Reader Question: What’s Your Take on Hypnotism?

Lorie writes: 

I just finished Hidden in Dreams, and found it mesmerizing and thought provoking. In fact, I read all day and didn’t get a thing done! Then when I finished, I was bummed to find that it was the SECOND of two, and I hadn’t even heard of the first. I HATE missing one of your novels.

But the good news was that you blended the necessary facts from the previous story so seamlessly into this one, I never had a clue it was a sequel. Good work! Of course, now I’m worried that if you write yet another sequel, that Rachel will somehow dump Reed and his daughter in order to find a new love interest. Hope not.

I was very impressed how your background fitted you to know all the things you did about the various segments of the book: economics, psychology, etc. But I was very curious about your take on the power of hypnotism to influence people against their natures. I have heard, read, and experienced that this doesn’t work except under certain drugs, and then not thoroughly (which is surely the point of the novel).

I sure wish it would! I’d hire ANYONE to hypnotize me to sleep through the night for even a month without drugs! Even trained self-hypnosis is spotty at best. So if you know anything about hypnosis that I don’t, by all means share.

Dear Lorie,

I am thrilled to learn that you connected with Hidden in Dreams as you did, coming from a longtime fan this means so much.

As for the power of hypnotism and how it may aid your sleep, generally hypnotism is only considered a worthwhile tool when dealing with deeply hidden issues that are creating a duality, as in, the patient is moving towards healing and away from healing, and desperately wants to uncover the motives, while fighting them as well. With sleep, I am not aware of any suggestion or research that indicates long-term help.

What you may wish to consider, if your desire is to stay off drugs, is to consider using a homeopathic remedy. These are, in a sense, hypnotic, in the sense that they ‘suggest’ a pattern to the body. They contain trace elements, which are very small amounts of some compound, which induce an impact in the body. They are most effective when the user refrains from alcohol or other drugs.

The idea behind them is that the body can be invited to heal through such implements, or invited to grow stronger, or invited to sleep, etc. One such product that I have used is from the French company Boiron, and is called ‘Quietude’.