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Binaural Histolog's Newbie Guide

A rough description of hypnosis

Read the unadulterated text here.

Hypnosis is a combination of guided meditation and the children’s game Simon Says.

It takes automaticity and response inhibition components from Simon Says, and combines them with the focus, visualization, and imagination of guided meditation.

Trance is a subjective experience bringing components of focused attention, dissociation, and rapport all together.

The Exercise of Suggestions

If you just sit and wait for suggested responses to happen on their own, nothing will happen. Make the responses that are suggested, but pay no attention to the fact that you are making them. Instead, devote your full, undivided, and continuous attention to the stories.

They coach that If I am given a suggestion, I will follow it automatically. You’re building up a response set, speeding up that game of Simon says, paying no attention that you’re making things happen.

Inductions are, in the basic terms of this model, just to warm up this response. (Or at least in the case of a PMR -the hypnotist gives instructions that the subject follows, and the somatic response makes the other suggestions feel automatic.)

I’m pretty sure that everyone is capable of hypnotic hallucination. The main limitation is what they believe can be possible. Don’t focus on inducing the hallucination—​focus on inducing the belief.

  1. Allegedly, those who were ‘bad’ at visual hallucinations were able to hallucinate that they were unable to read anything between the parenthesis in text.
  2. They tried suggesting a popup that they couldn’t close. That worked. (This suggested that it’s a problem with belief, not capability.)
  3. They suggested to someone that their mirror was a computer screen and had her see things in the mirror.
    • Suggested her glasses were magical, and she could see the invisible.
    • Suggested their girlfriend was in the room with them.

Hypnosis and Safety

Think again of hypnosis as gentle nudges. This is the same thing that removes phobias and changes behaviors. This can be used to shift things to do something you don’t want to do, in the same way that you’d be more comfortable holding a snake.

Risks

Read the unadulterated text here.

(I’m skipping a lot of this - It’s in a lot of other hypnosis books I’ve read, and that’s good!)

Endorphin Drop

Endorphin Drop is when bad feelings come rushing in after the high of a good session. Guilt, shame, feeling like a “bad person” are all symptoms of drop. Good aftercare can take care of this. Here’s a fictional example of drop.

Spontaneous Amnesia

https://binauralhistolog.com/newbie/getting-started/risks#spontaneous-amnesia

Sometimes, a subject may have complete amnesia of a session.

This might be because of an event boundary - similar to the ‘event horizon model’ of cognitive awareness. It’s the inverse of the Zeigarnik effect - which says people remember interrupted tasks better than completed ones.

Drugs

LSD can boost suggestibility up to 65%, and alcohol up to 69%. Err, the safety risks are obvious, and tripping balls while having an abreaction ain’t fun.

I keep coming back to this Modification of Suggestibility page at hypnosisandsuggestion.org. Not because it’s useful, but more because it’s a little entertaining to think about all these people tripping balls and someone’s trying to give you suggestions on the side.

Physical Reactions

Headaches, feelings of pressure, hypnotic jerk (twitching of muscles that commonly twitch when sleeping), lacrimation, and eye redness are all common.

Mental Processing

You’ll need to work with your subject on the induction and suggestions.

Some people are visual thinkers, and have difficulty with suggestions involving abstract concepts. Some people have aphantasia and have no visual component to thinking at all. Some people are non-verbal, and respond better to kinesthetic inductions and physical deepeners than someone talking at them. A person with dyslexia may have problems losing letters from the alphabet. A person with attention deficit disorders may become distracted or bored with a progressive muscle relaxation. A person with anxiety or control issues may be uncomfortable with how suggestions manifests for them. And a person with high-functioning autism may find confusion inductions incredibly annoying.

Abuse

There’s also a big difference between hypnosis between strangers and hypnosis with someone who you trust, or who has authority over you in some way. There are risks to letting someone into your head. If you are in a relationship with an emotional abuser, all the tools of influence can be used in hypnosis to confuse, reframe, or gaslight you. With enough rapport and trust and repeated sessions, they can change what you want to do.

Inductions

The original is here. Seriously, unless you’re using this stuff for reference or need a quick overview, you should go check out the source.

PMR Induction Stage

(I’m skipping writing a lot of notes here, but really, binarualhistolog’s notes on the pmr are super solid.)

For newbies, it’s fine to begin with a PMR, working from a script. The PMR is familiar (like meditation), safe, long (good practice), homogenous (easy to suggest), script friendly, and just feels good for subjects.

Academic hypnosis papers are conflicted on whether depth of trance “means” anything, as depth of trance does not always correlate with suggestibility, and there is no external yardstick to measure trace. My thinking is that depth of trance is an interoceptive reflection, and so trance is similiar to emotional construction. Just as people have different behaviors and impulses related to their emotions, people will have different behaviors and impulses related to their experience of trance.

Elman Induction Stage

Again, the notes on the Elman induction are solid! The tip I’d highlight from this page is to lower stakes and to celebrate small successes, viewing this as an experiment.

This is a suggestion based on belief. It’s not your partner can’t remember the number if they want to, but that your partner can choose not to remember the number.

  • Binaural Histolog

Fractionation Induction Stage

Interestingly, they say that this is not a beginner friendly induction, as you should both already be comfortable with trance.

(They also send a nod out to Graham Old’s PHRIT, which is kinda cool.)

Butterfly Induction Stage

Try this one when you’re comfortable ad-libbing. I didn’t know this, but this induction can be very gentle! For variation, you don’t have to jerk their arm, but gently just guide their head down with a soft touch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcGZktuIPAI

Links / Loops / Chains / Drops

Interestingly, they cite ‘Reality is Plastic’ here, summarizing four types of common hypnotic patter.

Something the subject does, and something happens because of it. Like a staircase deepener.

Loops

Creating a feedback loop with a double bind. “The more your eyes flicker, the deeper you’ll go, and your eyes will flicker even more.”

Chains

Like links, but associate to an automatic experience. “Each moment, you’ll go deeper.” “Each breath out, you’ll relax more.”

Drops

Something that “pulls the rug out” for an experience. “Deeper and deeper, more and more relaxed. And… (snap!) Drop! Drifting, dreaming, melting. “

What is Hypnosis

I have small brain. Here is big brain version. Seriously, go and read the original text. It’s very well written and easy to understand.

Terms

Hypnotic Suggestion: A suggestion to perform an action or response that involves phenomenological control (control over perception) and may be attributed to automatic or nonvolitional behavior.

Suggestibility: The inclination to accept and act on hypnotic suggestions

Context: A social expectation to assume the roles of hypnotist and hypnotee to accept suggestions.

Components of hypnosis

This links up with Wordweaver’s CREAM - so I’ll skip going over this again. (Context, Rapport, Expectation, Absorption, Motivation.) Histolog uses CRE IS - Context, Rapport, Expectation, Imagination, and Suggestibility, in the following formula.

C(REI) => C(S)

While inductions are not required for suggestion, they do increase suggestibility in imaginative suggestions.

Rapport

Subjects can vary in their response - amnesia prone, dissociaters, inward attention, or relaxation types, or a mix. Knowing a preference for induction is also part of this.

Expectancy

(This whole section is interesting! I’ve taken the Cliffsnotes of their Cliffsnotes here.)

In psychology, expectancy is a belief that something will happen in the future, with either stimulus or response expectancies. (Classical conditioning is a component in the response expectancy model, but it’s only a small part for animals capable of complex cognition.)

Two more theories, response set theory and integrative response set theory come into play. Response set theory (1997) explains conscious thought is the last step in the process - by the time we decide to do something, the brain has already decided to do it for us. Integrative response set theory (2022) backs off a bit, saying there’s more of a gradient between cognition and automatic response.

Response sets (like yes sets) have been used for a while. The response sets can either be conscious intentions or unconscious expectancies - the attribution of agency changes, but the automatic nature remains the same. integrative-model https://binauralhistolog.com/newbie/theory/what-is-hypnosis

At a high level, your yes set creates an ‘implementation intention’ - that they should (consciously or unconsciously) make your leading statement true. Automaticity is subtle - it feels like you’re following through your own free will until you try to resist. For example - playing “Simon Says” and then removing the ‘Simon Says’ part.

Predictive Processing

“There is no subconscious mind - only unconscious processing.”

Predictive processing theory describes cognitive processes as a set of internal models, each updated by another layer of of models, and each of those eventually taking some sort of sensory input. If something conflicts with the input, that error is sent upstream.

Interception and Allostasis

So - here’s a hot new theory of how hypnosis works. The hypnotic suggestion becomes the ‘correct’ suggestion, and allostasis (how predictive processing settles it’s differences between stimuli) predictively tries to resolve these ‘errors.’ Since internal responses are ambiguous, and our feelings of rapport and expectation come into play, it’s possible for us to correct based on the suggestion.

(TBH, I’m still not sure I get this, and this is Binaural Histolog’s personal extrapolation, but they seem like a smart dude so fuggit.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsgiFhsn8q0

Imagination

(Separate from the CREAM teaching tool, motivation is included as a part of imagination here.)

Subjects that are “motivated by curiosity, the wish to achieve an altered state of consciousness, and (to) succeed at the task at hand” will give you the best results.

To boost susceptibility, try the [[Carleton Skill Training Program (CSTP)]]. But, for a more ‘chill’ way to put this, try the [[Binaural Histolog - Automatic Imagination Model]].

These modifications to the imagination model aren’t stable - they’re something that can change day by day or improved as a skill.

Readiness Response Set

Three main areas will affect your responsiveness. Some of these may be trainable or hardwired.

Singlemindedness

They focus on sensations and suggested events, attribute their responsiveness to hypnosis without analyzing their own performance, suppress background noise, and tend not to engage in introspection or experience metacognitive awareness. If they become distracted they can go back to the hypnotist’s suggestions easily.

Cognitive Flexibility

They’re good at translating imaginings into ‘felt sensations.‘

Attainable Goals

They’ll set their goals to meet the suggestion. EG: “If I really focus on the suggestion-related sensations of stiffness and not expend much counterforce to bend the arm, then I will pass the suggestion.” The subject takes the onus making the suggestion work.

Suggestibility

Here are things that can improve suggestibility.

  • Changing the color of a lightbulb, even after explaining how it works https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.57.5.762
  • Tell the subject to give themselves the most effective suggestions
    • While it may feel like cheating, it’ll give the hypnotee some agency and creative freedom
  • Alcohol. Get buzzed. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2013.07.001
  • Use lame suggestions to reduce critical thinking…
    • Allow yourself to let go completely…
    • Don’t question what you’re being asked to do and experience…
    • Just go with the flow…
    • Allow yourself to feel completely focused…
    • Let your attention narrow down…
    • Focus only on the things I say…
    • And the things I ask you to experience and do…
  • Work on specific suggestions

(There’s more here. Goddang this is a lot. https://binauralhistolog.com/newbie/theory/components-of-hypnosis#_further_reading )

Modification of suggestibility

Tailoring Inductions

The OG text is available here, including nuance and full-flat flavor that you crave.

As an overview, tailor your induction to the scene you want to set, and the subject you’re working with. There are many altered states of consciousness, and you want to aim for one that matches what you’re trying to do.

Trance Inductions

  • Centered around the idea of ‘entering trance,’ typically by creating relaxation and associating trance with mental and physical relaxation
  • Includes PMRs and the Elman induction
  • Esdaile is the ‘strongest’ example of this

Dissociation Inductions

Notes:

  • There’s a theory that only highly hypnotizable individuals can develop a dissociative disorder. People with DID have a higher chance of abreaction in response to a dissociation induction.
  • Dissociation inductions include rapid, fractionation, and confusion inductions. The confusion induction category includes overload, mental fixation, and attention bouncing inductions. This all goes to say that dissociation does not necessarily mean there’s a confusion component to the induction.

Fractionation Inductions

  • Doctor flowers, Elman (as a component)
  • Creates a sense of ambiguity as to if you’re hypnotee is awake or asleep

Rapid Inductions

  • Butterfly induction, eight word induction (press on my hand, close your eyes, sleep)
  • For just a moment, their equilibrium is entirely off, and the hypnotee will need to decide if they are hypnotized or not

Confusion Inductions

These split focused attention across the board, either by focusing on interception or other external stimuli. It’s worth noting, if you haven’t read [[../_book_notes/Graham Old - Hypnosis with the Hard to Hypnotize]], that overload inductions might be a nice choice for folks with ADHD, but will probably go against the grain with subjects with autism.

Overload Inductions

Overload inductions force simultaneous focus on all channels, rather than unconsciously integrating that information. In some instances, this can help the hypnotee focus on the hypnotist, in that their drifting attention can be utilized as part of the induction rather than fought against.

Mental Fixation Inductions

These work by giving the mind seemingly useless and tedious to do. There are plenty of variations. These can actually be frustrating to A+ students, as they feel they are supposed to win and losing (and becoming hypnotized) was not the point. Check for signs of frustration and abreaction throughout the induction, and gradually ramp up the complexity.

If you have ever been told to do something in an induction like count down from 100, but do it in sets of 3 every time your hypnotist says “obey,” sets of 4 every time they say “drop,” and sets of 2 every time they say “relax” then you have experienced a Confusion Induction. In contrast to a PMR or a Fixation Induction, which draws focus to something very simple and straightforward, a Confusion Induction uses something obtuse or convoluted (that is, confusing) to keep the hypnotee’s focus and challenge them to keep up. Then, it keeps ramping the difficulty of keeping up - “now add 2 every time I say ‘consciousness’ and add four every time I say ‘awake’, after allowing the numbers to dip into the negatives so that you have to do the mental math of adding and subtracting negative numbers – until the hypnotee’s focus is exhausted, and they simply give up and “go with it,” allowing themselves and their mind to be given over to the suggestions of the hypnotist.

Attention Bouncing Inductions

Bouncing attention between topics at a forced pace, relying on the confusion brought on by context switching, progressively to exhaust mental resources. This is similar to a monotropic split. (Which looks like it’ll be covered later.)

Alert Inductions

Active Alert Induction

I’m about to help you to become as attentive and alert as you can …​ that will help you gradually to enter a state of alert hypnosis. Just sit on the bicycle with your hands on the handle bars and pedal. I want you to pedal steadily and while pedaling listen to what I say. Your ability to enter a state of alert hypnosis depends partly on your willingness to cooperate and partly on your ability to pedal the bicycle steadily while concentrating on my words.

The induction goes on in this manner, paralleling the Stanford induction, but converting all mention of relaxation and drowsiness into their opposites of activity and alertness. The induction ends with the suggestion, “You will wish to be alert and attentive …​ and you will have the experiences I shall presently describe.”

Valencia Model Waking Induction

The concept of active-alert hypnosis is distinct from waking hypnosis. In this model, the researcher used a bicycle for subjects to pedal on. They suggested that the client start pedaling for a few minutes and then provided instructions to focus their attention on the movement and the mental and physical sensations that the exercise would provide. After a few minutes of this, the subject would sit down in the chair and enter hypnosis. Notably, relaxation was not suggested.

This model describes hypnosis as a self-control coping strategy, emphasizing self-hypnosis and suggesting physical and mental activation, as well as ‘expansion.’ Unlike classical hypnosis, where attention is focused, in the Valencia model, it’s expanded. It suggests that hypnosis is a self-control and self-regulation tool.

The model also introduces a method of rapid self-hypnosis. To do this, the subject will clasp their hands, synchronizing their breathing with this hand movement, and giving themselves a sensation of falling with each movement.

This approach is stated to work well with people who have control issues or difficulties relaxing.

Imagery Inductions

Visualization - you know the drill! Pure absorption. But these generally won’t work with people with aphantasia.

Inception Inductions

INCEPTION.

  1. Hypnotize your subject.
  2. Describe a new situation, and describe how they’re being hypnotized in the new scene. Make sure each one is distinctly memorable.
  3. Nest a few loops.
  4. ‘Wake them up’ loop by loop. See if they can tell which one is real.

Revelation Inductions

Guided imagery providing the experience of profound mind expansion and revelation. Like Terrance Watt’s crucial inductions.

Binaural Histolog I am grateful for being able to copy your homework on how these work.

  1. The hypnotee is led down a pathway which leads into a different environment.
  2. The path leads through various interactions and physical obstacles.
  3. Over time, the journey leads ‘upwards’ and the anticipation builds to waht’s at the summit.
  4. Finally at the summit, the hypnotee comes to a paradigm-shifting realization as they see the expanded world around them. The overall concept is to build to anticipation and tension while telling a story, and giving a suggestion or reframing and releasing tension and associating the reframing with learning, growing, or accomplishment.

Revelations get weaker with frequent use. Revelation inductions are generally useful in recreational hypnosis as a reset or as a ceremonial accomplishment, especially after stress.

Monotropism Inductions

This is a grab-bag of techniques that focus the hypnotee’s attention on something that’s not trance based, and usually doesn’t involve relaxation.

Repetition Inductions

There are two branches of these - focused attention on positive statements (mantras, affirmations, autogenic training, invocations.) Or, on the kink side - blankly repeating suggestions, fixating on spirals, binaural beats, reprogramming helments, whatever.

What makes these inductions effective is first the activity loop of repeatedly following suggestions and also the sheer cultural weight these inductions have in popular culture.

Training Inductions

Conditioning the automaticity of response. Works well in BDSM relationships.

  1. Tell your partner you want them to follow your instructions and make them automatic. Also tell them eventually they won’t have to think about it at all, as it becomes more and more automatic.
  2. The only focus in their mind should be following your suggestions automatically.
  3. Apply all your willpower and imagination to following suggestions automatically.
  4. Set up a system with rewards, rewarding occasionally.
    1. Walk them through a series of exercises, including mantras, call and response and so on.
  5. Do that for ten minutes. Then see how much emotional momentum has built up.
    1. Have them try to resist a suggestion and see how difficult it is and how much they don’t want to.

Neurodiversity

ADHD

iy9lh Original text here.

People with ADHD are not only very likely to be hypnotized, but they may also have a very high response! If you have an anxious ADHD subject, the frame isn’t that ‘there is hope,’ the fame is more that it’s possible they’ve been bestowed with an excellent hypnotic response.

That being said, there are a few issues. Inattention (problems with sustained focus), hyperactivity (needing to move, fidget, or talk), and impulsivity (impulse control) complications are common.

Adjusting the induction

Eye fixations can help in this context, try using spirals, lights, or something shiny to focus on. Toss on a metronome, binaural beats in the background, a light to focus on, whatever. You can also use overload, fractionation, and confusion inductions as well. Be forewarned that these can be uncomfortable to some people, so, check in with your subject.

Utilize their fidgeting, or give them a focus for their fidgeting. Every time they do a specific fidget action, they can do deeper (which is separate from utilizing fidgeting in general.) For a fun idea, just drop them while they’re using a Rubik’s cube.

I’m also reminded of that time I talked a friend of mine into trance as he was playing with a Rubik’s Cube and his brain was occupied on that. I kept him thinking about it even as his eyes went shut, just giving his mind something to keep it stimulated.

Avoid boring ass PMR’s, but do use relaxation. Build relaxation into waves and activities.

In addition - you can also try using waking hypnosis. Or - go back and check some of the active-alert hypnosis techniques. This also links in with [[../_book_notes/James Tripp - Hypnosis Without Trance]].

Overall Tips

Break up your longer sessions into chunks, use a reinduction trigger, use fractionation, or use a different short induction each time. Assume their depth will fade quickly.

Experiment with adding passion, energy, and performance to your hypnosis - not just in your voice, but in your actions as well. Usually, you’ll want your patter to be uniform to let the suggestions to come through, but having a performance element and speaking more quickly can help with ADHD subjects.

If there are visualizations or imagery, have them act it out and make it into a roleplaying session. They can either act it out in their head or their seat.

Other accoutrement

Ritalin has shown it’s use in keeping attention and following suggestions, if that’s in the cards.

As a final footnote, there’s this video from an ADHD hypnotist, talking about ADHD friendly inductions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUsxRma5f-g

A set of reminders for the surprisingly quick and simple inductions:

  • A Yes set that keeps going, leading directly into suggestions of hypnosis
  • Word association, leading gradually into trance
  • The right/left opposite game, until someone loses track, then suggesting down

Autism

Original text here.

Folks with autism spectrum disorder can be hypnotized and have a great experience. They’ve commonly received the ‘analytical’ or ‘resistant’ label, but it’s hardly that - techniques commonly used with neurotypicals won’t work with them, and they’re simply reporting their honest experience.

Issues

  • People with Autism often have sensory processing disorder. Too much input can be confusing and even painful in some cases, and likely experience interoception differently. They may need low light, a special chair, and they may be unable to filter out background conversation.
  • Communication styles are pretty different. Give [[Neuroclastic - Autism Autistic Communication Differences]] a read, but expect blunt, forward feedback. You’ll have a much better time establishing this as an experiment, rather than trying to (confusingly) establish hypnotic authority.
  • Neurotypical (Allistic) rapport building exercises likely won’t work well with Autistic people.
  • Some may have issues with PDA (pathological demand avoidance.) Anything seen as a demand or request can be (not just feel) overwhelming. This will negatively affect suggestions.
  • Autistic people can ruminate during sessions - this can cause nasty thought loops that kick them out.
  • You’ll get less non-verbal signals.

Recommendations

  • Info dump. Give them end to end information, and give them time to do their own research as well. Provide resources!
  • Give clear and simple rules, and explain why they are doing something. If you’re doing an arm lock, explain why. If you give them a visual focus, explain why. Just the thought that there are clear rules will give them something to focus on.
  • Team up with them - authority can be strongly against the grain. (Given - an exception for all the subby autistic people I know out there, using this with consent.)
  • Use direct communication. Avoid NLP and permissive Ericksonian patterns. Avoid things like ‘ten times as deep.’ Remove all those flourishes.
  • Use firm tactile input. Be clear (not ambiguous) with your touch if you incorporate it. Autistic people may find utility in a weighted blanket or pressure vest.
  • If they’re stimming, leverage and utilize it! Have them relax deeper every time they stim.
  • The Elman induction and butterfly induction are good for autistic people, as it gives them something to do. Avoid inactivity and deepening - they may slip into preservation or rumination.
  • All responses are valid, and are part of experimentation. Don’t worry about how deep they are, this is about having fun. Find out what suggestion’s they’re good at! Some are good at motive suggestions, hallucinations, visualization, or even physiological responses like goosebumps.
  • Check in frequently and ask them to tell you if they’re uncomfortable.
  • Use their special interests! If they’re into D&D, talk in terms of a character sheet or a campaign.
  • Autistic people may think differently, such as thinking in pictures, sensory fragments, or synesthesia. You can easily and accidentally bring strong, unpleasant sensations into their experience. Alexithymia is common. Some inductions are based on preceptive ambiguity - if that’s part of their default state, suggest that you could use that to let their brain resolve it the way you’d both like.
  • Avoid sensory confusion, or overload inductions. The sensory overlap induction is good! Same with the Betty Ericson induction.