When I was being supervised as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I was informed that hypnotism is a serious matter, one that really needed to be accomplished by someone well trained in hypnotism. My superision recalled having to provide therapy to a number of client who had severe adverse reactions to being hypnotized by individuals claiming to being hypnotists at fairs and other events. True hypnotism is no laughing matter.

that must be one good hypnotist or one evil hypnotist.

Okay, can someone please explain WHY the only people who had trouble coming out of this guy's hypnosis were "young women"??? Did he only hypnotize young women, and none of the young men in attendance? Something smells fishy...

Sounds like this whole thing is being blown way out of proportion.

Impossible! They were hysteric females.

sounds like the young woman has other problems which led to this ambulance trip...give me a break. A poorly written article to boot.

You do nothing under hypnosis that you would not do awake. Attention seems to be the motivator here. Lonely kids looking for attention or peer recognition. Kids will be kids. You cannot hurt someone when you put them under, if that was the case I'd be out of a job.......you are feeling sleepy....relax...close your eyes...

Whoops! Hypnotism is serious business, but can be fun...I turned off the fun years ago when the prophet counselled against the fun part...

i dont believe that teenagers under 18 should be part of a show like that with out their parents present the school should not have approved of an activity like that

We'll see if all the girls end up sneaking out tonight and going to the hypnotist's house.

Why dont we give this guy his greatest challenge yet??? Turn Bush into an effective President!!! No, I cant believe that this guy is THAT good.

Thousands of great high school administrators and these jokers allow something like this to happen on a high school campus. Wonder where there thought processes where. Apparently don't know much about hypnotism. There are probably just waiting for the parents lawsuit. Stupid is as stupid does.

What an embarrassment to good high school administrators.

this is crazy. I am a hypnotherapist and this could not happen. You can not get stuck in hypnosis. You are always aware of what is going on and you won't do something you don't want to do. i think this story is a hoax.

And yet again we see things like this being blown into "won't somebody please think of the children!?". I am definitely not the only person who thinks that this state ludicrously blows things like these way out of proportion (see "Anonymous" above.)

I've been a clinical Hypnotherapist for over 20 years and believe this story lacks credibility. This story has no real facts...such as even the name of the stage hypnotist. There really hasn't been an instance of harm that has come to anyone from the use of hypnosis. That's why unlicensed practitioners can work with people in all 50 states. A person while undergoing hypnosis is fully aware of their surroundings and in control and will not do something against their moral code. I believe a follow up story is in order to set the record straight.

Alan, great political plug. I'd love to see you be an effective president. After you've tried, maybe then you can criticize Bush.

Weird article. Why so few details?

I've been out of high school over 20 years; and we used to have hypnosis shows during assemblies. We loved them! To find it repulsive that this could be in a school assembly is sort of silly. It's not a new concept by any means.

I am familiar with hypnobirthing, and yes, you are completely aware of your surroundings. Your mind is in control during labor and birth but you don't need drugs to birth. Not sure what's up with the girls in this high school. Wouldn't happen in a private school I'd say - vote for vouchers!

I am a Board Certified Hypnotherapist and a priest and I've been using hypnosis to treat clients for almost 50 years. With so little information given in the article, it is impossible to create a altered state in a public forum that would have caused an aberration briefly described. This article has to be a hoax because the actions of the 17 yo girl is impossible under any kind of hypnosis. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis in a group situation. I am also a Certified Hypno-Anesthesiologist using hypnosis when the patient is allergic to chemical anesthetics and I train doctors in the modality. I would put the problem with the young lady up to imagination and since it is impossible to know what actually happened from the article, that's where I'd leave it!
What this reminds me of is the Salem Witch trials when mob hysteria had people being bewitched to get attention or the brainwashing in some religious cults.
I would caution the first commentor 'Tab' a LCSW to be careful about heresay. There is nothing in literature to support that hypnosis is dangerous under any condition.

1) If the hypnotist had properly informed his audience that it is NOT POSSIBLE to get "stuck" in hypnosis anymore than it is NOT POSSIBLE to get stuck in your own DAY DREAM or stuck in SLEEP.. it would have prevented this hysteria.

2) Realize that people who "get stuck" in hypnosis shows generally are seeking attention from others, such as parents, peers, the hypnotist etc., and would do well to seek qualified therapy assistance, but by no means was it the "HYPNOSIS" that caused it, but only pointed out and highlighted the need. Much like a kid who listens to too much ROCK AND ROLL and then goes on a shooting spree. It was not the music that CAUSED the problem, it was a much deeper underlying cause.

3) As long as there are sensational articles about this kind of thing happing, there will always be this kind of thing happinging, be it rock and roll, video games, dungeons and dragons or hypnosis.

4) The psychological profession will say whatever it needs to say to either STOP hypnotists from practicing or get hypnosis under THEIR control because of the competition it causes their profession.

Glad to see all the experts here. Is it possible that the girl might of experienced a seizure?

I have seen people go against their "will" while in hypnosis. Would people cluck like chickens or take off stinky socks with holes in them if they were not hypnotised? Many would not go against their character.

A person using bio feedback, a form of self hypnosis can stop their heart if not trained right.

I used to study hypnosis and hypnotized many people until I decided it was not something that should be used for entertainment only. Some of the books warned of problems that could happen during hypnosis. I had never heard of somebody who had problems awaking from the hypnotic state; however, post-hypnotic suggestions are strong and can last a very long time. I have attended many shows put on by hypnotists and have seen many dangerous things -- putting people instantly into a somnabulistic hypnotic state without a safe place to fall into a relaxed posture, for example. Though hypnotists like to repeat the mantra that nobody will do anything under hypnosis that they would not do when fully conscious, this is not true. Many people lose their inhibitions and will do embarrassing acts and will attempt physical feats they have never tried and are incapable of accomplishing. There have been crimes committed by hypnotic suggestions, including one murder and possibly several. Google hypnotism and murder, and you'll find plenty to read about.

I am a Cognitive Hypnotherapist with over 10 years experience in hypnosis.

Hypnotic Trance is a natural state. We go into trance every day - when we are driving our car and can't remember the last five miles... when we're engaged in a good book and the 'hours fly by'...

You cannot make anyone do what they don't want to do under hypnosis - this is a myth. It's perfectly safe, perfectly natural.

There is a HUGE difference between stage hypnosis & hypnosis for therapy. STAGE HYPNOSIS IS ENTERTAINMENT. People at the show WANT to be apart of the show... They are not made to do anything that they don't want to do - they really want to do it!

There's many MYTHS - including that self hypnosis / using biofeedback can stop your heart - and hypnosis suggestions can cause murder... It's ludicris - but bet you'd make great subjects as you seem to be highly suggestible!

It's a pity that such a useful and effective resource for people still is being soiled by using it for entertainment purposes...

FAKE!

We attended a "session" years ago wherein the hypnotist convinced a girl she had two belly buttons. She then freaked. He quickly "pulled her out" of hypnosis -- but failed to undue the hypnotic suggestion. Can't tell me she would believe she had two belly buttons without hypnosis. Think about it.

What a rookie. A good pretalk would have fixed that before anything got out of hand. A simple thing like an abreaction.... please.

Especially with credible source like google!

During a visit to an LDS meetin once, I was struck by how one young person after another stood up before the congregation and repeated the very same thing, "I believe that the prophet, Joseph Smith was the ..."
(I believe you know the rest)

This is the very same technique used by hypnotists in an auto-suggestion sort of way. This guy knew his audience. The hypnotized never lie.

Okay, I get that it's supposed to be "impossible," to get stuck in Hypnosis and the girl was probably faking it. But maybe this guy was a really powerful hip-mo-tizer like the guy in that horror movie who made the woman wash her hair with gasoline. Ever think of that? For all we know, that girl is now walking towards his apartment with her arms stuck out in front of her saying, "I'm coming my master." I say, find him and hold a mirror up to him while he working his powers on someone so he ends up putting himself into a trance and admitting to everything.

hey, if you can goolge it and find it on the internet, it must be true.

Rich, I'm glad you realized how dangerous hypnosis can be. I myself dated a hypnotist for a short period of time, and let's just say I don't think I will ever let myself fall under hypnosis EVER.

I seriously question however if the young woman in question was harmed as a result of hypnosis. There could have been many things going on that other people percieved were a result of hypnosis, including panic attacks.

Makes me think if women are more submissible to hyponsis than men? Isn't that possible if that's why this entertainer took the opportunity where he wouldn't look like a fool in front of an audience? I've often been to hypnosis show before and many times I've seen women outnumbered men in their stage. Doesn't that say anything? Just a theory...

"It's a pity that such a useful and effective resource for people still is being soiled by using it for entertainment purposes..."

I'm a comedy hypnotist who's been doing this for years - do you have any idea how many people have gone to hypnotherapists like your yourself because they learn what a wonderful tool it is through one of my shows? Far more than you realize, I assure you

I call BS on these girls, but nevertheless, this show was handled by an inexperienced performer. Any hyp show is far safer than even a DJ having people dance around. It's a completely natural state of mind - a couple folks here have already explained it well enough.

Which educational standard does this Hypnotist cover?

If I were a parent, I would ask the Administration, and make them answer it.

When I send my kids to school it's to learn, it's not to play and be hypnotized.

Someone Accountable Please!!!

Very, very strange activity for underage kids. That would NEVER happen in Vegas. (Well, okay, maybe it would.) The potential liability/exposure for such a show is incredible. Not smart. I'd be ticked to learn that my kids were being hypnotized as school without my knowledge or consent.

I agree with many of the comments made here by professional stage hypnotists,who are also certified trained professionals.a lot of other comments here are by persons who it is best that they have educated informed information about hypnosis before scare mongering tactics are typed. sighs.there is no such thing as a person being STUCK in hypnosis it can not and DOES NOT happen. a skilled profeessional knows how to give a good pre hypnosis talk and manage persons induced into hypnosis.i question the validity of a lot the story contains.i have been a hypnotist in practice for 30 years.both clinicaly and entertainment .want to know how hypnosis realy works,go seek professional advice from one of us who truly knows.it is a wonderfull tool to assist people with many things.

HYPNO

Not many people realize that the Salem Witch trials in the "summer of madness" were the result of teenage girls who were just after attention. You cannot get "stuck" in hypnosis. Its like saying you can get stuck day dreaming. They are both the same thing.

Hypnotism should never be used for entertainment purposes, but as a psycho-counseling procedure under very limited circumstances. To go hypnotizing a gym full of high school kids is insane. Fire the principal and anyone in the decision making process.

It appears that more than one person jumped to a conclusion when it was determined that the hypnosis show created the girls' state.

It is impossible to become stuck in a altered state of consciousness: our brains naturally cycle through various states of consciousness several times per day (a phenomenon referred to as the ultradian rhythm). People on average, have periods of "hypnosis" every 90 minutes or so. We naturally know how to snap out of those states, don't we?

It is apparent that some people fell prey to the myths of hypnosis. It would behoove the school administrators and parents of the children to look into the real cause of the problem. Could it have been due to a health issue or an environmental factor? Were the children trying to avoid something on that particular day? Their symptoms were not due to the hypnosis show.

Finally, there is another point yet to make. There are some religious groups that teach that hypnosis is wrong. Due to that fact, why would any school consider having such a show on their property? One would hope that public schools would honor the diverse religious beliefs of the student body.

Talk in a gentle monotone. Talk with authority. Repeat the message. Repeat the message. Repeat the message. Repeat the message. There you have it!
A crash course in hypnosis.

After reading the article and then all of these comments, all I can say is it must be a VERY SLOW news day. I have never read so much ado about nothing!

Everyone knows that panic attacks are not truly life threatening. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, thud.

The show WAS at Logan High, NOT during school hours. I'm not even sure if the school supported the event, other than providing or renting the auditorium. Those that jump to conclusions like fire the administration are doing so without any facts at all. If you read that the officer was at a volleyball game, then it's obvious it was well after school ended, late afternoon or evening. Students were obviously not released from classtime for this event. Everybody wants everybody fired for everything before even looking at the facts.

The assembly took place in the evening, not part of the school day, relax, you are getting sleepy.... lighten up.

Fire everyone, the hypnotist, the adminstration, the cop, the volleyball coach, the tribune writer for the weak article, the editor for putting it in the paper, the superintendent, and the school office staff, and finally the lunch ladies.

The event was in the evening after school hours, not part of the school day. The cop was at a volleyball match, which take place in the later afternoon or evening. So relax, you're getting sleepy.....

I went to a hypnotist show where the hypnotist went to the hospital. He was so drunk he fell of the stage on his head. It was funny seeing him taken out on a stretcher in handcuffs!! I still laugh to this day thinking about it!!

Why doesn't the article have any comments or even the name of the hypnotist??????

seems like we put a lot of stock is some peoples imagination. i have been to a lot of really good shows, and there was no harm done. Maybe we are all in need of a little humor.

To all the experts who dismissed this out of hand - If these young women deeply believed that they could get stuck in a trance state, they could easily feel, think and behave as if they were really stuck in a trance state.

Dear Readers - How many of you reading this have ever had a nightmare - and suddenly you wake up -- quite relieved to discover it was only a dream?

I believe this is kind of like the "hypnotic" experience these young women had. These women were deeply absorbed in the show and something triggered a deeply held belief that they could get stuck in a trance state.
Suddenly, they felt trapped and very afraid. They truly believed that they were unable to wake up and their virtual reality was all too real -- so they behaved accordingly -- Were they really stuck in a trance state? No.

Any hypnosis professional worth his or salt would have recognized what was happening and immediately ended their suffering.

Michael Ellner
Hypnosis Educator