Catalepsy

Catalepsy is one of the trance phenomena that can appear in hypnosis. This is a state of rigidity that can be induced with hypnosis. This phenomenon is actually very common under hypnosis and is harmless. Primarily, catalepsy is a neurological process associated with deep relaxation. Thus, it usually occurs only at a deeper stage of hypnosis. The transition is smooth and is usually described by hypnotized persons as pleasant. When catalepsy occurs, certain postures that would be possible only briefly in waking consciousness, such as lifting an arm, can be held as pleasant over a much narrower period of time.