Hey there everyone,
I have some questions about hypnosis. Not as a practitioner but as a patient/client (or whatever name I should give it).
I went to a hypnotist therapist some weeks ago, because I have some childhood trauma experiences that really influence my life. I hoped he could help.
It seemed a very trustworthy man, and although I was nervous and half believed I would not be hypnotized very easily, it did happen. It was very calming and I pretty much did not notice that I was hypnotized.
Until I heard him suggest that I would not remember anything that he had said and would not remember what had happened. That I would not know that the thoughts that I would have, were his suggestions. And that I did not feel any need to talk about it with others.
For some reason that last sentence snapped me out of it and I 'woke' (not sure if that is the term) before he was done. I stressed about it and asked him what I should not remember. And right away it popped up in my mind, he had said things about me liking him, coming to visit him, listening to him and feeling attracted to him.
He denied that, and I asked him if I could see the video he had made, because he had a camera there to review later with the client (he had said so beforehand). To give trust.
He gave it to me, but it had not recorded anything. He said he had probably made a mistake and had not pressed the record button the right way.
It happened some weeks ago. And it doesn't leave my mind. I just keep thinking about it and its making me crazy.
Is there a way to really remember everything completely? It seems like a hazy experience. A bit more then an hour had passed, so I should remember a lot right?
I wondered what others might advise me about it. The reason why I visited him in the first place was because I experienced sexual abuse as a child. Those 'trauma' memories now mix up with this new event, making me feel quite confused and depressed.
He of course said that he did not say those things, and that such false memories sometimes happen with hypnosis. But how can I know? I do not trust it at all.
Can I maybe somehow remove the influence he has/suggestions he might have made?
Hypnotist influence
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by Floortje » Wed Aug 23, 2017 2:29 pm
There is really another question I want to ask as well.
Is a prolonged hypnotic state something that happens? Because since the event I've been very absent minded, having poor memory and feeling very unfocused. People around me notice it. One said 'you seem to be elsewhere with your thoughts lately', and another said that I look like I'm a bit drugged.
Both did not know about the hypnosis, and what they say, is how I feel.
I do not use medicine or drugs, never did. So that cannot be a reason.
Maybe its just my worries that cause the dazed feeling. Maybe I'm just really tired.
But I wondered if it can also be a side effect.
Is a prolonged hypnotic state something that happens? Because since the event I've been very absent minded, having poor memory and feeling very unfocused. People around me notice it. One said 'you seem to be elsewhere with your thoughts lately', and another said that I look like I'm a bit drugged.
Both did not know about the hypnosis, and what they say, is how I feel.
I do not use medicine or drugs, never did. So that cannot be a reason.
Maybe its just my worries that cause the dazed feeling. Maybe I'm just really tired.
But I wondered if it can also be a side effect.
by WritingSamson » Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:02 am
Wow, from what I could gather from your question you sound like you've been through a lot, either way.
Let's see if I can offer a few answers (in hopes this is still relevant). First of all, to your second question, a "prolonged hypnotic state" isn't really something that could happen. But here's the thing: hypnotism is, by its very nature, a state of relaxation. And I'd like you to show me someone who doesn't like to relax. So if you've experienced it before, sure, your mind may remember how pleasant that was and want to return to that feeling. All hypnosis is, at its core, self-hypnosis. So one could argue that rather than staying in trance for a prolonged time your mind has simply learned to slip back into that sort of state every now and then. Nothing to worry about by itself, though you may want to try to become more aware of when that happens. A former subject of mine, after the very first session, was so happy with how she felt under hypnosis that just the sound of my voice was enough to "remind" her of it and have her slip right back under. It can happen, though it depends on the person. But again, that just means you are relaxing, and it may only be a problem as long as you still become "dazed" regardless of time or place (like in class, at work, when driving, and such). Just take your time to try and become more in control of it. For example, by making conscious relaxation at specific times a part of your daily routine. Of course, I can't offer you some miracle solution, but it would be a huge first step in the right direction.
Let's see if I can offer a few answers (in hopes this is still relevant). First of all, to your second question, a "prolonged hypnotic state" isn't really something that could happen. But here's the thing: hypnotism is, by its very nature, a state of relaxation. And I'd like you to show me someone who doesn't like to relax. So if you've experienced it before, sure, your mind may remember how pleasant that was and want to return to that feeling. All hypnosis is, at its core, self-hypnosis. So one could argue that rather than staying in trance for a prolonged time your mind has simply learned to slip back into that sort of state every now and then. Nothing to worry about by itself, though you may want to try to become more aware of when that happens. A former subject of mine, after the very first session, was so happy with how she felt under hypnosis that just the sound of my voice was enough to "remind" her of it and have her slip right back under. It can happen, though it depends on the person. But again, that just means you are relaxing, and it may only be a problem as long as you still become "dazed" regardless of time or place (like in class, at work, when driving, and such). Just take your time to try and become more in control of it. For example, by making conscious relaxation at specific times a part of your daily routine. Of course, I can't offer you some miracle solution, but it would be a huge first step in the right direction.
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by WritingSamson » Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:16 am
Now to the first and original part of your question.
I'm sorry to hear that apparently you ended up putting your faith in the wrong kind of person. Because what that hypnotist had done was immoral in every sense of the word. That said, about him telling you to forget the contents of the session, something like hypnotically induced amnesia does exist. Still, it just means making certain memories inaccessible, they don't disappear. So, in theory, remembering everything would be possible.
That said, ever heard that sometimes the brain refuses to recall painful, shocking or simply unpleasant and revolting memories? From what you said, it sounds like your memories of the session with your therapist might fall into that category. Which begs the question, if you have remembered he was giving you suggestions to influence your relationship with and your trust to him instead of honestly offering help with your problems, or even before that if you know he promised to film the session for reference and to show the client in cases like yours, but then didn't film anything, haven't you already remembered enough to know you likely shouldn't trust this particular therapist?
I'm sorry I can't offer any more specific help this way. Still, maybe you find something of what I said useful.
I'm sorry to hear that apparently you ended up putting your faith in the wrong kind of person. Because what that hypnotist had done was immoral in every sense of the word. That said, about him telling you to forget the contents of the session, something like hypnotically induced amnesia does exist. Still, it just means making certain memories inaccessible, they don't disappear. So, in theory, remembering everything would be possible.
That said, ever heard that sometimes the brain refuses to recall painful, shocking or simply unpleasant and revolting memories? From what you said, it sounds like your memories of the session with your therapist might fall into that category. Which begs the question, if you have remembered he was giving you suggestions to influence your relationship with and your trust to him instead of honestly offering help with your problems, or even before that if you know he promised to film the session for reference and to show the client in cases like yours, but then didn't film anything, haven't you already remembered enough to know you likely shouldn't trust this particular therapist?
I'm sorry I can't offer any more specific help this way. Still, maybe you find something of what I said useful.
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