Hypnosis: had any experience of it?

[dropzone]

I tried real hard, even pretending it worked. Y'see, the hypnotist helping me quit smoking may have been a nun, but she was in civilian clothes and about my age and cute and nuns don't stay nuns forever these days....

So no, I kept smoking and I didn't get to date a nun.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Oh, that makes sense! I read it quite a different way.

That's because it was written in needless medical speak. That's like the use of double negatives in needless lawyer speak.

 

[John Albert]

I've also got some "anecdotal evidence" to add to this thread.

When I was in college I went to a school psychologist because I'd been feeling depressed. After several weeks of regular talking therapy with no success (I was quite obstinate about my feelings of apathy and worthlessness), the psychologist suggested we try hypnosis. The notion appealed to me, so I decided to give it a go.

I kicked back on the devon wearing headphones and she put on a cassette tape of some guy talking real slowly and smoothly, entreating me to relax. The soothing language gradually segued into a series of visualization exercises. As I dutifully followed the directions in the recording, I began to focus all my attention into performing the little mental activities the voice was proposing.

For example, I was instructed to visualize the thing that was bothering me most at that particular moment in time, and assign it a color and a shape. I was then instructed to mentally draw a circle around it with a piece of white chalk, then to imagine that chalk outline getting smaller and smaller until constricted the object of my discomfort, eventually compressing and shrinking it away to nothing. Now it may seem silly, but at the time I found these exercises to be a pleasant distraction from my previous anxious and miserable attitude. In that sense, I suppose the "hypnosis therapy" worked to some extent. But it only provided momentary relief. I was back to my miserable old self again within hours after leaving the office.

My first few hypnosis sessions were not very successful. It was difficult for me to concentrate on the material and not become distracted by outside noises or stray thoughts. One time I actually dozed off during the session and the therapist woke me after hearing my snoring. But as time went on, over a number of sessions I developed the ability to achieve the meditative state quite easily, even on my own. At that point, the therapist quit using the audio cassettes and just spoke to me directly. Around that time I also started practicing self-hypnosis on my own at home.

While under hypnosis, I was often able to attain a strange sensation that is difficult to describe, something like falling backwards while at the same time "floating" weightlessly. That feeling, along with the visualization exercises and the meditative state in general, were far from effortless to maintain. In my experience, "hypnosis" required constant, unwavering concentration.

I feel I ought to point out that at no time during any of these sessions was I ever in any kind of zombie-like "trance" state. At all times I was fully able to control my own thoughts and feelings. At no point was I under anyone's control, nor would I have been compelled to do anything I wouldn't have wanted to do in the first place. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been impervious to pain or anything like that, either. The experience was basically a form of deep relaxation and meditation, nothing more.

I've also seen stage hypnotism acts before, and even got called onstage for a hypnotism show once. That experience was nothing at all like my other experiences with "real" hypnosis. The stage show was pretty much just people playing along for kicks. A bunch of us even started goofing on the magician behind his back, and when he caught on he politely "de-hypnotized" us and sent us back to our seats amid a round of applause.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

....
I've also seen stage hypnotism acts before, and even got called onstage for a hypnotism show once. That experience was nothing at all like my other experiences with "real" hypnosis. The stage show was pretty much just people playing along for kicks. A bunch of us even started goofing on the magician behind his back, and when he caught on he politely "de-hypnotized" us and sent us back to our seats amid a round of applause.

Given what I've posted that people's susceptibility to hypnosis varies greatly and this is well documented, how do you know all the people on the stage were "people playing along for kicks"?

It's sounds like you were relaxed and maybe even in a suggestible state with the psychologist, but I don't see where you were actually hypnotized so that you can say it's what it is like for others who might be.

 

[John Albert]

Given what I've posted that people's susceptibility to hypnosis varies greatly and this is well documented, how do you know all the people on the stage were "people playing along for kicks"?

Because I was up on stage right there with them, watching them do the same kinds of things I'd been told to do, and playing along just as I had done. I could see it in their actions and their facial expressions.

We got called onstage one by one. There were already a couple people up there when I got picked. After the hypnotist did his "induction" spiel (which was completely unlike the gradual, time-consuming routine I'd encountered in therapy) he announced to the audience I was now in a "trance," and he gave me a number of little scenarios to play out: getting a haircut being itchy under the collar, being outdoors on a cold day without a jacket, meeting a strange dog for the first time.

After finishing the initial demonstration with me, he instructed me to sit in a chair on the stage next to the previous participants and called a few more people to do their thing. It was at that point that I was able to observe how those people were behaving from close range, and it was pretty clear they were just playing along just like I had done. At one point, a guy seated next to me began whispering wisecracks about the magician and his act. He was really funny, and though the audience couldn't hear him, I started having a difficult time containing my laughter.

After all the chairs onstage were occupied, the magician began issuing commands to all of us as a group. At that point the guy really let loose with the jokes. A couple other people on stage joined in and it eventually became obvious to the "hypnotist" that the show was getting away from him, so he instructed about 4 or 5 of us jokers to step forward. He told us we were all monkeys at the zoo, and when one of the guys failed to perform, cracked a lame joke about his armpits getting very itchy. Then he did his "de-induction" routine on all of us as a group, asked for a round of applause, and told us to sit down.

Believe me, the whole thing was corny as hell. There was no real mental manipulation going on.

 

[Olowkow]

...and when he caught on he politely "de-hypnotized" us and sent us back to our seats amid applause.

I find this situation odd. I would never have turned my back on a subject, ever.

I mentioned a few ways of determining when a subject was "faking" hypnosis, but I think what needs to be said here is that after going through very subtle tests to determine if he is in fact under hypnosis, the subject may actually be trying to behave in a manner expected of him in order to please the operator (hypnotist). Yes, no question that this is definitely possible, however I have tried to imagine a situation where I had chosen several potentially good subjects, and discovered any of them actually putting me on, or actively trying to deceive me. This is not something I myself have ever experienced, but I guess it is possible. In all cases where I felt they were not sufficiently deep in the trance, I merely asked them to wake up and moved on to the others. There are just too many details that a person would have to know in order to pull off a deceptive trance state.

I have not heard any good evidence that hypnosis is BS just yet. I think there are excellent subjects, mediocre ones, and those who just never will be hypnotized, like myself for instance. The excellent ones can be given a post hypnotic suggestion that a single word can induce the hypnotic state. I have done this many, many times. In fact, on several occasions, I tried the so called "zap" method. The subject, fresh out of an audience, is told to close his/her eyes, and told they cannot open them...try hard to open your eyes, etc. If he cannot, then just touch the shoulder, and say, "You are deeply asleep..." It worked once for me.

I read a fair amount about hypnosis many years ago, and lost interest at some point, but as I mentioned, there was a common thread that seemed to me to join all the really excellent subjects. Something like "outgoing, good listener, smiles a lot, not afraid to be touched," all kinds of things in this vein. It became kind of a sixth sense for me when choosing subjects. It was honestly a lot of fun, because people seemed to enjoy being hypnotized.

 

[Kensington Bailey]

I am as skeptical as they come, but also unafraid to experience ******** over and over. My experience being hypnotized, for an Unspecified Condition, was fantastic. It went away. I believe that my emotions, subconscious, whatever, was shown that its fear was really under control, not out of control. Simply amazing.

I also saw a stage hypnosis at a business dinner with several hundred in attendance. The hypnotist was ver skilled. He had a lot of people up on stage at first and simply whittled his way down to the most willing. He had them walking around growling as Frankenstein monsters, doing Elvis impersonations, what have you. At the end, the quiet that fell over the group was a testament to the shock we all felt at what we had witnessed.

It's not magic. It's simple human behavior that most of us don't want to admit exists.

 

[Halfcentaur]

OK, that's not the biggest deal but when my brother hypnotized my girlfriend, there is no way it was faked. I couldn't be hypnotized. I don't think I'm the type to let my mind relax. But Teri was another story. She went under easily. My brother told her she was naked and the rest of us weren't. She giggled but wasn't that freaked out. But then he told her she was on the ceiling looking down and she literally started screaming and kicking her legs. It was totally unexpected and out of character for anyone who was just faking it or going along like the Peter Popoff forehead push knock over. My brother had to bring her out of it right then.

Out of curiosity, how high was this ceiling from the ground? While unexpected and startling, I wonder at why a person would act terrified over being 6-8 feet above the floor. Perhaps being upside down and 6-8 feet above the ground would be spooky, but you make it sound to me like she was hysterical.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Out of curiosity, how high was this ceiling from the ground? While unexpected and startling, I wonder at why a person would act terrified over being 6-8 feet above the floor. Perhaps being upside down and 6-8 feet above the ground would be spooky, but you make it sound to me like she was hysterical.

She was hysterical. I'm telling you it surprised us and was a tad scary for a couple seconds. My brother immediately told her she was back on the ground. She was kicking her feet and screaming.

We were kids, 14 and 16. It just wasn't something someone faking it or even someone trying to please the hypnotizer would have done. It was a totally unexpected reaction and not one someone faking it would have invented on the spot like that, especially Teri. This is a girl that ended up pregnant at 15. She wasn't the brightest bulb on the block, definitely not a conjurer of clever reactions.

The ceiling was standard height, average room.

 

[Olowkow]

I am as skeptical as they come, but also unafraid to experience ******** over and over. My experience being hypnotized, for an Unspecified Condition, was fantastic. It went away. I believe that my emotions, subconscious, whatever, was shown that its fear was really under control, not out of control. Simply amazing.

I also saw a stage hypnosis at a business dinner with several hundred in attendance. The hypnotist was ver skilled. He had a lot of people up on stage at first and simply whittled his way down to the most willing. He had them walking around growling as Frankenstein monsters, doing Elvis impersonations, what have you. At the end, the quiet that fell over the group was a testament to the shock we all felt at what we had witnessed.

It's not magic. It's simple human behavior that most of us don't want to admit exists.

I agree with that. I never did the growling monsters or Elvis stuff or anything to embarrass a subject. I was more intrigued by memory feats, using decks of cards, and complex post hypnotic stuff, such as linguistic tics or causing certain simple tasks to become physically impossible in a waking state.

ETA: edited after posting recollections about an anecdote that upon reflection turns out to be irrelevant to the thread.

 

[GrandMasterFox]

Hypnosis is 100% BS and 100% not BS
It simply depends on what your definition of hypnosis is.

We already have stuff that can make us believe and do completely silly things and mess with our sense of reality. Ever seen people screaming in panic when their lives are in no real danger? I've seen plenty of those during horror movie screens. And yes, for this to work, you need to fully emerge yourself and focus on the movie. And yes, not everyone would scream at the same movie. Some would just get bored.

There is nothing magical or supernatural about that.

The BS portion of hypnosis comes when people try to claim any "supernatural" explanations and even worse "supernatural" results.
For example, P&T had a show about hypnosis and had a woman claiming she can hypnotize people to enlarge their breasts or grow hair. Total BS.

Hypnosis is basically just a willingness to roleplay. Anyone who says otherwise please think of one simple question:

If your test for hypnosis requires the subject to be willing - he can't object - then how on earth would you tell that apart the "real" hypnosis from the "fake" hypnosis?

I had this conversation with a friend who argued with me on it:
Me: Stand up
(he stands up)
Me: There, you see I hypnotized you!
Him: You didn't hypnotize me, you just told me to stand up and I did
Me: What's the difference?

 

[xtifr]

Hypnosis is 100% BS and 100% not BS
It simply depends on what your definition of hypnosis is.

Yup, that's always been my take on it. It's a lot like the so-called placebo effect--it reveals some interesting stuff about how the brain works, but it's all perfectly mundane. Neither hypnosis nor a sugar pill will ever cure your syphilis.

I had this conversation with a friend who argued with me on it:
Me: Stand up
(he stands up)
Me: There, you see I hypnotized you!
Him: You didn't hypnotize me, you just told me to stand up and I did
Me: What's the difference?

Heh, I had a friend who claimed he could hypnotize cats. He'd pick them up, stare deeply into their eyes, and say, "Do whatever you want." Then he'd put the cat down, turn to us and say, "See? It worked!"

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Hypnosis is 100% BS and 100% not BS
It simply depends on what your definition of hypnosis is.

We already have stuff that can make us believe and do completely silly things and mess with our sense of reality. Ever seen people screaming in panic when their lives are in no real danger? I've seen plenty of those during horror movie screens. And yes, for this to work, you need to fully emerge yourself and focus on the movie. And yes, not everyone would scream at the same movie. Some would just get bored.

There is nothing magical or supernatural about that.

The BS portion of hypnosis comes when people try to claim any "supernatural" explanations and even worse "supernatural" results.
For example, P&T had a show about hypnosis and had a woman claiming she can hypnotize people to enlarge their breasts or grow hair. Total BS.

Hypnosis is basically just a willingness to roleplay. Anyone who says otherwise please think of one simple question:

If your test for hypnosis requires the subject to be willing - he can't object - then how on earth would you tell that apart the "real" hypnosis from the "fake" hypnosis?

I had this conversation with a friend who argued with me on it:
Me: Stand up
(he stands up)
Me: There, you see I hypnotized you!
Him: You didn't hypnotize me, you just told me to stand up and I did
Me: What's the difference?

I see nothing about the science showing objective measurable changes in brain function under hypnosis that claims anything about it is supernatural.

As for your claim it is just people willing to comply, I don't think my friend was complicit in freaking out over being on the ceiling looking down. I do believe that was not something she agreed to perceive.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Yup, that's always been my take on it. It's a lot like the so-called placebo effect--it reveals some interesting stuff about how the brain works, but it's all perfectly mundane. Neither hypnosis nor a sugar pill will ever cure your syphilis.

Heh, I had a friend who claimed he could hypnotize cats. He'd pick them up, stare deeply into their eyes, and say, "Do whatever you want." Then he'd put the cat down, turn to us and say, "See? It worked!"

No one claimed hypnosis cured infectious disease and I fail to see any correlation with people who claim to hypnotize cats.

I do, however, see some people digging in their heels about what they previously believed about hypnosis and refusing to look at new evidence.

 

[xtifr]

As for your claim it is just people willing to comply, I don't think my friend was complicit in freaking out over being on the ceiling looking down. I do believe that was not something she agreed to perceive.

Why not? I once agreed to climb a vertical crevice in Glacier Park, but then totally freaked out when I got about two thirds of the way up. I couldn't move, not to go up or down, for what felt like an hour (though was probably only about ten minutes) before I got ahold of myself well enough to slowly descend again.

Why couldn't your friend have agreed to imagine herself at the ceiling before realizing what that would imply, and then freaked out to realize the position she'd imagined herself into?

 

[Orphia Nay]

No one claimed hypnosis cured infectious disease and I fail to see any correlation with people who claim to hypnotize cats.

I do, however, see some people digging in their heels about what they previously believed about hypnosis and refusing to look at new evidence.

How do you know she just didn't believe the hypnosis would work, and went along with it?

You don't, and nor do I. Your story in no way proves hypnotism is some sort of magical power.

In absence of evidence of hypnosis being paranormal, I take the null hypothesis.

ETA: Just had a thought that hypnosis is rather like the placebo effect.

 

[punshhh]

Anyone who witnessed my friend's reaction kicking and screaming, would know it was not faked. No matter how or why it occurred, she was truly terrified. The three of us watching were taken by surprise at her reaction. No one expected it.

I am surprised that folk here assume hypnosis is false, perhaps it falls within some woo category.

You only need to experience a good stage show to confirm that it works and there are plenty around.

I use self hypnosis as a quick way to relax or get to sleep when I have insomnia.

 

[Halfcentaur]

She was hysterical. I'm telling you it surprised us and was a tad scary for a couple seconds. My brother immediately told her she was back on the ground. She was kicking her feet and screaming.

We were kids, 14 and 16. It just wasn't something someone faking it or even someone trying to please the hypnotizer would have done. It was a totally unexpected reaction and not one someone faking it would have invented on the spot like that, especially Teri. This is a girl that ended up pregnant at 15. She wasn't the brightest bulb on the block, definitely not a conjurer of clever reactions.

The ceiling was standard height, average room.

I don't mean to push you on this, but there is a possibility other than faking it out of peer pressure. She sounds like she was acting how she thought she should or would act in the situation if it actually happened. I can't help but think she seems to have overdone it by becoming hysterical over something that does not seem worthy of terrified hysteria. I am still open to learning about a mechanism that supposedly affects the coagulation of blood etc, but I still think it's nothing more than a total suspension of the skeptical mind and a total willingness to role play, to the point it is not a deception, merely acting completely in character to the best of their honest ability. I think this may tie in to something akin to the placebo effect.

 

[Halfcentaur]

I am surprised that folk here assume hypnosis is false, perhaps it falls within some woo category.

You only need to experience a good stage show to confirm that it works and there are plenty around.

I use self hypnosis as a quick way to relax or get to sleep when I have insomnia.

You seem to not be aware of how those stage shows work, often. In that situation people are merely pretending for the benefit of the audience through something akin to peer pressure and a desire to let the ego go and be controlled or experience something strange.

Derren Brown has some great shows on this, where he takes people with no history or training in hypnosis, he has them take people up on stage, and people go right along with whatever the person says. Penn and Teller also have a BS episode on the matter which sheds a little light on it. It's not conclusive, but it sure demonstrates how silly those stage shows are.

Hypnosis has results, so does the placebo effect. I do not personally consider it true that people are being put into some kind of trance that can create another world of perception for them. I think people are simply relinquishing skepticism to the point they refuse to doubt what is happening and comply to the best of their ability.

In this sense, hypnotism is real, but it's just another word for things most people would not consider hypnotism in my opinion.

I don't appreciate it being implied I am somehow digging my heels in about this. I am straining to be honestly open to the evidence presented.

 

[Olowkow]

I used to hear about hypnosis being used to cure warts, but never really took it seriously. I'm not so sure any more, after having one wart removed on one heel, and being told (suggested that) the other one, on the other heel, would probably go away by itself. It did.

Source

Joan Raymond writes: Got a weird wart? If home remedies like acid or duct tape aren't working to annihilate it, try self-hypnosis. It's not as crazy as you think.

There is some research, seemingly believable which appears to indicate suggestion and/or self hypnosis has some effect. As the author of the above article states, "all hypnosis is self hypnosis". I think that is probably correct.

As for "magic", no one is claiming such a thing.

Though most of us experience a trance-like state akin to self hypnosis when we're engrossed in a TV show or reading a good book, the deeply focused state of hypnosis can only be achieved if a person practices.