November 2007, VOLUME 35, NUMBER 2, Abstract 6
ABOUT SPONTANEOUS TRANCE AND THE USE OF INTROJECTS OR EGO STATES AS HELPERS IN HYPNOTHERAPY
Jens-Jørgen Gravesen, General practitioner, Aarhus, Denmark
In this article, four cases are outlined to illustrate the phenomena of spontaneous hypnosis and of negative trance states. The author reviews the literature on the negative and positive aspects of spontaneous trance states and reviews their role in the development of a vicious circle which may cause and maintain anxiety, depression, and possibly also other feelings, thoughts and behaviours. This article argues that the presence of high hypnotic capacity is an important factor and describes various ways of treating people by using hypnotherapy when a practitioner deduces that a patient is in a spontaneous negative hypnotic state. The treatment is simple and logical and often proves to be fast and effective. The treatment is normally based on the written responses to a questionnaire and through hypnoanalysis and an internal communication during hypnosis, between the patient and a younger part of his/her self.