stopped and had an imaginary meal, with
the patient subsequently expressing regret
that she hadn't let her husband have steak
when she learned I was going to pick up
the check!
My patients have gone through pain-free
labor and delivery hallucinating, among' othe
things: a night of roller skating ("Was I
tired !"), wandering in a garden oanoeing,
swimming in Lake Michigan fishing, sunbathing
drinking a soda in a drugstore, preparing a
banquet, sewing a child's dten ("Wait until
I finish this sleeve, Doctor. I waited for you!")i,
singing and playing the piano, teaching 1
Sunday school, envisioning the child's future
(even unto its daughter's pregnancy!), and
the court of last resorts-watching a tele
vision show.
Mine is an emotion-fraught calling, but
I have seldom been more deeply moved than
to hear a hypnotized but fully aware mother
sing Christmas carols or Brahms' Lullaby,
to her newborn baby as I held him up for her
to see for the first time.
Are there other useful applications
for medical NWfnosis?
Yes, indeed, especially in my field. We have
found it helpful in controlling weight, for
example. There is even some contention that it
can enhance bust development, but I have
not seen this. On the other hand, we know
that it can assist fertility by easing tubal spasm,
which is an involuntary natural contraception.
One husband and wife shared an amazing
experience with me when she was being
tested for trance induction. I asked the members
of her group to raise alternately their left
and right arms. In doing so, I overlooked
the thorough personal history we had taken
which revealed that the woman had been
unable to raise her left arm for years because
of polio. But, as a result of hypnotic suggestion,
she did it!
Another patient, blind from birth and down
from 113 to 89 pounds because her pregnancy
kept her from retaining food, after a single
hour of hypnotherapy enjoyed and, more
important, retained a meal of hamburgers,
onions, and French friesi Overhearing me
express amazement to my nurse that a woman
with so many problems should be so courageous,
she said, "I don't have any problems, Doctor !"
Hotc does medical hypnosis differ
from sleep?
In two ways: (1) the depth of sleep cannot
be regulated, whereas we can readily control
the levels of a hypnotic trance, and (2)
sleep is lack of awareness, while hypnosis is
heightened awareness. For example, husbands
at a group session with everyone's eyes
closed could not hear me drop a calling card
on my desk, but the hypnotized wives heard
it clearly.
Does it tmke long to induce hypnosis?
Not usually. I have been called in as
consultant on emergency deliveries and, with
the patient's consent, have helped achieve in
a few minutes a trance entirely adequate
for painless childbirth. Many patients do not
need much if any training. Also, the imminence
of delivery helps render a woman more
cooperative.
I Pays to Bo Methodical Who Buying. Periodicals
Get Sister set- iih fashion stuff',
Bby "Bold Adventure" mag for Bobby
Have Father sign .for "Outdoor RougV
Andi eater, to; each' gieniber' hobby
Then armed1 with every reading, lune
From flip "Art of Cooking" to "Voidon"
On- rainy days' yon can' be sjniie
The y'lji dive, .fan the snj issue yoli. db
Bjtflfr. BUlipp:
Quips and Quotes
The psychiatrist greeted his long-time
patient enthusiastically. "I have good
news for you," he said. "You need no more
sessions with me. You're completely cured
of your delusions now."
"Big deal," the patient sighed. "Yester
day I was Napoleon today nobody."
-Genny Blaekwire
The physician was frankly surprised to
learn that the stout woman he had just
examined hadn't weighed herself in Borne
10 years. "Just didn't want to know your
weight, eh?" he said smugly.
"It wasn't that," the lady replied. "But
when a friend asks you how much you:
weigh, it's so much more refined to say,
'I don't know,' than to say, 'None of your
business.' " V. D. Palat
A rather prim and proper aunt was vis
iting the family, and at every opportunity
she corrected the children's habits. "It is
very bad manners to throw food under
the table," she told little Bobby during
dinner.
"Only sometimes," Bobby corrected his
aunt "It's okay if the dog is under there."
F. G. Kernan
Sport Is Not My Forte
I always exercise
When fold I've gol to "
And what I exercise
Is my right NOT to!
Selma Raskin
A cold is something everybody has a cure for-
except the doctor. D. 0. Flynn
"fe. ri. mmieVHifia,
weMtng tin- eyjerfnajlie js yp fSMefi1'
Family Weekly. December 1, IMS