David B. Cheek

Sequential Head and Shoulder Movements Appearing with Age-Regression in Hypnosis to Birth

Abstract Sequential head and shoulder movements occurring during age-regression to the birth process are valuable indicators of validity for the subsequent verbal reporting. It is unlikely that hypnotized subjects will know the mechanisms of vaginal delivery. Criteria in further assessing factual nature of reporting involve acceptance only when physiological and ideomotor responses occur before the subject is able to know what is reflected at these deeper levels of awareness.

Removal of Subconscious Resistance to Hypnosis Using Ideomotor Questioning Techniques

Outwardly cooperative subjects may be subconsciously afraid of entering a hypnotic trance state. They often develop violent fluttering movements of the eyelids and complain of discomfort when asked to keep the eyes closed. Some will keep their eyes open after they have been asked to close them, as though the lids were in rigid catalepsy. Some will enter a light trance and then find some pretext for scratching an ear or adjusting the clothing in order to escape to an unhypnotized state. Some will give indications of hostility toward the hypnotist when previous behavior has been friendly. Some will show a fear reaction similar to that occurring in the excitement stage of inhalation anesthesia. Some may show a frightening appearance of pseudoshock. Occasionally these subjects may be led adequately through this troubled phase by ordinary deepening techniques. They may become used to the border zone of hypnosis much as the timid, bather may gradually enter the water after dipping in a finger and then a toe to see that it is reasonably safe. A large proportion of timid hypnotic subjects, however, will withdraw from an induced trance state and return to a more superficial level without knowing the reason for so doing. Frequently these patients are bitterly disappointed with themselves for the trouble they are causing. To stop efforts in their behalf at this point may not only be the dead-end for much-needed therapy but may add another weight of psychological failure to burdens already present. Two gynecological patients during 1954 proved instructive in giving clues to possible reasons for this consciously cooperative but unconsciously resistant syndrome. Case 1 A 32-year-old woman traveled many miles for consultation at the request of a friend who had told her about hypnosis. Her complaints included low-back pain, vaginal discharge, fatigue, dysmenorrhea, and loss of libido. There were no positive physical findings to account for her symptoms. It seemed, therefore, reasonable to show her a little about relaxing and how muscles could be overworking even though she believed them to be relaxed. While trying to imagine the downward pull of a heavy purse on one arm, this patient discontinued the exercise. Her manner changed as she said, “I came down here to find out what was wrong with me.” With that she walked out of the office without saying goodbye.

Maladjustment Patterns Apparently Related to Imprinting at Birth

Abstract Through use of ideomotor responses combined with light hypnosis it is possible to review birth memory when it is associated with maternal stress. The effect of maternal pain and emotional distress on the baby may cause conditioned problems that are evoked as patterned responses in later life. The quality of these patterned responses is comparable to the imprinting of lower animals but they may be changed as the initial memory is exposed to conscious reasoning and later perspective during age-regression.

Emotional Factors in Persistent Pain States

Physicians are often disturbed and made angry by the seeming perverseness of patients who fail to get well under the best of treatment. Intractable pains of headaches, tic-douloureux, disc syndrome, bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, phantom limb, and Raynauds phenomenon are among the most frequent sources of therapeutic frustration. Neurosurgical attempts to relieve pain with problem patients are sometimes comparable to dynamiting the powerhouse to turn off the kitchen light. The distress of sensory deprivation with nerve section may be worse than the original pain.

An indirect method of discovering primary traumatic experiences: two case examples.

Our primitive brain has the capacity to recall visual, auditory, olfactory, tactual, and postural memories. Consciously we all set limitations on our abilities to recall. The technique described here suggests that all of us can recall meaningful sensory experiences with the help of multiple subconscious reviews of an event. We are aware of moods unconsciously and can assign colors to these moods. The unconscious mind can localize the true site of pain even when the patient is consciously sure the pain is localized elsewhere. The methods of exploration are described, and possible values of the methods are pointed out.