I tried it for anxiety. I mostly did it because I was curious about it, but also in hopes that it would help. I would never consent to it to try to "recover repressed memories." I have read that it is fairly easy to implant false memories, and therapists have sometimes done it accidentally. But I had also read that it could be useful for anxiety.

I do think that I was actually hypnotized. There are a couple of "tests" to see if it actually worked...for instance he told me that I would have difficulty opening my eyes and I did. He also told me that my mouth would fill up with extra saliva and it did. I did kind of enjoy it. I felt very relaxed and completely not anxious while I was hypnotized. I continued to feel relaxed and happy the rest of the day.

I didn't find the post-hypnotic suggestions as helpful. I was supposed to feel especially relaxed whenever I saw the color red. I was also supposed to continue to feel calm in situations that made me anxious. I actually had a huge panic attack the very next day, and the color red never seemed to do anything for me.

I haven't tried it again. Maybe multiple sessions would be more helpful, but I'm not sure it would be as helpful as the graduated exposure has been. I didn't find it to be at all harmful though. You actually aren't really in the therapists "control." You have to allow it to happen. I remembered everything afterwards and I always had the feeling that if I really wanted to "wake up," I absolutely could have. I'm glad I tried it because it satisfied my curiosity about what it would feel like.