Have I been anchored ?

[Portia]

Hi,

have just read a previous post by a writer needing info for novel - serendipity. I'm also writing a novel and am researching the use of hypnosis by a famous late 19th century Psychiatrist. This is not what the novel's about but is a plot device to get one of the characters to tell her story in a concise and brief manner - sort of a recap. Anyway , today I was at the hypnotherapist myself ( working on a situation that makes me tense ) and I asked him what sort of induction method would have been used by this famous person ( spent ages researching on google but couldn't come up with anything other than it would have been talking only ). We talked about it and I think he was worried that I'd portray the scene as an unequal power balance thing. I'm not going to do that , it's a plot device and I want one of the characters to recall a highly symbolic dream under hypnosis/regression. The Psychiatrist is helping her.

Okay so he ( my hypnotherapist )goes to pains to let me know that post hypnotic suggestion wouldn't work ( it's not in the story anyway) I just want the character to realize what she's been repressing and how it's impacted on her life. Clearly the guy doesn't like the idea of my book. So we're talking away and he tells me this strange story about himself and a child reading a book with a big lump of dirt in it - complete with demo - and says they were touching the dirt in the book and then each other. He leans over and says "dirt" and touches me on the arm. I know a bit about NLP and I think I've been anchored to tag the book to something distasteful. Am I right and what do I do to get rid of the anchor ( if it is ) . Its a great story and very pro hypnosis - that's why I'm doing the research so it's not a stereotyped control thing.

Would really appreciate advice ( I'm ticked off too )

Cheers Portia.

[Connie]

We are "anchored" everyday in so many ways...sights, sounds, smells. It's simply a learned stimulus-response pattern. Stop signs are one of my favorite examples of anchors. There's nothing intrinsic in that design of a red octagon that means "take my foot off the gas and put it on the brake NOW." :)

An anchor does nothing until it's triggered, such as by seeing a stop sign. How many people walk up to you, touch you on the arm and say "dirt?" Not very many, I would warrant. And what did that touch/word elicit in you? Suspicion, it sounds like!

If you have a distrust of this therapist, discontinue seeing him.

[Jack]

Hello Portia,

Ask yourself how you feel about your novel. If you feel ok it was not an effective anchor, if it was indeed an anchor, so you do not have a problem.

If you feel that your book is dirty or in some way has acquired a negative charge then go along to another NLPer/Hypnotherapist and get the negative charge removed: take about ten seconds.

In either circumstance my advice would be to change your therapist. You might even ask your current one what the purpose of the child/dirt story was.

Jack

[Poodle]

and welcome. I sincerely doubt that the anchor "anchored" as Connie wrote. You may consider seeing a NLPer about anchors, collapsing anchors, stealing anchors, etc. We are the anchor experts. Go out today with a notebook and write down 20 lovely things you see. Touch that same spot that was used before using the same exact pressure saying the "good words" of what you wrote down in the evening. After 10-20 you will have a powerful self-anchor to feel great whenever you want.

In the 1800's we only had Progressive Relaxation or Fixed Gaze for an induction into a hypnotic trance. It was not until Dave Elman (Fargo, ND) came on the scene that we had a rapid induction and now we have rapid and instants. This does not even mention Dr. Milton H. Erickson, MD of Phoenix, AZ who was the most famous of all.

Enjoy your new good anchors and good luck on the novel. Do take the advice to find another therapist NOOOOWWWWW.

Be well,
Pood :)

[Merlin]

Gazing at an object held above eye level, or at a candle was most common.

[Apsinthion]

I'm also writing a novel and am researching the use of hypnosis by a famous late 19th century Psychiatrist.

Who, specifically?

This is not what the novel's about but is a plot device to get one of the characters to tell her story in a concise and brief manner - sort of a recap.

Hey, what about a confessional booth!

Clearly the guy doesn't like the idea of my book. So we're talking away and he tells me this strange story about himself and a child reading a book with a big lump of dirt in it - complete with demo - and says they were touching the dirt in the book and then each other. He leans over and says "dirt" and touches me on the arm. I know a bit about NLP and I think I've been anchored to tag the book to something distasteful. Am I right and what do I do to get rid of the anchor ( if it is ) .

Isn't it very interesting how fruit trees, vegetables and all sorts of wonderful plants grow out of dirt? Without knowing, he has given you a very valuable gift, the chance to remember each and every time you approach your book that there is a possibility, a responsiblity even, to cultivate that 'dirt' so that something productive can grow ... yes? ;)

[Connie]

Aps, great post!! :) It's not dirt, it's soil, it's earth, it's life potential.

[Poodle]

as he started psychoanalysis. In the late 1800's we had psychology, not psychiatry.

Interesting. Who could it possibly be? Anyone gonna tell? :confused: