Hypnosis & Sleep Learning (Part 2)

In many instances, as reported by Life, hypnosis has been used along with deep therapy with success, sometimes to remove resistances and leave the patient accessible to psychotherapeutic help.

In the June, 1960 article in Pageant magazine by Gerald Walker, it is stated that hypnosis has become a powerful medical tool. Dr. Milton V. Kline, Research Project Director for Hypnosis at Long Island University, states that the usefulness and value of hypnosis "are as infinite as the capacities of the human mind, of which it is a function."

The Pageant article goes on to state that the cautious American Medical Association officially pronounced hypnosis "a useful technique in the treatment of certain illnesses." The AMA held a symposium on the use of hypnosis in major surgery and more research and better instruction in all its therapeutic uses.

The Pageant article also mentioned that an estimated 5000 U. S. physicians use hypnosis. Dentists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and clinical psychologists are taking advantage of the benefits of using hypnosis in treatment.

In 1958 the AMA Mental Health Council's report on hypnosis urged that the science of suggestion should be taught in medical schools.

In England hypnosis has been utilized as a medical and therapeutic aid since its enthusiastic endorsement by the British Medical Association in 1955.

There are sometimes short-lived uncomfortable post-hypnotic symptoms, but hypnosis in itself is harmless, according to Life. It is agreed that subjects will do nothing during hypnosis that is in contradiction to their own values or that threatens their self-preservation. On the other hand, strong criminal tendencies, otherwise latent, may be released. Because we are all a mixture of social and anti-social impulses, it is stressed again that in hypnosis the integrity and competence of the practitioner are of the utmost importance.

Dr. Frank A. Pattie of the University of Kentucky helped a few people to wear contact lenses through hypnosis. It is believed that, if applied to education, hypnosis may be able to increase comprehension, retention, speed of learning and general efficiency, and also supply motivation to learn and pleasure in performance.

A violinist improved her technical performance without playing or looking at the music, simply hallucinating a practice session in a trance in distorted time. (Hypnosis has been able to create the illusion of time flying or standing still.) Warts have been made to disappear by hypnotic suggestion, and a hallucinated match can blister the skin.

At this time, sleep-learning can achieve results to rival those of hypnosis, and, since the technique does not require an experienced practitioner, it benefits directly the persons involved. The mechanical and electronic tools of sleep-learning are easily used by the learner, and since he himself is in the position to determine the suggestions placed during sleep-study, greater control is evident.

Sleep-learning techniques have improved memory, trained children, speeded up learning, taught languages with correct pronunciation, raised school marks, increased music appreciation, eliminated blocks, rendered a minimum of sleep sufficient, upped salespeoples' capacities, eliminated nightmares and insomnia, and aided people to become relaxed and positive.