What's Your Story?

Recently a colleague of mine, Bob Hertzendorf, related an interesting story about someone he was able to help via hypnosis counseling.

Bob's client was a retired military man who had achieved a high rank during a long and distinguished career serving our country. Having undergone abdominal surgery the week before, this individual developed a severe and disabling case of hiccups which standard medical treatment had been unable to remedy. (Anyone who has ever had a persistent bout of hiccups will tell you it can be a maddening ordeal.)

Desperate for anything that might possibly help, this individual sought out Bob's services. Trying several different types of hypnotic intervention to no avail during the session, a sudden flash of inspiration came to Bob. While the client was in the hypnotic state, he suggested that he give the hiccups a "dishonorable discharge." Lo and behold, the hiccups disappeared almost instantly and have not returned!

What this story illustrates is the power of metaphoric healing. On a logical, conscious level the idea of giving an annoying symptom a "dishonorable discharge," makes absolutely no sense. The conscious mind would understand "I shall now relax my diaphragmatic muscles and in doing so end these hiccups," and it is a sure bet this would have no effect on the problem.

The subconscious mind, which controls the body, readily responds to stories and metaphors. Under the right circumstances it can translate an abstraction into a tangible physical or behavioral change. This is especially true when a skilled hypnotist like Mr. Hertzendorf is able to match the right metaphor to a particular client problem.

The concept of giving a dishonorable discharge is one a member of the military brass would be quite familiar with, however it probably wouldn't resonate nearly as well with someone who didn't have that kind of background.