Jumping and jolting out of hypnosis when going deeper

Hi everyone,

There may be a technical name for what my client is experiencing, but it is the first time I have had this happen and would love some clarity and assistance on how to work with her effectively.

I have a wonderful elderly client who is having trouble sleeping - on first appointment, as we were descending into deep relaxation, the client jumped and jolted so hard in the chair it gave me a fright! The client was completely shocked and shaken but thankfully was happy (i'm trying not to give gender) and willing to try again. We managed to get client to a deep state and took 3 counts back...

A week later the client has shared is getting off to sleep easier but is now noticing how tense they are. We did a good session today, and was interesting, every time going into deep trance the client would jump (like a young newborn does when you lay them flat and they throw their arms out!) and arms and legs would fly out... but each time I was able to keep talking the client down and they would then continue down, and each time came less and less awake.

Can someone explain to me what might be going on? The client is very stressed and uptight - also explained to me that feels it is more physical rather than mental as felt self going deeper AFTER each jump.

There has only been one other time this has happened with a client and it was a young girl who was very frightened was going to lose control as she was going very deep - she jumped out of relaxation as I got to about "4" and started crying and was scared... I can understand this, it can feel scarey to let go like that if you don't have the understanding and has only ever happened the once.

If you can either point me in the right direction to do more research or let me know if you have had this and if you were able to combat with the client. I have suggested she get one of my cd's and use it regularly, i feel that with time and the ability for her to finally let go and relax, she will overcome this.

Please excuse my ignorance on this situation, I am still learning and where better to learn :)

Amber xoxoxo

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Permalink Reply by amber lee poole on October 23, 2011 at 12:41am

Thanx Lisa,

Yes, I have had this too with others but this one is very severe and extreme - client has no recollection at all and it happens anywhere in the session - and as stated by Dr Eric, it could be that client is dropping off to sleep and jolting each time... the jolting is massive - a complete "freak out" and flailing of arms and legs... quite a shock for me at times while I'm all calm and relaxed, speaking so softly and then BAM! hahaahahaahaaa

Amber xo

Lisa A Miller said:

Hi Amber.

I've had experiences with clients who have their legs and/or arms jerk while going into trance. I tell them "with every jerk/jump of your legs/arms, you go deeper. Relaxing more and more...." I've been working with two clients who have very jumpy legs. As we've worked together, those "symptoms" have all but disappeared. It is my experience that as they have learned to relax, and relax deeply, the jumpy legs have become mere twitches.

Reasure your client that this is a normal occurence and will most likely go away as she/he learns how to relax deeply.

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Permalink Reply by amber lee poole on October 23, 2011 at 12:43am

Thank you Michael,

This has obviously come my way for a reason - and i do see her in the morning!!!!!! It certainly feels like fear to me... I will source the book and get studying :)

I appreciate all of your help and appreciate my client for bringing the awareness to me that I have more to learn (who doesn't!!) and that i better get to it!!! lol

Amber xox

Michael Miller said:

I have experienced this and there are the three causes that I know of. Eric and Chris discussed two of them (sleep and tension), but I will add my $0.02. The other cause is fear.

If it's a borderline sleep response, you can see them in the morning and that usually fixes it. This type of thing is more common for me with my evening appointments.

If it's tension, you can use fractionation and inductions to teach them how to release it and systematically let it go.

The tension your client is experiencing suggests fear however. You and I know there is nothing to fear. The client might even think they know it, yet there is something in their subconscious mind that is unwilling to let go. When she starts to let go, she catches herself and alerts herself and consciously takes control again.

The best way to get over a fear like this is to get John Cleesattel's book Hypnomechanica and use the expectancy induction. There is other info in that book which can help you help your client overcome the fear. But that is assuming she wants to overcome it. If you aren't getting results, you might want to bring up the option of working on letting go first. However, if she is getting better sleep, you could just let her startle herself back to conscious control over and over and act as if it's normal.