We’ve joked for years that people tend to be a little sue-happy. This though may take the cake. Xandra Sampson who was a nurse at Ealing Hospital in London came down with a case of bad gas, she had farts. Instead of thinking maybe she just had a gas bubble she self-diagnosed herself with ‘ideomotor phenomenon’ – a little-known hypnotic concept that is said to make people make movements unconsciously.
Miss Samson said:
“I would like to report an observed pattern of likely inappropriate use of hypnosis/ideomotor phenomenon in my NHS workplace.
“In the last three months that I have worked in the department, I have experienced odd symptoms which I think is likely related to the above phenomenon.
“I am a healthy individual and does not have any past medical history but recently I have had various symptoms including headaches, breathing difficulty (a feeling of getting choked), and gastrointestinal disturbance (borborygmus, spasms, flatulence).
“This also includes having slurs similar to that of being possessed (as in a paranormal phenomenon). I have also noticed this in some of my patients and colleagues at work.
“It becomes extremely bothersome and a distraction at work. It also involves a feeling of being attacked in various parts of the body including that of one’s private part, which I feel is very inappropriate.
“I understand that control is achieved in this phenomenon with an altered state of consciousness and the poorly controlled thermoregulation (heating) and inadequate ventilation (the ward is located in the basement of the hospital) in the area is set up for this purpose.
“I have also noticed that I am being subjected to significant stress/anxiety, which I think makes the subject control easier in this process.”
She did not win this case
