Hopkins recounts Steven’s regression in which he describes lying immobilized while a short being examines a sensitive area of his stomach. A metal device spreads his legs, adding to the surreal vulnerability of the moment.
Steven’s arms and legs rapidly become numb, a sudden paralysis that feels both real and dreamlike. He describes his state as being ‘like a frog,’ indicating a symbolic disidentification from his body.
Hopkins interprets the sequence as an archetypal examination scenario, blending bodily sensation with dreamlike emotional shifts.
