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From: adolph@ssc-vax.UUCP (Mark Adolph)
Newsgroups: net.sci
Subject: Hypnosis: My experience
Message-ID: <249@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Dec-84 21:58:49 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.249
Posted: Fri Dec  7 21:58:49 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Dec-84 06:32:41 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 44

*** YOUR MESSAGE ***

/*
First, a semantic pet peeve.  Hypnotism is like protestantism or taoism: a 
belief.  We are discussing HYPNOSIS here.  (Same with `quote' vs `quotation')
*/

This may be relevant, and it may not.  I am very undecided on the validity of
hypnosis.  It was no problem denying that it was real before, but since
being the subject of hypnosis, I'm not so sure.

Before you get excited, let me tell you that this occured in my doctor's
office, and not onstage.  My doctor is a member of the American Association
of Clinical Hypnotists (or something along those lines).  He had me sit on
the edge of the examining table and he just talked to me.  His aim was to 
demonstrate that he could relieve some anxiety that I had within me.  I didn't
have to specify to him which one I was banishing; I only had to know myself.

What happened?  Nothing specatacular.  Well, almost nothing.  You see, he
told me that I would give him the answers to the yes/no questions that 
he asked me via finger movement, something like "index is yes, middle is no".
My hand was resting on my thigh as I sat on the examining table.  As far as
I can tell, I *never* moved a finger voluntarily, and I didn't feel my 
fingers moving.  The fact remains, however, that he would ask me a question,
and within a few seconds, he would have the answer.

The other amazing thing was that afterward, he asked me how long I had been
sitting there quietly.  I responded that I had been there no more than 10 
minutes.  He showed me his watch: I had been there for 45 minutes!

I repeat, that as far as I can tell, I remember the whole thing and was
awake and concious (and waiting for him to really get going :-)) 
throughout.  I believe, however, that this was more of a light demo than
a serious session of hypnosis.

You may draw your own conclusions.

					-- Mark A.
					...uw-beaver!ssc-vax!adolph

   "Computers are like preppies: they just boil around in their own way 
	and you have to do things their way or they blow you off."

	"Everything that was different was a different thing..."