Suggestions for an Insomniac

Some subjects are complicated for hypnosis, and entire volumes (both popular and medical) have been written about some such as insomnia, alcoholism, stuttering, etc. Brevity in our account is of course necessary. The insomniacs are just one of the most complex because their symptom is just they cannot fall into another type of consciousness –after all, that is what hypnosis is about.

The true insomniac is often extremely difficult to hypnotize. Mention of the word "sleep" during attempts at induction of hypnosis may bring out strong subconscious resistances. With such persons it may be necessary to rephrase suggestions and to omit the word "sleep" or "drowsiness." Words like "tired," "relaxed" and phrases like "you are feeling more and more comfortable" must be substituted. The word "sleep" is only a convenient term, and its omission will not affect induction of hypnosis.

The insomniac or severe case often declares that he is unable to sleep an hour during the night, sometimes not at all, though he may look healthy and appear physically well. As a matter of fact, nature takes care that the needed amount of sleep is obtained, requirements varying greatly in different individuals. Even when not asleep, the insomnia sufferer rests during the night and the body recuperates. Usually there is more sleep than is realized and the statements of such patients must be discounted.

 A careful study of the action of magnets on the human body was made by two extremely reputable psychologists, Binet and Féré -the former's name is still famous for his work on mental age known as the Binet-Simon test. Extremely capable in the field of general psychology, these intelligent men were most gullible and unscientific when it carne to. hypnotic experimentation. The boom reporting their studies is a mass of suggestibility tests usually suffice. Also, most people tend to accept the word of one they regard as an expert, and will lose confidence in their invulnerability when told they are mistaken. The loudest skeptic may succumb readily, for he may be trying to reassure himself and is not really so sure of his invulnerability. He may even be skeptical in his conscious mind, yet the subconscious will retain a strong doubt and cause him to yield readily to hypnosis.       

Among those hardest to hypnotize are the "bullheaded" ones who know it all and have no intention of following the directions of the hypnotist, even though they pretend to comply. Usually it is a waste of time to make any attempt with such people, but the adroit hypnotist with a good understanding of personality factors may be able to turn these traits and cause them to work for rather than against him.

One who is extremely anxious to be hypnotized, perhaps seeking relief from some painful or unpleasant condition, is also a most difficult subject. Just as the person troubled with insomnia becomes wider awake the more he tries to go to sleep, so it is with hypnosis. Passivity is needed; overactive cooperation has a negative effect. The hypnotherapist often encounters this situation.

Another refractory type is the person of keen, analytical mind. Even when he accepts the probability of being hypnotized and cooperates with the operator, during the process of hypnotization every suggestion will be weighed, each sensation studied, and thus he has difficulty in gaining the passivity which is so important. No matter how brilliant or intelligent, this kind of person has almost as much trouble either being passive or in centering attention on suggestions as does the flighty type of individual.

Among writers on hypnotism a general view is that introverts are more easily hypnotized than extraverts, McDougall explaining the introvert as more liable to dissociation. Hysterical people are usually found to be excellent subjects, though there are exceptions, but there is a division of opinion as to those with other types of neuroses. This probably depends partially on the kind of neurosis and the objective symptoms displayed, as well as on other personality traits of the individual. The insomniac, for instance, may repel every idea of sleep. He is usually a most difficult subject with whom the word "sleep" must be carefully avoided. Anxiety frequently causes great resistance. The alcoholic generally is found a good subject unless suffering from a hangover at the time of attempted induction. Most neurotics are nervous and must be taught relaxation before good results are possible.

While the neurotic is extremely suggestible, that very factor may be one of the causes of his neurosis, though there is some disagreement as to this among authorities. Neurotics frequently are victims of negative or detrimental autosuggestion in connection with their neurotic difficulties. With these people, often there is great unconscious resistance, for the neurosis forms a defense mechanism which the subconscious mind wishes to retain. There may be extreme resistance not only to hypnosis but also to therapeutic suggestion and even to cure.

Position in life seems to have a direct bearing on suggestibility. Those who command or customarily give orders to subordinates are more difficult, while servants, workers, soldiers or sailors and those accustomed to obey as a rule make suggestibility good subjects. Of course these are general statements only. The matter of prestige is important here. Owing to the prestige factor, most hypnotists usually find relatives, members of the family and close friends somewhat intractable. With any subject, familiarity lessens prestige and decreases suggestibility. The practitioner must always maintain prestige.

Little has been done in testing hypnotizability along racial lines. Among Europeans, we find the hard-headed Scandinavian as easily influenced as the more temperamental Latin. It is extremely doubtful if the more enlightened, allegedly "civilized" human being is any less susceptible than the aborigine. Latins and Hebrews have been regarded in psychiatric literature as somewhat more liable to neuroses, which may possibly indicate a greater susceptibility to suggestion.

Hull found that some drugs in crease suggestibility in those who are normally suggestible. Alcohol certainly has this faculty when taken in small amounts, but one experience with a somnambulistic subject while very much intoxicated was entirely negative in our own experience. If the subject is still able to concentrate and give attention, alcoholic drinks remove inhibitions and release nervous tension, thus making it easier to "let go."