic state is not in itself the end result; it is a means to
help you achieve your goal.
Don't many people carry or wear good-luck charms of a religious or
nonreligious nature? Don't we accept these items in our society? The
four-leaf clover and rabbit's foot as symbols of good luck have been
part of our culture for a long time. We are all sophisticated enough to
know that they do not have an intrinsic value, but don't they do
something for our mental attitude? This same pattern is precisely what
you are to follow in using the role-playing technique. If you believe,
expect and imagine that you will be successful in this approach to
self-hypnosis, I can assure you that you will.
May I urge you not to reject this novel and unorthodox approach. Many
have had excellent results when other methods, even those of a
professional hypnotist, have failed. Some of you may recognize this
approach as another means of applying the visual-imagery technique.
Whatever you choose to call it, I reiterate you can expect good results.
It is only necessary that you follow the instructions and adopt the
right attitude. By the right attitude, I mean that you should adopt the
conviction that you are going to achieve self-hypnosis even though you
might have experienced difficulty up to now. Hypnosis is a conviction
phenomenon.
It is possible you may say you are not suggestible. Actually, your lack
of response proves your suggestibility. You have been influenced by
negative suggestions. Everyone is suggestible to some degree. You have
become extremely suggestible to conscious or unconscious stimuli which
are definitely affecting your ability to respond. You need only use this
latent suggestibility and make it work for you. What would you say about
the suggestibility of a person who doesn't want to talk about hypnosis?
This person has never read a book on hypnosis and absolutely doesn't
want you or anyone else to hypnotize him. Would you believe this person
is a potentially good hypnotic subject? I can tell you by practical
experience that once this person allows himself to be hypnotized, he
turns out to be a perfect subject. Responding to either end of the
suggestibility scale is indicative of success with hypnosis. It becomes
a matter of manipulating this suggestibility skillfully in order to
achieve results.
Let me give you another example which may help. Which one of the two
lines drawn on this page is longer? Line AB or line CD?
What is your answer? Did you think both were the same? Take a ruler and
actually measure them. You'll find line AB longer than CD. "But," you
reply, "every other time both lines were the same." This is a familiar
optical illusion which is used many times in basic courses in
psychology. It is known as the Muller-Lyer illusion. My contention is
that if you said, "Both are the same size," you are potentially a good
subject. You respond perfectly to previous conditioning; thus, you are
responding as anticipated. If, on the other hand, you picked line AB,
you are normally suggestible. If you honestly picked line CD, you are
extremely cautious and respond best to "reverse psychology." Once again
you are highly suggestible, but toward one extreme.
Here's another interesting experiment. Would you say that lines AB and
CD were perfectly straight? I'll let you figure out what your response
means to this test by yourself. You can take a ruler to determine if the
lines are straight.
We all respond unconsciously to stimuli of some sort. Word association
tests are based on this principle. Aren't your reactions automatic to
the following terms: democratic party, republican party, communist
party, mother, father, movie star? If I mention the name of a famous
person, city or country, the same immediate unconscious reaction takes
place. Let's try it. Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D.
Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, Albert Schweitzer, Eleanor
Roosevelt, Boston, New York City, Hollywood, Miami Beach, United States,
England, France, Italy, Israel, Africa, Russia, China, India and South
America. The response and image keep changing, don't they?
I am trying to point out that this reaction is automatic because of
previous conditioning. I could mention almost anything and the same
automatic reaction would take place. The reaction would always be the
same unless something had happened to change or alter your response. Let
us mention the word hypnosis. Some sort of reaction must take place.
This can either be positive, negative, or neutral for our purposes. You
really don't have to think about your response as it is automatic. The
point to remember is that a definite response has taken place which will
either help or hinder your attainment of hypnosis. If the response
should be negative, it can be changed by gaining knowledge and actual
experience in hypnosis. It is natural to have a bit of uneasiness when
first experiencing or thinking about being hypnotized. After all, you
haven't been exposed to hypnosis in a therapeutic setting and couldn't
have formed a favorable reaction. Your response is probably derived from
a fictionization of hypnosis. The initial task of the hypnotist is to
create, by educating the prospective subject, a favorable attitude so
that the subject allows himself to be hypnotized.
What does this mean specifically to you if you are having difficulty
learning self-hypnosis? It means that through repeated exposures, you
will finally respond. You will realize there is no need for anxiety in
regard to your response. This inner feeling will, in turn, have a
cumulative, favorable effect upon your unconscious which will result in
your finally responding to hypnosis.
Suppose you still maintain and insist that you are not suggestible and
wonder if you will ever respond to hypnosis. Furthermore, the assurance
I have given you up to this point doesn't seem to convince you. If you
have tried diligently to achieve self-hypnosis, you cannot be blamed,
but let's try an experiment to test your suggestibility. It is well to
ponder my statement that if you do not respond, it is a sign of being
suggestible, but in a negative sense. Lack of response is a
manifestation of this negative suggestibility. My contention is that you
are definitely suggestible. Let us see what happens to you in trying the
following classical experiment. It is called the Chevreul's Pendulum
test.
Draw a circle with about a six-inch diameter and mark it as shown in the
illustration.
Next, take a ring and attach a string to it. If you have a locket, it
will do as well. The hypnotist uses a crystal ball and chain for this
experiment. Hold the end of the string or chain and keep the ring or
whatever object you are using about three inches above the center of the
circle.
Now, concentrate and fix your gaze on the ring, crystal ball, or locket.
Mentally suggest to yourself that the object will begin to revolve in a
circular manner following the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4. Picture in your
mind's eye that this circular motion is becoming wider and wider. Work
at this image for several minutes. Did the object begin turning to the
right following the numbers? Did the circle become larger and larger? If
it did, you are absolutely suggestible, are influenced by your own
suggestions and, therefore, if you follow instructions, can learn
self-hypnosis. You can be trained to acquire this skill.
If the experience did not work, try it again. Concentrate harder and try
to visualize more intently the object revolving in a circular manner.
You are not to rotate the object consciously or help it in any way. The
action must stem from your subconscious. The thought of the crystal ball
or ring revolving in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction
invariably causes an involuntary muscular reflex action to take place.
This phenomenon is known as an ideomotor action. Usually, as the subject
concentrates more intensely, the reflex action becomes more profound,
causing greater unconscious movement of the hand which, in turn, is
transmitted to the object in the form of larger circles and greater
momentum. The time required for the successful accomplishment of this
test depends upon the degree of suggestibility of the subject. An
interesting action is to see the object revolve in an opposite direction
than suggested. It gives a clue to the personality structure of the
individual.
The Ouija board works on the same principle as the Chevreul's Pendulum
test. Many times the aspirant will remark, "I swear I didn't make it
move!" Mentalists find hidden objects in an audience using basically the
same approach, combined with clever techniques of distraction. The term
given for this is "muscle reading."
This is the point in question. If the crystal ball, ring or locket moves
without conscious direction, you have successfully influenced your
subconscious mind. Self-hypnosis involves the same procedure. The goal
is to consciously cause a subconscious reaction. If the experiment does
not work with your eyes open, try it with your eyes closed for about
five minutes. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Should
you want to prove to yourself that you are suggestible with your eyes
open, practice the technique every day for a week or two. The idea of
the practice sessions is to reinforce and increase the response of the
unconscious movement until you develop proficiency. It follows the laws
of the conditioned reflex theory expounded by Dr. Ivan P. Pavlov
(1849-1936), the famous Russian psychologist. If, after several weeks,
you should still not be successful, use the role-playing technique.
Consciously make the object revolve. After a while, it will move
automatically whenever you attempt the experiment.
When this happens you will have proof of your suggestibility. It is
highly improbable that you will not be successful. It would be a rare
occurrence. By the same systematic efforts, I can assure you that you
can achieve self-hypnosis. If you are still not affected favorably, you
might consider one of the psychological means of inducing hypnosis. The
next chapter will discuss this topic.
I would recommend Pavlov's book called Conditioned Reflexes. Pavlov's
book will further explain and clarify the concept of the conditioned
response mechanism. It covers necessary conditions for the development
of conditioned responses, their formation by means of conditioned and
direct stimuli, plus a tremendous amount of material which will help you
in your understanding of the significance of the role-playing technique
in relationship to learning self-hypnosis.
More
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A New Approach To Self-hypnosis When All Else Fails
Let us assume that you have tried diligently to learn self-hypnosis for a month or more but have failed. You have worked faithfully following the instructions outlined in this book and other books on self-hypnosis, but somehow the state of hypnosi... Deepening The Self-hypnotic State
For each progressive test, it is usually necessary to have accomplished the preceding tests. However, this is not an absolute rule. Frequently, a subject responds to tests at the beginning of the depth scale and then to others at the end of the de... How Does Self-hypnosis Work?
There's an old Chinese proverb that states: "One picture is worth a thousand words." In conveying suggestions to the subconscious, we have found that picture images are more effective than the words that are implanted. For example, it isn't suffic... How To Arouse Yourself From The Self-hypnotic State
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Let us begin with the hypothesis that anyone can learn and practice, to some degree, the science of self-hypnosis. We shall assume that you have carefully thought out what you want to accomplish. You have, through self-analysis, come up with reaso... Is Hypnosis The Answer?
Dr. George Estabrooks, professor of psychology at Colgate University and author of the book, Hypnotism, made the following two statements in a paper called "The Future of Hypnosis" given as part of a program on "The Nature of Hypnosis" at the annu... Practical Applications Of Self-hypnosis
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Although the nature and phenomena of hypnosis are still incompletely understood, there are a multitude of theories which attempt to explain its mechanism and results. The most that can be done at this time is to explore various views which are hel... What About The Dangers Of Hypnosis?
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