Hypnotic stuttering

It may help to know just what experience, or set of conditions, started a stutterer in his speech defect. Then the force of this cause in the subconscious can be broken and the treatment strengthened. But the first thing is to cure the stuttering, and this can be done, even where no definite cause can be located. The same is true of the treatment of phobias, etc. Remove the phobia. Assure the patient he will no longer fear the dark, high places, closed places, or whatever his trouble may be. This is simple, direct and effective hypnotic treatment—regardless of causes. The chain of negative association which comprises the cause can be utterly broken up, through positive suggestion, during hypnosis.

If, under hypnosis, the patient proves unable to reveal any clue as to the cause of his defect, do not delay but proceed at once with the treatment. Never press your efforts to locate a cause to the point where you may develop unconscious resistance. Stop your inquiries and proceed with positive suggestion.

Place the patient under hypnosis as described in Chapter Five. When tests reveal he is in a hypnotic state, ask him at what age he started to stutter. Then ask him what happened that might have caused him to stutter. You may ask, "Did you receive punishment for something you did? Did anything happen at school? Did other children make fun of you? Did you do something about which you felt a sense of guilt?" Tell him to think hard and try to recall any experience which might have had a restrictive influence upon him just before he started to stutter.

If he is unable to recall anything which might have been a factor in the cause, immediately proceed to the suggestive treatment. You may say, "Sleep deeply— very deeply—you will be conscious of nothing but my voice—you will speak freely and easily—the tendency to stutter is gone—speak without hesitancy." Then ask him simple questions which he can answer without effort: such as, "What is your name? What is your father's name? Your mother's? How many brothers and sisters? Name them. Where do you live? Where did you attend school? Do you work? What do you do? Tell me about it—just what are your duties—do you like this work—what would you rather do, if anything, etc." The purpose of these questions is to get him talking with least possible resistance.

The moment he starts to stutter, if he does, stop and repeat the suggestion that he does not need to stutter— that he will answer you easily and freely; and say, in a sharp, commanding voice, "Now repeat that without stuttering." When he does so, say, "That's fine—see— you have proved to yourself that you can talk without stuttering." Be sure, before awakening him, to give strong post-hypnotic suggestions that his stuttering will be com¬pletely eliminated, he will speak without embarrassment and with complete self-confidence. Do not expect miracles. Few will be cured in a single 5 treatment. But they can and will be cured if the treatments are persisted in. Improvement may at first be gradual, and will become more marked as the patient becomes more deeply hypnotised in successive treatments.

Hypnotic stuttering