Serena (Patient files)

Serena shared her origin story with me. I had met with her a few times in my practice. She would come into the clinic in Santa Clara, sit down in the chair, and we would begin to work through the reality of it all.

What you’re about to read are real-life stories of my patients, along with my reviews of their lives. When possible, we’ll also film Serena’s story. Serena is an incredibly unique, highly talented, and charismatic individual in both male and female forms.

Serena wrote:

I met someone who was sexually adventurous and interested in ‘darker’ things, including hypnosis. I had some experience with hypnosis and was confident in my abilities. One night, she asked me if it was possible to brainwash someone with hypnosis, which is a trigger word for me. We discussed the details, including using alcohol to reduce inhibition and possibly something like NyQuil to maintain a drowsy, twilight sleep state.

She asked me to hypnotize her, and I did. Under hypnosis, I suggested that she go home, sleep, and at 11:30 PM, dress all in black, go to the store where I worked, use a key I gave her, and steal an envelope of ‘vital information’. I had her chant her instructions repeatedly before waking her with no memory of the session. That night, she followed my instructions, dressed in black, and acted like a secret agent. When she saw me at the store, she was shocked. I re-induced her with a trigger word, took her to the back, made her more aroused, and we had sex.

She later expressed a desire to hypnotize me. A month later, when her parents were away, I spent four days at her house. We had wine and a bath, and then she began to hypnotize me using a combination of her soothing voice and NyQuil-laced wine. Over the next three days, she hypnotized, drugged, and brainwashed me, creating a new persona named Serena, who was English, loved being hypnotized, and was a smoker. This experience transformed me profoundly.

Throughout the weekend, she dressed me in satin panties, pantyhose, a silky velvet dress, a wig, and black satin gloves. Although she claimed we never left the house, in my drugged and hypnotized state, I believed we went to clubs, danced, had sex, and partied. After the relationship ended, Serena remained a part of me.

My Commentary:

This narrative illustrates several critical psychological components:

Hypnosis and Suggestibility:

Hypnosis increases suggestibility, making individuals more open to instructions and ideas. The use of repetitive suggestions, as described, can deeply ingrain behaviors and beliefs in the subject’s mind. This is consistent with what we know about the power of suggestion in altered states of consciousness (APA, 2014).

Ethical Considerations:

While the consensual nature of these interactions is paramount, ethical concerns arise regarding the use of substances like alcohol and NyQuil to facilitate hypnosis. In professional practice, maintaining clear, informed consent without (Barnier & Nash, 2008). I don’t think alcohol or NyQuil are good representations of deleting the old and installing the new. One would want to incorporate a variety of techniques, including visual reframing, fractionation, and the use of substances like LSD, MDMA, and poppers for short term effects.

Creation of Altered Personas:

The creation of an alter persona, such as Serena, through hypnosis and role-play is a profound psychological transformation. This can offer individuals a way to explore different aspects of their identity and desires safely within a consensual framework. However, it also underscores the importance of ensuring that these experiences do not lead to unwanted psychological harm or confusion (Kihlstrom, 2013).

Submissive Dynamics in BDSM:

The story highlights the appeal of submissive dynamics in BDSM relationships. The submissive role can provide a structured way to explore vulnerability, trust, and intense emotional and physical experiences. These dynamics must be navigated with clear communication, boundaries, and aftercare to ensure the well-being of all parties involved (Wiseman, 1996).

Cultural Perceptions of Masculinity:

The comparison to the portrayal of submissive men in Western culture is relevant. Just as Orientalism portrays Asian men as feminine and less dominant, contemporary stereotypes often undermine the complexity and agency of men who embrace submissive roles. Recognizing and challenging these stereotypes is crucial for a more inclusive understanding of masculinity and sexual diversity (Connell, 1995).

References:
American Psychological Association. (2014). Hypnosis. Retrieved from APA Hypnosis
Barnier, A. J., & Nash, M. R. (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis: Theory, Research, and Practice. Oxford University Press.
Kihlstrom, J. F. (2013). Neuro-hypnotism: Prospects for hypnosis and neuroscience. Cortex, 49(2), 365–367.
Wiseman, J. (1996). SM 101: A Realistic Introduction. Greenery Press.
Connell, R. W. (1995). Masculinities. University of California Press.