Hypnosis, is very subjective. Some people "remember" things that are incorrect, because they went in thinking something happened, and were guided by either the person doing it, or thier own suspicion as to what happened, and therefore they remembered it. I don't think it is as effective as some people think.

If you have forgotten due to trauma, why would you want to remember? There are things that I have forgotten, about my childhood, due to verbal harrassment from my speech impediment. I have no desire to remember that.

Why do you want to remember trauma?

If it were me, I would just lay all this at the foot of the cross. There is no good that will come out of knowing; only grief. Perhaps there's a (good) reason you don't remember. It's probably not a coincidence. Good luck to you.

I think the best thing to do is pray about it because God knows you best, He loves you and wants you to be happy, joyful. He will be there for you always.

C:

@smgcrossfire@xanga - I understand the need to know where you came from and what happened. It feels as if it's fundamental to knowing who you are. I advise you to be careful, though. Check credentials, see if you can find some testimonials - maybe someone you know and trust has been see by a good hypnotist and can give you some feedback from the experience?

Research is so important - it's the difference between remembering and walking out of the office with false memories.

Also, be ready to deal with the consequences of remembering. @apb102088@xanga has an excellent point. There must be a good reason you don't remember what happened to you. Most likely your mind acted in self defense and just blocked it out.

I hope everything works out for you!   {{{{hugs}}}}

I do not have any clear understanding of this issue; so I'm not going to offer an absolute answer.  

I agree with and wish to add to LadyGwenivere's comment:  God is willing and has provided a method to give us wisdom and knowledge.  The method is found in 1st Corinthians 14:

12

So it is with
yourselves; since you are so eager and ambitious to possess spiritual
endowments and manifestations of the [Holy] Spirit, [concentrate on]
striving to excel and to abound [in them] in ways that will build up the
church.   

13

Therefore, the person who speaks in an [unknown] tongue should pray [for the power] to interpret and explain what he says.

14

For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].   

15

Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy
Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my
mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit
that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and
understanding also.

The key to this is the phrase "I will" and recognizing that Jesus gave us authority to enter His throne of grace boldly.

I realize many people believe praying "in the Spirit," speaking aloud ecstatic utterances and then speaking out in our own native language that which the Spirit of God has revealed to the spirit of the speaker, is as bizarre and scary as hynosis.  This is due to ignorance of the scriptures!  However, this method is nonetheless prescribed to us in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul under divine inspiration.  Believe it or not!
...

I disagree with those who say it is unethical or dangerous for a Christian to undergo hypnosis. I will preface why I say that by adding that my thoughts on this may come directly from my own experiences and may not have a thing to do with yours.

I did hypnobabies with the birth of my son. It is a "hypnosis" for childbirth program. When I say that to people, they misunderstand completely what hypnosis is. They subconsciously, or even sometimes consciously, picture someone putting you under a spell making you act in ways you normally wouldn't, say things you normally wouldn't etc. They picture a hypnotist having control over you in some way. That is not my experience.

Hypnosis is actually just a state of deep, focused relaxation. The way in which you might get to a supressed memory is because while you are so relaxed, it's possible your walls might come down and truth may spill out. It is not some outside influence directing your mind, implanting ideas, or anything like that. The hypnotist, at the simplest form, is an expert at helping people to relax their minds.

And God tells us to "be still and know."

My experience with hypnosis was very positive. I carry it from day to day and when I need to, I now have to tools to stop myself when I need to "be still" in my mind and in my body.

For those who might misunderstand what the hypnotic state is, it is actually something you find yourself in many times a day and you just don't label it as such. You don't recognize it. Example: have you ever driven somewhere and you just sort of "auto-piloted" your way home, you weren't really choosing this way or that, you just traversed automatically? Have you ever been really into a television show, movie, or even music - and you totally lost track of time? These are both hypnotic states, and a hypnotist is simply someone who can help you to get to that point of peace.

Of course you have to be careful with who you choose.

But to those who might say that hypnosis is dangerous, black magic, from Satan, or that it "opens your mind and spirit up" putting you at risk for the influence of dark things? I would reply that you may be defining hypnosis in an incorrect manner.

BTW, the picture above does not correctly convey hypnosis. It is most likely a picture that connotates negative things to those who misunderstand what hypnosis is.

It is not putting you under a spell.

I looked into the origination of the picture above, and it is from a site for hypnosis AND black magic etc. THAT is a place I would stay away from. No wonder the pic is the kind that I know further the idea that hypnosis is magical or whatever.

But you CAN absolutely find a truly Christian hypnosis therapist. I know for a fact because my aunt is a very strong believer who is also a family therapist. She has in the past recommended my sister to a friend of hers who offers hypnosis therapy among his other "regular" counselling. Hypnosis and Christianity are not incompatible.

Hey.  I've been through what you've been through.  I had the same scared feelings towards my father, as well as all the symptoms of a kid who has been sexually abused (erratic behavior, borderline personality type, eating disorder, etcetcetc)  I remembered just enough on my own though to accept that my dad sexually abused and raped me, and, quite frankly, I don't exactly want to remember any more details than I already remember (which is very, very few.  Just a few flashes, a few moments, some words, a couple of scenes...)

Also, one thing you said in a comment kind of confuses me...  A therapist should NEVER tell you that you were "probably" raped/abused sexually, because that could plant ideas in your head.  There was a whole controversy related to false memories of ritual abuse back in the 90's or something.  I'm not saying that is you, but it's unethical for a practitioner to suggest those things.  I had one psychologist suggest that to me once, and despite that triggering one of my flashbacks, I still told her I'd never been abused.

You may just want to go on your gut with this whole situation.  One time my mom asked me point blank if I was ever raped and in my head I answered "Yes by my own dad" but I told her no, and yelled at myself internally for being a crazy person.  I wasn't crazy.  He really did rape me (and I have physical proof in the form of an STD- lucky me.)  Perhaps when you start accepting that he hurt you, you may naturally get some answers in the form of flashbacks.  Flashbacks are extremely unpleasant.  There is a reason we can't remember these things!!!  We would have like, gone insane, at the time because we were too emotionally and cognitively immature to understand or cope with what was happening to us.

I hope this helps.

usually your brain represses things for good reasons...

I did not take the time to actually read the other user's comments and so if what I am going to say has been said then ...:) 

@sarahsmurfette@xanga -

I would absolutely love to speak to you more about your birth experience!

I fully intend to have a hypnobirth for my next baby.

Thank you for sharing your information.  I'll check out the link for sure.

@sarahsmurfette@xanga - That would be great!
I'm going to go to your page and add you as a friend etc

=)

Thanks for being willing to share your story! I'll share mine as well (not dramatic and no hypnosis.... boo... lol)