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Level: Intermediate | Last Update: 22 Nov 2009| First Posted: 22 Nov 2009
This article is for your conscious mind only... This article differs from the others at Understanding.Infantilism.Org in one important way. Like the others, it is a frank exploration of the realities relevant to AB/DLs. However, unlike the others, it deals with a topic where this approach might not be beneficial. Given the nature of hypnosis, it might be necessary to dismiss this article.
Newly developed drugs are tested by contrasting their effect with that of an indistinguishable sugar pill, called a placebo. Some of the patients in the test are given the real drug, and some are given the sugar pill. The patients aren't told which they are getting. Both groups tend to get better, even though only one received the drug. This is called the placebo effect.
The subject's expectation that the drug will make him or her better causes some to get better. Desires and expectations unconsciously affect perceptions, behaviors, etc. About a quarter to a half of patients are affected, to varying degrees.
In contrast to the calculated approach of the doctors, we have the hypnotists. As a profession, they are still trying to escape the public image of the stage performer.
The first step in hypnosis the induction, placing the subject in a trance. A trance might be more similar to a deer caught in a car's headlights or being deeply 'into' a good movie than the zombie-like mind control shown in bad movies. The subject might not even know that he or she was in a trance. The hypnotists claim that this state gives them direct access to the subject's subconscious mind. It might be more analogous to the placebo, which provides the doctor with plausible access to the body's inner workings.
Of course, a more typical hypnosis experience for an AB/DL doesn't involve a live hypnotist, but a prerecorded file, tape, or CD. This experience will be hindered because the file won't be able to adjust to the subject's ability to enter a trance. (Another reason why live hypnotists might get better results on average is that subjects who are unconvinced of the power of hypnosis will be less likely to pay for it.)
This ability to enter a deep trance might improve with practice. However, inductions (the start of the file) can become ineffective if overused. This is in contrast to the suggestions (the middle of the file) which benefit from repetition. One solution is to cut-and-paste different inductions onto the file body. Assuming that the ability to enter a trance isn't a barrier, the subject should eventually see results that vary with their suggestibility. Some will see clear results early on and some will see few or no results even after weeks.
These files are widely available, which has advantages and drawbacks. Some include trigger phrases, intended to activate post-hypnotic suggestions or cause a trance. The more common the file, the more likely that someone else would know the trigger.
Believing that one has no control is in many ways like not having control. Since many AB/DLs would be trying hypnosis as a way to give up urinary and other forms of control, this would work to their advantage. Hypnosis doesn't need to remove capabilities, just make the AB/DL believe that he or she can't use them.
Effects outside the subject's control would be harder to achieve hypnotically. Subjective effects, such as feeling safe and loved, are easier than objective effects, such as ESP. Suggestions within the realm of conscious control are easier than ones that involve reflexive or autonomic control. For example, hypnotically manipulating the outer sphincter (the one controlled by our mind) is easier than the inner sphincter, which is reflexively controlled ('with a mind of its own.'). Finally, positive effects are easier than negative ones.
One example where this range comes into play is the file "InstantWetting," which is available through warpmymind.com. This file attempts to cause a sudden urge to pee, followed by a triggered but otherwise uncontrollable wetting. In some, it comes from the subconscious spasms of the outer sphincter. This is a positive suggestion, involving a consciously controlled muscle. (This can be tested by trying to pee partway through the file. The desperation disappears, even if no urine is passed.) This is then followed by the command to urinate. That is, to open both sphincters; a negative suggestion involving reflexively controlled muscles. If the subjects suggestibility is sufficient for the first part but not the second, the file will end disappointingly. While an otherwise well-done file, it either works or doesn't work, either reinforcing or undermining one's belief in hypnosis.
A more conservative file would assure the AB/DL that 1)it was OK to wet whenever, where ever, 2) held urine was unpleasant while the flowing urine is pleasant, so urinate as soon as possible and with as little thought beforehand as possible 3) that he or she would progressively become incontinent, a little more every time they used a diaper or listened to the file. Behaviorally, the second item would result in an increasing habitual incontinence. Hypnotically, the decrease in control, however slight, would be evidence that the subject is actually loosing control. This believed success might increase one's belief in hypnosis, which might increase one's suggestibility. The two effects might amplify each other, and snowball. The AB/DL might never be sure whether the incontinence was hypnotic, behavioral, or both; but might not care.
Some might only wish to be incontinent while wearing diapers. Hypnotically becoming conditionally incontinent is more difficult, just as it is with behavioral methods. In addition to training the mind and body to know when in diapers, the reflexes need to remain in place. Here hypnotic methods have one advantage - suggestions and affirmations can be reinforced when not wearing diapers.
Hypnosis might be able to give some AB/DLs what they want. When deciding whether or not to try hypnosis, accept that just listening to a hypnosis file will probably be ineffective. Few are suggestible enough and enter trances easily enough for the first experience to do much of anything. Weeks of effort might be needed to achieve results, and then those results might require ongoing maintenance. After this investment, you might experience results that are limited by your suggestibility. Currently, there doesn't seem to be a reliable way to measure suggestibility, short of actually investing in hypnosis.
Level: Intermediate | Last Update: 22 Nov 2009| First Posted: 22 Nov 2009