Looking through this forum I've noticed a lot of posts about nervousness starting therapy and if people have made the right choice to transition medically. I'm just wondering if maybe hypnotism could work as part of seeing a gender therapist. We have a lot of memories in our brains that are in our subconscious, so maybe theoretically the therapist could hypnotise you, make you believe you're a child/teenager and then a young adult and then ask you if you feel male or female or neither. I know gender like sexuality can change through out your life so that maybe a draw back to how you possible feel in the present. And like any therapy it can be abused. So what do you think? Maybe this sounds absolutely crazy :-\
Interesting idea.
I did a lot of hypnosis work (kind of a hobby for me) when I was exploring my gender. I can't say it made me any more certain, though it really helped me be in touch with my feelings of wanting to change gender. Without it, I'm not sure I'd be as clear about my desires to be female.
Quote from: suzifrommd link=topic=179207.msg1582628#msg1582date=1417792724
Interesting idea.
I did a lot of hypnosis work (kind of a hobby for me) when I was exploring my gender. I can't say it made me any shouldertain, though it really helped me be in touch with my feelings of wanting to change gender. Without it, I'm not sure I'd be as clear about my desires to be female.
Hmm, maybe they should have hypnotism not as a test then but just to make sure that you're sure to medically transition. I wonder why hypnotism isn't apart of therapy and if there are studies to consider if it should be.
Quote from: Elis on December 05, 2014, 09:49:55 AM
Hmm, maybe they should have hypnotism not as a test then but just to make sure that you're sure to medically transition. I wonder why hypnotism isn't apart of therapy and if there are studies to consider if it should be.
Many psychologists are uncomfortable using hypnosis. Its use as a tool for exploring one's feelings has not been scientifically explored. My experience is that the sort of thing that I did would be highly unusual if a therapist did it for me. For example, I hypnotized myself to see myself as a woman for 20 minutes, and then noticed how happy I was during that period. Were I a therapist, though, I probably would never dare use this on a client. Too many possible repercussions.
This sounds like an interesting idea. Hypnotism could be dangerous though, so there are still risks, it might make you believe something you otherwise don't think you are. Personally I'd want to try that though. All the memories I have of "my future" as a child have no gender aspect to them at all, so I'm kinda curious as to how I saw myself back then. Would be interesting, but potentially very dangerous seeing as how gender is a sensitive thing for a person that's questioning themselves.
[quote author link=topic=179207.msg1582679#msg1582679 date=1417796519]
Many psychologists are uncomfortable using hypnosis. Its use as a tool for exploring one's feelings has not been scientifically explored. My experience is that the sort of thing that I did would be highly unusual if a therapist did it for me. For example, I hypnotized myself to see myself as a woman for 20 minutes, and then noticed how happy I was during that period. Were I a therapist, though, I probably would never dare use this on a client. Too many possible repercussions.
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Ok, maybe it shouldn't be used to hypnotise you to talk about your current feelings to do with what you feel your gender currently is as it may 'mess' with your brain, but I don't see the harm for using it how I said it should be used.
Quote from: darkblade link=topic=179207.msg158269dsg1582697 date=1417798017
This sounds like an interesting idea. Hypnotism could be dangerous though, so there are still risks, it might make you believe something you otherwise don't think you are. Personally I'd want to try that though. All the memories I have of "my future" as a child have no gender aspect to them at all, so I'm kinda curious as to how I saw myself back then. Would be interesting, but potentially very dangerous seeing as how gender is a sensitive thing for a person that's questioning themselves.
I'd want to use it for the same reason you said. I don't think it should be used if you're questioning, but if you're sure enough that you're trans that you seek out a gender therapist so you can medically transition.
hypnosis can definately be a dangerous thing, if not careful with it. i myself have used it in the past, with great effect, for stopping my video game addiction that absorbed all my free time for years.
hypnosis itself, is not a bad thing, its what you use it for. just need to be careful as when you are in a relaxed state, or a state of trance, anything said, can have a lasting effect on your subconcious. and i know from an old friend of mine, can lead to false memories being implanted, of things that never happened.
he was using it to try to recall suppressed memories, and he ended up creating memories of things that never happened. like mmmmm. remembering what things were like at a certain point. noones memories are perfect, and you may end up starting to fill in missing gaps with memories and thaughts that are not real. hypnosis can be very dangerous if you arent careful about what it is you are being hypnotised for. always have a recorder and record any hypnosis sessions, and listen to them at a later point when you arent in a relaxed/trance state to see exactly what the hypnotist said, and what your replies were if your session was of a question/answer nature.
Quote from: Mai on December 05, 2014, 11:10:02 AM
hypnosis can definately be a dangerous thing, if not careful with it. i myself have used it in the past, with great effect, for stopping my video game addiction that absorbed all my free time for years.
hypnosis itself, is not a bad thing, its what you use it for. just need to be careful as when you are in a relaxed state, or a state of trance, anything said, can have a lasting effect on your subconcious. and i know from an old friend of mine, can lead to false memories being implanted, of things that never happened.
he was using it to try to recall suppressed memories, and he ended up creating memories of things that never happened. like mmmmm. remembering what things were like at a certain point. noones memories are perfect, and you may end up starting to fill in missing gaps with memories and thaughts that are not real. hypnosis can be very dangerous if you arent careful about what it is you are being hypnotised for. always have a recorder and record any hypnosis sessions, and listen to them at a later point when
you arent in a relaxed/trance state to see exactly what the hypnotist said, and what your replies were if your session was of a question/answer nature.
Good point, but if you go to a properly qualified gender therapist like you should anyway, hypnosis may be a good way to make sure you're actually trans along with the regular therapy you get from a therapist. I wonder if you can make someone trans then through hypnosis...
Not everyone is very easily hypnotised. I know I'm not. Even been told so by a professional hypnotist. My subconscious hates giving up its secrets!
Quote from: Ms Glink=topic=179207.msg1582748#msg1582748 date=1417803920
Not everyone is very easily hypnotised. I know I'm not. Even been told so by a professional hypnotist. My subconscious hates giving up its secrets!
That may have saved the professional hypnotist from possible embarrassment then :laugh:
My sweety and I are both certified hypnotists. Sweety was specifically trained in memory work. The psychologist who trained her got burned in the nineties. No one realized how easy it is to implant entire false memories and many women were convinced that they had been raped by relatives because a small set of therapists believed that most women are. If you can find it read "Making Monsters". Don't remember the author. Basically, don't try this at home.
Quote from: Dee Walker on September 07, 1974, 11:48:47 AM
My sweety and I are both certified hypnotists. Sweety was specifically trained in memory work. The psychologist who trained her got burned in the nineties. No one realized how easy it is to implant entire false memories and many women were convinced that they had been raped by relatives because a small set of therapists believed that most women are. If you can find it read "Making Monsters". Don't remember the author. Basically, don't try this at home.
Thanks, I'll try to find the book. Maybe hypnotism isn't used then bcos it's considered too dangerous, but why is it used for treating addictions then. Maybe bcos if you used it for trans people you'd be using it on their memories, but even so.
From what I saw on Mythbusters hypnotizing someone is very limited to begin with and for the most part requires them to have faith in it. I do not. I truly do not believe I can be hypnotized. So I would question how effective it would be on me. I have a very deeply integrated desire to be in control of myself. I believe this is the very thing that makes me a poor candidate.
Quote from: awilliams1701 on December 05, 2014, 01:03:17 PM
From what I saw on Mythbusters hypnotizing someone is very limited to begin with and for the most part requires them to have faith in it. I do not. I truly do not believe I can be hypnotized. So I would question how effective it would be on me. I have a very deeply integrated desire to be in control of myself. I believe this is the very thing that makes me a poor candidate.
Well one might say that if you've read a book, watched a movie, or driven a car, you've been hypnotized because all of those are hypnotic phenomenon.
You are right, though, that if you do not want to be hypnotized by another person, you won't be.
I doubt it would be useful to test something. Regression seems to be mostly self-deceit anyway. But since it can be used to induce self-deceit, how about using hypnosis to cure GID? to remove the self doubts and thoughts about the previous gender. I know we all have too much self-talk about not being able to pass and stuff, maybe it could clear that?
Quote from: awilliams1701 on December 05, 2014, 01:03:17 PM
From what I saw on Mythbusters hypnotizing someone is very limited to begin with and for the most part requires them to have faith in it. I do not. I truly do not believe I can be hypnotized. So I would question how effective it would be on me. I have a very deeply integrated desire to be in control of myself. I believe this is the very thing that makes me a poor candidate.
So I guess it's limited to very susceptible people.
Quote from: suzifrommd on December 05, 2014, 01:44:58 PM
Well one might say that if you've read a book, watched a movie, or driven a car, you've been hypnotized because all of those are hypnotic phenomenon.
You are right, though, that if you do not want to be hypnotized by another person, you won't be.
What do you mean by hypnotic phenomenon?
Quote from: PinkCloud link=topic=179207.msg1582842#msg1582842 date=141your2611
I doubt it would be useful to test something. Regression seems to be mostly self-deceit anyway. But since it can be used to induce self-deceit, how about using hypnosis to cure GID? to remove the self doubts and thoughts about the previous gender. I know we all have too much self-talk about not being able to pass and stuff, maybe it could clear that?
I doubt it would 100% work, maybe get rid of most GID feelings based on how susceptible you are. Same with getting rid of doubts about passing etc.
I didn't think when I posted I'd get such interesting perspectives. Keep them coming :)
Quote from: PinkCloud on December 05, 2014, 02:50:11 PM
I doubt it would be useful to test something. Regression seems to be mostly self-deceit anyway. But since it can be used to induce self-deceit, how about using hypnosis to cure GID? to remove the self doubts and thoughts about the previous gender. I know we all have too much self-talk about not being able to pass and stuff, maybe it could clear that?
I imagine this would involve deliberately planting false memories? I need to brush up on my knowledge of hypnosis (read up on it a lot in middle school) but I doubt something like this would be ethical.
Quote from: darkblade on December 05, 2014, 03:14:53 PM
I imagine this would involve deliberately planting false memories? I need to brush up on my knowledge of hypnosis (read up on it a lot in middle school) but I doubt something like this would be ethical.
True, what's ethical medically is becoming more of a blurred line as medice is progressing imo.
Quote from: Elis on December 05, 2014, 02:57:39 PM
Quote from: suzifrommd on December 05, 2014, 01:44:58 PM
Well one might say that if you've read a book, watched a movie, or driven a car, you've been hypnotized because all of those are hypnotic phenomenon.
What do you mean by hypnotic phenomenon?
When you read, for example, your brain is responding not to the sensory information from your body, but to a reality that is constructed within your imagination. Likewise when you're watching a movie, even though you know it isn't real, the images you're seeing are bypassing your conscious and penetrating into your subconscious which is interpreting them as real. Your heartbeat will actually quicken when you're watching an exciting scene, no matter how much you know it's fictional.
Driving is a different sort of phenomenon. Your critical consciousness is being bypassed by the signals your eyes are picking up from the road. Your subconscious is in charge, and reacts to changes in direction of the road by automatically steering without you having to be conscious of it.
Does this all make sense?
Quote from: suzifrommd on December 05, 2014, 06:41:49 PM
What do you mean by hypnotic phenomenon?
When you read, for example, your brain is responding not to the sensory information from your body, but to a reality that is constructed within your imagination. Likewise when you're watching a movie, even though you know it isn't real, the images you're seeing are bypassing your conscious and penetrating into your subconscious which is interpreting them as real. Your heartbeat will actually quicken when you're watching an exciting scene, no matter how much you know it's fictional.
Driving is a different sort of phenomenon. Your critical consciousness is being bypassed by the signals your eyes are picking up from the road. Your subconscious is in charge, and reacts to changes in direction of the road by automatically steering without you having to be conscious of it.
Does this all make sense?
Yeah, thanks for the input.
Personally I feel that a 'test' for ones 'trans-ness' (or lack of) is rather problematic.
Quote from: JustASeq on December 06, 2014, 05:49:05 AM
Personally I feel that a 'test' for ones 'trans-ness' (or lack of) is rather problematic.
I feel the same way. I thought long and hard about how to know for sure I'm trans because I really did not want to go through transition. The more information I gathered, the more unsure I was about everything. For example ask an avarage cis female why she knows for sure she is a female, or how does it feel to be a female. And probably she will not have any satisfactory answers. If we would 'test' her somehow, she probably wouldn't score any higher than an avarage MtF transsexual. It would be very reassuring for some to have some tests that can tell 100% that somebody is trans, but it would also be very limiting I think. In my opinion we should just work on creating a world where all these things does not matter and everybody can live as they want to.
[quote author=Lynne link=topic=179207.msg1583408#msg1583408 date=141787071 In my opinion we should just work on creating a world where all these things does not matter and everybody can live as they want to.
[/quote]
Very well put :). From reading these posts I suppose using hypnosis for people with a 'mental' or neurological condition would be considered unethical so isn't used apart from some addictions people have that aren't caused by these conditions. I guess there are so many variables that could do the patient more damage and I suspect there are laws preventing its use medically, such as how electrocution was used to cure homosexuality but is now banned.