Chapter 18 - 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, with 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" onto the margin of consciousness, awaken ideas that 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 cozy, 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 [pg 84] 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 that 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 [pg 85] 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.

Suggestion will not cure epilepsy, hysteria or neurasthenia, but it overcomes many of the symptoms which make the patient so wretched.

Suggestion may move a paralyzed 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.

EPILEPSY, HYSTERIA, AND NEURASTHENIA

THEIR CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENT

SUGGESTION TREATMENT