SUGGESTION TREATMENT
"To purge the veins
Of melancholy, and clear the heart
Of those black fumes that make it smart;
And clear the brain of misty fogs
Which dull our senses, our souls clog."
--Burton.
Hypnosis and suggestion have suffered from those people who put back every
reform many years--quacks and cranks--for while science, with open mind,
was testing this new treatment, the quacks exploited it up hill and down
dale.
Yet there is nothing supernatural in suggestion, for we employ it on
ourselves and others every hour we live. Conscience consists only of the
countless stored-up suggestions of our education, which by opposing any
contrary suggestions, cause uneasiness.
Many of us conform through life to the suggestions of others, affection,
awe, hero-worship and fear taking the place of reason.
The most resolute of men are influenced by tactful suggestions, which
quietly "tip-toe" on to the margin of consciousness, awaken ideas which
link up more and more associations, until an avalanche is started which
forces itself on to the field of consciousness, the subject thinking the
idea is his own.
Author and actor try by suggestion to make us think, laugh, or weep at
their will, books are sold by suggestive titles, and many clothes are worn
only to suggest wealth or respectability.
The best salesman is he who by artful suggestion sells us what we do not
want; the best buyer he who by equally astute suggestion makes the seller
part at a price which makes him regret the bargain the moment it is closed.
Suggestion treatment is of great use in curing nervous states and bad
habits, and all neuropaths should practice self- or auto-suggestion. In
severe cases a specialist must give the treatment.
The patient is taken by the neurologist to a cosy, restfully-furnished,
half-lighted room, and placed in a huge easy chair facing a cheery fire. He
sinks into the depths of the chair, relaxes every muscle, allows his
thoughts to wander pleasantly, and soon his brain is at rest, and his mind,
undisturbed by the fears which usually harass it, is ready to receive
suggestions.
The doctor talks quietly, soothingly, but with the conviction born of
knowledge to the patient about his trouble, assuring him that he _can_
control his cravings; that he _can_ put away the doubts or fears that have
grown upon him. The true reason of his illness is pointed out, any little
organic factors given due weight, and the idea that it is hereditary or due
to Fate dispelled. Faults of character, reasoning and living are
unsparingly exposed and appropriate remedies suggested, and he is shown how
unmanly his self-torturing reproaches are, and how futile is remorse unless
transmuted into reform.
The doctor's earnestness inspires confidence, and the patient unburdens his
secret troubles, discusses means of remedying them, and turns from pain to
promise, from remorse to resolve, from introspection to action, from
dreading to doing.
Struck by the way the psycho-analyst reads his soul and lays bare petty
meannesses, impressed by the patient thoroughness with which the doctor
attends to each little symptom, confident that organic troubles--if there
be any--will receive appropriate treatment, ready to carry out
instructions, and disposed to believe the new treatment is of real value:
under all these circumstances, the physician's suggestions carry very great
weight with the patient.
The resolutions passed by the victim in this calm state sink deep into
subconsciousness, and when next temptation, impulse or fear assails him,
his own resolutions and the doctor's suggestions are so vividly recalled
that he tries to control his thoughts, and, in due time he "wins out".
Anyone may induce the calm state, and repeat suitable suggestions. The
patient should go to a quiet room, and, reclining on a comfortable couch
before a cheery fire, close the eyes, relax the muscles, breathe deeply,
and avoid all sense of strain.
The next step is to fix the imagination on some scene which suggests
tranquility--smooth seas, autumnal landscapes, snow-clad heights, old-world
gardens, deep, shady silent pools, childhood's lullabies, secluded
backwaters, dim aisles of ancient churches.
After a few evenings' practice, you will be able gradually to exclude all
other ideas, and focus on one, inducing a state which, somewhat similar
outwardly, is free from the excitement of religious exaltation, and from
the delusions of a medium's trance.
In this state, an appropriate suggestion must be made, sincerely, and with
_absolute faith_ in its power. Christ's miracles were the result of
suggestive therapeutics, and He took care to inspire relatives with faith,
to exclude scoffers, to surround himself by his believing Apostles, and,
after treatment, said: "See thou tell no man!" well knowing that suggestion
cannot withstand derision.
In this way, a patient of limited means can do for himself exactly what
more fortunate ones pay large fees to specialists to do for them. The
treatment is uncommon, but sound, for the medical profession is perhaps the
most conservative on earth, and when specialists of repute use a method,
you may be confident it is of value.
To cure sleeplessness, see that stomach and brain are at rest, bed
comfortable, and feet warm; calm yourself, and focus on the idea of sleep,
saying:
"I shall go to sleep in a few minutes, and wake at eight o'clock in the
morning."
Repeat this a few times, persist for a few nights and you will quickly get
drowsy, and fall asleep.
Phrases for other requirements will readily occur, as:
"I shall feel confident in open spaces!"
"I shall find no more pleasure in alcohol!" and so on.
Suggestion will not cure epilepsy, hysteria or neurasthenia, but it
overcomes many of the symptoms which make the patient so wretched.
"Crutches are hung on the walls of miraculous grottos, but _never a
wooden leg_."
Suggestion may move a paralysed arm, but the muscles only become healthy
again in many days by slow repair; suggestion releases the catch, but the
spring must be wound up by energy suitably applied.
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