Resting Tremor Stopped Briefly With Hypnosis

[Likii]

In 1995 I visited a GP. I forget the reason. She did something surprising that has persisted all these years. I think it may be important in understanding some cases of "Parkinson's Disease".

Out of the blue this GP said she could give me something that would help me relax. This turned out to be what I understand is a post-hypnotic suggestion. After bringing me to a deeply relaxed state (evidently hypnotizing me) she said that when I rub my right thumb and fingertips together I would regain that relaxed state. I had not gone to see her for hypnotherapy and had no idea she offered this service.

Now at that time and for the decades since I have been aware of near-constant, chronic contraction in my neck and trapezius muscles. I have always been able to relax these muscles by focusing on them - but only very briefly. After 2 or 3 seconds they are contracted again. Incredibly, I have never arrived at an understanding of this phenomena. I don't even know what it's called. Is it a symptom of PTSD? The "Fight or Flight" response? Is it a form of Dystonia? There seemed to be no resolution and I have lived with it all these years.

Occasionally I would experiment with the hypnotic suggestion. Rubbing my thumb and fingertips together would relax the muscles - but only for a few seconds. (In fact, shortly after the visit to the GP I became aware that I need not even actually do the thumb-finger exercise: it was enough just to think of doing it. The muscles would relax. 👉The power of the mind)

Now, forward almost 3 decades: my chronic muscle contraction had gained a disturbing new attribute: Resting Tremor. No longer was it just an uncomfortable muscle tightness: my left arm had started to shake. I could still stop it if I focused or thought of the hypnotic technique. This new Resting Tremor could be halted - but only very briefly.

Now over the most recent 6 months there have been added several clear signs and symptoms and one month ago I was diagnosed with very distressing Parkinson's. The chronic case of muscle contraction had progressed to something more alarming. Perhaps the threshold damage to dopamine neurons had been reached. But the hypnotic suggestion still works to briefly stop both the tremor and muscle contraction.

So, is chronic muscle contraction prodromal to PD?

[park_bear]

When we're not paying attention to the location of our limbs, particularly hands and arms, there's an autonomic control loop that maintains existing position. In the case of Parkinson's, it introduces delays into this system, resulting in oscillations that we know as tremor. When we pay attention to the tremoring limb, that control loop is deactivated, stopping the tremor for only as long as we are paying attention.

[Likii]

So, my rambling post sought to bring up two main points:

1) In my case, the "Parkinson's" resting tremor was preceded by decades of chronic muscle contraction. (Dystonia? PTSD? I really wish I knew what this condition is called. Anyone?)

2) The muscle contraction - and now additional resting tremor - can be halted very briefly by focusing on relaxing it or employing a post-hypnotic suggestion.

A third observation:

3) This resting tremor is a product of a state of mind. And that state of mind can be altered.

[Ghmac in reply to Likii]

So I am just curious. Do you think if you went back to Dr or just hypnotist they might be able to reduce tremor?

[Likii in reply to Ghmac]

Possibly. I have access to neither that doctor nor a hypnotherapist at this point.