Hypnosis and Grey's Anatomy

Hypnosis and Grey’s Anatomy



I was watching Grey’s Anatomy on television when I noticed an interesting hypnotic technique used in one of their scenes during surgery.

A man was having open heart surgery and had a severe allergy to the anesthesia they were using, so they used some kind of a local to remove sensation from the neck down.

He was fully conscious during the open heart procedure.

To keep the man from freaking out, a doctor began making suggestions that the man picture each doctor in the room as one of his favorite birds.

As the man began visualizing the favorite birds projected on the heads of the doctors, he became distracted enough to tolerate the open heart surgery.

This technique works very well with children under ten years old going to the dentist.

In the field of Hypnodontia, many dentists only use hypnosis techniques on children since it works every time, and just like in the Grey’s Anatomy episode, you do not need to take time to present a formal hypnotic induction.

In the case of open-heart surgery, however, it would have been better, if the doctor who was administering this technique would have just asked her patient to close his eyes and then begin to imagine the birds being in the room.

Many people cannot create hypnotic illusions with their eyes open. For example: seeing bird head’s transformed out of human heads or hypnotic hallucinations, seeing birds walking around an operating room, on the floor or flying in the air.

Also, by beginning the process with the patient’s eyes closed, he would not be distracted by seeing other doctors watching him from the gallery. (Refer to the “Junior Mint” Episode of the Television series, Seinfeld.) And you will know what I am talking about.

The patient would also be shielded from seeing his heart lying open on his chest.

In addition, the person administering this guided fantasy, could increase the power of the procedure by including other aspects that appeal to the patient’s sense of touch, taste, smell, and hearing.

In my next post, I will explain in detail a technique I used where I was not even present as the patient conducted his own private guided fantasy.

Wayne F. Perkins
Master Hypnotist Trainer
Hypnotism Education

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