Read Online Depth of Deception (A Titanic Murder Mystery) by Alexander Galant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alexander Galant
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p ost-traumatic amnesia , which is usually a result from some sort of head injury. That is quite possible, since we have no idea how you got to where you were found. Unfortunately, I don't have your medical records so I haven’t been able to determine if you suffered a concussion or anything like that. The other possibility is that you are suffering from dissociative amnesia caused by some recent traumatic event, or perhaps some repressed memory from childhood."
The patient looked at Natalie and said, "You sound like a psychiatrist."
"I am a psychiatrist."
The woman looked at Natalie so intently, it was as if those blue eyes were trying to see into her soul. Finally she whispered, "Can you help me?"
"I would like to try," replied Natalie.
They spoke for over an hour—time enough for Natalie to gain some of her trust and study her body language, getting to know her better. There was no doubt the patient was suffering from amnesia, but the doctor needed to know the extent of it.
After lunch, Natalie proposed subjecting her patient to hypnoanalysis.
"What is that?" asked the patient.
"It's a one-on-one hypnosis treatment."
"Hypnosis? I'm not sure about that."
"Contrary to popular belief, in a hypnotic state you are not asleep or unconscious," Natalie smiled. She was used to this kind of reaction due to all the films and stories of people being controlled through hypnosis to cluck like chickens or become hired assassins. She leaned closer to her patient and explained, "Hypnotic patients are completely awake and able to focus attention, with a corresponding decrease in their peripheral awareness. You cannot be made to do something against your will. You see, the goal of hypnoanalysis is to find the root cause of a problem or symptom through regression techniques."
"This is the best way to help?" blinked the patient nervously.
"Yes," Natalie replied calmly. "Hypnoanalysis deals with cause and effect."
Myra stared at her blankly, obviously not comprehending. Natalie continued, "Simply put, we think, behave, and feel emotions in certain ways because of happenings in our past experiences. This type of hypnosis can achieve results in dealing with emotions far more quickly and efficiently than psychotherapy or psychoanalysis, which could take years. I've seen breakthroughs in three or four sessions, sometimes less, but I don't want to get your hopes up."
"I want to remember," replied the patient. "I’m not sure why, but I have a strong feeling that I can trust you."
"I'm glad."
It took three attempts to get the patient into a relaxed-enough state to be able to commence. Natalie asked her to lift her arm. The manner in which the arm floated up confirmed that the patient was, in fact, in a hypnotic trance. In this disassociated state, the patient would be able to talk freely. Natalie grabbed her note pad and pen, and leaned over to make sure that the tape recorder was running so she could review the session later. Natalie started by asking some establishing questions that she already knew the answers to, in order to get the patient used to responding, and to read her responses. "What color are your eyes?"
"Blue."
"Are you warm or cold?"
"Cold. Very cold," replied the patient. Natalie already knew that because she could still see her shivering.
After three more such superficial questions Natalie quickly asked, " What is your name? "
" Myra, " she replied without hesitation. Natalie wrote it on her note pad in short hand.
" Thank you, Myra. What is your last name? "
Natalie could see Myra struggle. Unable to answer, she began to show signs of agitation. Her breathing began to speed up.
" Relax, Myra. That’s not important now, " cooed the doctor. Normally Natalie asked her patients to imagine a tranquil lake or ocean setting to be their ‘safety place’ but given the circumstances of where Myra was found she chose not to suggest it. " Imagine sitting in front of a warm fire place. Feel the warmth
The patient looked at Natalie and said, "You sound like a psychiatrist."
"I am a psychiatrist."
The woman looked at Natalie so intently, it was as if those blue eyes were trying to see into her soul. Finally she whispered, "Can you help me?"
"I would like to try," replied Natalie.
They spoke for over an hour—time enough for Natalie to gain some of her trust and study her body language, getting to know her better. There was no doubt the patient was suffering from amnesia, but the doctor needed to know the extent of it.
After lunch, Natalie proposed subjecting her patient to hypnoanalysis.
"What is that?" asked the patient.
"It's a one-on-one hypnosis treatment."
"Hypnosis? I'm not sure about that."
"Contrary to popular belief, in a hypnotic state you are not asleep or unconscious," Natalie smiled. She was used to this kind of reaction due to all the films and stories of people being controlled through hypnosis to cluck like chickens or become hired assassins. She leaned closer to her patient and explained, "Hypnotic patients are completely awake and able to focus attention, with a corresponding decrease in their peripheral awareness. You cannot be made to do something against your will. You see, the goal of hypnoanalysis is to find the root cause of a problem or symptom through regression techniques."
"This is the best way to help?" blinked the patient nervously.
"Yes," Natalie replied calmly. "Hypnoanalysis deals with cause and effect."
Myra stared at her blankly, obviously not comprehending. Natalie continued, "Simply put, we think, behave, and feel emotions in certain ways because of happenings in our past experiences. This type of hypnosis can achieve results in dealing with emotions far more quickly and efficiently than psychotherapy or psychoanalysis, which could take years. I've seen breakthroughs in three or four sessions, sometimes less, but I don't want to get your hopes up."
"I want to remember," replied the patient. "I’m not sure why, but I have a strong feeling that I can trust you."
"I'm glad."
It took three attempts to get the patient into a relaxed-enough state to be able to commence. Natalie asked her to lift her arm. The manner in which the arm floated up confirmed that the patient was, in fact, in a hypnotic trance. In this disassociated state, the patient would be able to talk freely. Natalie grabbed her note pad and pen, and leaned over to make sure that the tape recorder was running so she could review the session later. Natalie started by asking some establishing questions that she already knew the answers to, in order to get the patient used to responding, and to read her responses. "What color are your eyes?"
"Blue."
"Are you warm or cold?"
"Cold. Very cold," replied the patient. Natalie already knew that because she could still see her shivering.
After three more such superficial questions Natalie quickly asked, " What is your name? "
" Myra, " she replied without hesitation. Natalie wrote it on her note pad in short hand.
" Thank you, Myra. What is your last name? "
Natalie could see Myra struggle. Unable to answer, she began to show signs of agitation. Her breathing began to speed up.
" Relax, Myra. That’s not important now, " cooed the doctor. Normally Natalie asked her patients to imagine a tranquil lake or ocean setting to be their ‘safety place’ but given the circumstances of where Myra was found she chose not to suggest it. " Imagine sitting in front of a warm fire place. Feel the warmth
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