Sobnabulism?

[Brandi]

I have read that it is difficult to attain sobnabulism by using progressive relaxation induction, however, being very new to learning hypnosis, I used this method with my mother. She does not remember being in trance at all (she was under for nearly an hour). Is it likely that she is just one of the those who is highly suggestible? How would I know for sure?

Brandi:o

[watl1]

Hi Brandi

I'm a newbie myself, but was curious to know why you wanted to induce somnambulism?

From what I recall, about 5% of people can go into a somnambulistic state very quicky, while another 5% can only go into very light hypnosis.

If she doesn't remember being in a trance, what did she think she'd been doing once she opened her eyes? I guess it's very possible she was in a somnambulistic state, although I don't know of any way for knowing for sure .

One of the more experience practitioners should be able to help further...

Angie

[Poodle]

Somnambulism (note spelling) is one of the deepest states of hypnosis. It would be impossible IMHO to reach it with just the progressive relaxation induction without the use of deepeners. Depending upon who is writing the book somnambulism is the deepest or the next deepest state of trance. I'm sure your mother had a really good nap or was in a light state of hypnosis. If you did not suggest that she not remember what you said then I would guess she was asleep. Did you ask questions for ideomotor responses throughout the hour so you could determine she was not asleep? Did you do any convincers? Did you test for level of trance? My guess is mom just got relaxed and took a nice nap.

Next time check your work. Pood

[Brandi]

Somnambulism (note spelling) is one of the deepest states of hypnosis. It would be impossible IMHO to reach it with just the progressive relaxation induction without the use of deepeners. Depending upon who is writing the book somnambulism is the deepest or the next deepest state of trance. I'm sure your mother had a really good nap or was in a light state of hypnosis. If you did not suggest that she not remember what you said then I would guess she was asleep. Did you ask questions for ideomotor responses throughout the hour so you could determine she was not asleep? Did you do any convincers? Did you test for level of trance? My guess is mom just got relaxed and took a nice nap.

Next time check your work. Pood

Hi Poodle,
She definitely wasn't napping. FYI, before I even attempted to put her in trance, I did get her okay to let me try to have her do some testing to see if she would respond to my suggestions (similar to what I saw at Terry Stokes Show)
I had her do the following:
1.Believe that my brother and my husband were naked-She freaked out and said she didn't understand what was going on and she didn't allow butt cracks on her white couch.
2. Believe that all the silk and artificial flowers were very fragrant and that she would have the urge to go around smelling them. She insisted that something strange was going on because her house had such a wonderful scent like Hawaii, she then proceeded to make her grandchildren smell all of the flowers as she quickly ran from room to room.
3. I had her imagine that my father had a large tatoo that said "Bonnie Forever", on his arm...She said she couldn't believe he would do that after 40 years of marriage.
and many more...
I often told her to "sleep" were she would immediately close her eyes and nearly collapse. So I am not sure if this would count as deepening or not
I also told her that her feet were too heavy to move...they woulnd't budge
So, I am quite sure she wasn't sleep walking...She hallucinated several times too?
What do you think?

[Poodle]

Usually to reach somnambulism one needs what we call "fractionation" and then suggested mental amnesia (Elman). This just brings them out of trance without fully emerging them a few times. There are also verbal deepeners. There are also newer and quicker ways too but they again do not require the relaxation in the induction. It is post induction.

If you want somnambulism the quick way, you should probably read Hypnotherapy by Dave Elman. I believe he required his students to do it in something like 30 seconds. You might search for a Modified Dave Elman Induction and try it on mom. I happen to like that state of trance very much as I believe my suggestions are received better there. That is only my opinion and Terry, one of the greatest, disagrees.

PM me and I'll tell you where you can find the Modified version or look through the back pages of the forum.

[TaffyE]

If you did not suggest that she not remember what you said then I would guess she was asleep

In my experience, amnesia (total or partial) can just happen, regrdless of the "depth".

[Terry (existing)]

In my experience, amnesia (total or partial) can just happen, regrdless of the "depth". Taffy is correct, it can happen based on expectation, and not depth, as indeed can many phenomena we associate with certain depths. I have seen eyes open during very light states in young people. What books tell you is often incorrect in the real world.

[Poodle]

I'm speaking more "textbook" definitions here. I've had clients open eyes in soman., laugh, etc. especially when I go into one of my "Bandler" type routines w/o the bad language, but this is not the common case unless I'm doing Bandler's version of time-line as found in Frogs Into Princes. "Who says trance has to be boring?" - Richard Bandler ;)

[skip]

I have never, EVER, found trance boring.

I have however 'found' lots of inductions to be very boring.

So boring in fact that I 'retreated' into trance as quickly as possible to escape the bordom.

Thereby propogating the myth that the induction was a good one.

Its all my fault. :(

skip

[Terry (existing)]

Well thank the Lord I don't have to take the blame for that one (G). I get blamed for all sorts these days due to failing memory. What they don't understand is that there is nothing wrong with my memory, it is just getting shorter (EG)......

[Guest]

1.Believe that my brother and my husband were naked-She freaked out and said she didn't understand what was going on and she didn't allow butt cracks on her white couch.
2. Believe that all the silk and artificial flowers were very fragrant and that she would have the urge to go around smelling them. She insisted that something strange was going on because her house had such a wonderful scent like Hawaii, she then proceeded to make her grandchildren smell all of the flowers as she quickly ran from room to room.
3. I had her imagine that my father had a large tatoo that said "Bonnie Forever", on his arm...She said she couldn't believe he would do that after 40 years of marriage.
and many more...
I often told her to "sleep" were she would immediately close her eyes and nearly collapse. So I am not sure if this would count as deepening or not
I also told her that her feet were too heavy to move...they woulnd't budge
So, I am quite sure she wasn't sleep walking...She hallucinated several times too?
What do you think?

She was definitely hypnotized. But it wasn't the relaxation itself that caused the hypnosis, it was a suggestion within the relaxation process that her mind latched onto. As for the deepening process, no worries--you already did it.

She's a special mom. Why don't you give her breakfast in bed?