Sometimes episodes in early life shape a person’s destiny. Such was the case for Dr. Milton Erickson, a pioneer in hypnotherapy. He was born into a tiny farming community in 1902. Living in a town of around 300 people, his early education was basic. He struggled with dyslexia and was tone deaf. But his world was about to change.
At age 17, Erickson was stricken with polio. Today, polio is almost unknown in North America, but in 1919, it was universally feared. The most dangerous form caused paralysis, coma and often death; this was the form that Milton caught. He lapsed into a coma for several days, and doctors were certain he would die. When he awoke, he was paralyzed, able to move only his eyes.
Suddenly, he was trapped in his body, unable to speak. He had to find ways of amusing himself (no easy feat in an age before TV or radio). So what could he do? He watched.
He watched his baby sister. At the time, she was learning to walk. By closely observing her movements, Milton remembered how to use his own muscles. Over the next two years, he taught himself to talk and move his arms.
He spent long hours observing his family. He watched their body language and tone of voice, comparing it with what they actually said out loud. In later years, he would use this to good effect with patients, watching their body language for subtle cues in order to treat them more effectively.
He watched the other children at play. One day as he imagined playing along, his chair began to rock slightly. Excited, he tried again, but the chair wouldn’t budge. Disappointed, he gave up, and returned to the world of his imagination; once again the chair moved. He realized that his subconscious mind was enabling him to move, even though his conscious mind believed it impossible. This gave him a major insight into the subconscious mind and its power to heal. In future years, this would serve him (and his patients) well.
His doctor suggested exercises to build up his upper body strength since Milton would never walk again. In response, Erickson planned an epic canoe trip, a thousand miles through the wilderness. Despite the opposition of doctors and family, Erickson insisted.
He started with few supplies and $2.32 in cash … he had to forage for food along the way. He was barely able to swim and couldn’t even pull his canoe out of the water. Yet somehow he made it. He came home considerably stronger, able to swim a mile, walk with a cane, even carry his own canoe.
After that, he attended college to study medicine, but his fascination with the power of the mind led him to obtain a psychology degree along the way. He continued his medical training, becoming one of the leading psychiatrists of his day.
He was a strong believer in the power of the unconscious mind to heal the body. He was walking proof! Dr. Erickson saw the subconscious as a place of healing. Patients used hypnotherapy to access their inner strength, helping them overcome a range of difficulties.
Dr. Erickson used his personal challenges to make the world a better place for his patients. He believed that everyone could be hypnotized; to him, the trance state was as natural as breathing, something that we did every time we got caught up in a daydream or got lost in a task. By personalizing treatment for each patient, he could get the maximum therapeutic benefit from each session, often achieving near-miraculous results in a very short time.
In the next article, we’ll explore his approach to hypnosis and the trance state. Come join us for more on this fascinating pioneer! Have you ever wondered if some people just can’t be hypnotized? Wonder if you could benefit from hypnosis? Hypnosis can be used for a wide range of issues, including stress and anxiety, chronic pain, and much more. Come experience the power of hypnosis today!
Melvin S. Marsh is a certified life coach and hypnotherapist serving Atlanta GA, Augusta GA, Statesboro GA, and Savannah GA. He performs hypnotherapy and life coaching appointments both in person and worldwide virtually. He can be reached at www.afterhourshypnotherapy.com
