Ultradian Trance

The ultradian trance was put together from the discovery of the connection between the "readiness for trance indicators" used by Milton Erickson, and the rest-phase behaviors of the 90 - 120 minute psychophysiological rhythms of normal everyday life, was made by Ernest L. Rossi in the early 1980's, and has been printed in his most amazing book "The 20 Minute Break" of which I highly recommended.

The relationships between ultradian rhythms, stress, psychosomatic problems, and healing with therapeutic hypnosis have its experimental sources in the work of a number of investigators as well in more recent years.

Studies have shown that when people are stressed with extended performance tasks, they experience major disruptions in the amplitude and patterning of their ultradian rhythms. Personal observations of myself and those around me, have shown that overwork, especially under stress, often leads to frustration, irritability, exhaustion, and points of depression.

Similarities between the behavioral characteristics of the rest phase of ultradian rhythms, and Erickson's use of these characteristics as signs that his patients were ready to experience hypnosis led Rossi to conclude the following:
"The implications of this association between disruptions of the ultradian cycle by stress during psychosomatic illness are profound. if the major proposal of this section is correct - that therapeutic hypnosis involving physiological processes is actually a utilization of ultradian cycles - then we can finally understand in psychophysiological terms why hypnosis traditionally has been found to be an effective therapeutic approach to psychosomatic problems: Individuals who override and disrupt their own ultradian cycles (by ignoring their natural periodic needs for rest in any extended performance situation, for example) are thereby setting in motion the basic physiological mechanisms of psychosomatic illness. Most of this self-induced stress could be conceptualized as left-hemispheric processes overriding their ideal balance with right-hemispheric processes and associated parasympathetic functions. Naturalistic therapeutic hypnosis provides a comfortable state wherein these ultradian cycles can simply normalize themselves and thus undercut the processes of psychosomatic illnesses at their psychophysiological source."

These findings led to the directing of clients to use self hypnosis during the rest activity phase of their natural ultradian rhythm. It was found that most patients would find themselves going into a "healing trance" for about 15 - 20 minutes, this eventually being called the "ultradian healing response".


It is known that during sleep we have dreams about every hour and a half, and it has been shown that this ultradian rhythm continue's even while we are awake. In daily life we usually need to take a break every hour and a half or so, due to our natural ultradian rhythm of activity and rest. If we continuously deny ourselves these needed rest periods, we run the risk of upsetting the delicate rhythms of mind-body regulation so that we become prone to an amazingly broad range of stress-related disorders. Overeating, sexual dysfunctions, psychosomatic pain, mood disorders, depression, somatoform disorders, and psychological problems of all sorts are examples of related problems accompanying the disruption of working through our ultradian rhythm. Hypnosis is useful in treating these disorders because it provides a natural way of normalizing one's ultradian rhythm.

Patients generally begin the therapy hour by rushing into telling their story;"what's going on". After pouring out their problems, there comes a moment of pause, when he or she may turn either inward in self-reflection, or outward to the hypnotherapist for an answer. This is the creative moment for an ultradian trance induction. As Rossi indicates, each patient manifests his own individual pattern of ultradian trance readiness behaviors. "In general, there is a spontaneous quieting and slowing down of all body movements. The head, hands, and feet seem fixed in a natural form of catalepsy and sometimes the fingers seem to be frozen in mid-gesture. The eyelids may close momentarily or droop and blink a few times. There may be a reddening of the sclera of the eyes; sometimes a softening of the eyes is evident due to dilation of the pupils and/or the welling up of a slight tear film. There may be a reddening of the nose, cheeks, or neck; jaw relaxes and the lips part slightly. Most importantly, there is a quiet period, or one or two deeper breaths, as the patient spontaneously slips into an altered state of mind-body rhythms. This natural altered state results from a generalized shift toward parasympathetic and right-hemispheric dominance."

When such behavioral patterns are evident, the subject will readily enter therapeutic hypnosis with remarks from the hypnotherapist, as follows:
"That's right, just let yourself take a break for a few moments."
"Let yourself enjoy the comfort that comes all by itself while you rest."
"And if your unconscious is willing to let that comfort deepen so that it can work on [whatever problem] while you rest quietly in trance, you'll find those eyes closing all by themselves."

When our subjects begin entering the natural rest phase of their ultradian rhythm, they usually accept this type of hypnotic induction easily. At such times it is much easier to enter hypnosis than to stay normally awake! If patients do not close their eyes after a moment or two of beginning the hypnotic induction, the above situation can be turned into a therapeutic double bind by continuing with the following remarks:
"But if your unconscious needs to bring up another issue before you enter trance, you'll find yourself talking about that first."

If another issue is discussed, it tends to reinforce the patient's trance readiness when therapeutic trance is next offered. This also works due to the cause - effect clause, "you now told me, so therefore you can enter trance." This approach to hypnotherapy thus utilizes the patient's natural ultradian rhythm, as well as the patient's own motivation and expectancy for problem-solving.. Our subject is then awakened from hypnosis using any of the following double-binds:
"When your unconscious knows it has resolved [whatever problem], you will find yourself moving those fingers and hands, stretching a bit, and opening your eyes as you come fully awake, alert, and refreshed."

"When your unconscious knows that it has dealt with [whatever problem] to the optimum degree possible at this time, and can continue working with it successfully, you'll find yourself with an urge to move and stretch and come fully awake and refreshed."

For extra support our subjects can be taught to use their ultradian rest periods as a natural form of self hypnosis to reinforce the gains made during therapy. When hypnosis and post hypnotic suggestion are associated with ultradian rhythms in this way, a very effective form of state-dependent learning (known as imprints), and conditioning is developed.

Ultradian rhythms are the biological basis of the "common everyday trance", during which we find ourselves daydreaming or just taking a break. In fact, society as a whole has incorporated this into the work "coffee break" period every 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. We also have these natural everyday examples of taking our own ultradian break:
The housewife staring vacantly over a cup of coffee, the student with a faraway look in his eyes during the middle of a lecture, and the driver who automatically reaches his destination with no memory of the details of his route, are all examples of the common everyday ultradian trance.


This natural rest period with the ultradian cycle can be utilized to help our clients with self hypnosis sessions explained as follows:
"You can use a natural form of self hypnosis by simply letting yourself really enjoy taking a break whenever you need to throughout the day. You simply close your eyes and tune into the parts of your body that are most comfortable. When you locate that comfort, you can simply enjoy it and allow it to deepen and spread throughout your body all by itself. Comfort is more than just a word or a lazy state. Really going deeply into comfort means you have turned on your parasympathetic system - your natural ultradian healing response. This is the easiest way to maximize the healing benefits of the rest phase of your body's natural ultradian rhythms.
As you explore you inner comfort, you can wonder how your creative unconscious is going to deal with whatever symptom, problem or issue that you want it to deal with. Your unconscious is the inner regulator of all your biological and mental processes. If you have problems, it is probably because some unfortunate programming from the past has interfered with the natural processes of regulation within your unconscious. By accepting and letting yourself enjoy the normal periods of ultradian rest as they occur throughout the day, you are allowing your body/mind's natural self-regulation to heal and resolve your problems.
Your attitude toward your symptom and yourself is very important during this form of healing hypnosis. Your symptom or problem is actually your friend! Your symptom is a signal that a creative change is needed in your life. During your periods of comfort in ultradian self hypnosis, you will often receive quiet insights about your life, what you really want, and how to get it. A new thoughtfulness, joy, greater awareness, and maturity can result from the regular practice of ultradian self hypnosis."

Another useful point to the ultradian response is our ultradian nasal rhythm and how we could use it in our everyday activities:
The ultradian nasal rhythm occurs when the left and right nostrils alternate in being opened and closed. Studies have found that the alternating action correlates directly to, yet inversely with the hemispherical sides of the brain. That is, when the right nostril breathes the left side of the brain is in greater use, and vice versa. A knowledge of this could be of great use to someone who wants to get into either an analytical or creative mode of operation due to the hemispherical functions, e.g. most often left brain = analytical thinking; right brain = creative thinking. As a further note, this cerebral hemispheric shift appears to extend to an alternate sympathetic-parasympathetic modulation of the left and right sides of the body.

email: dr_frank@hypnoticadvancements.com

Mailing address:
Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)
Hypnotic Advancements
3126 McCarthy Court
Mississauga , ON
Canada L4Y-3Z5

© 2004, Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)

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