Do your pain medication side effects outweigh the benefits?
Is your chronic pain impacting your quality of life?
Has your pain got you feeling down?
Does your discomfort keep you up at night?
Maybe you have heard of an athlete that sustains an injury and continues playing. Only after the game or the competition are they aware of the intensity of the pain. How does this happen? This is the effect of the mind influencing the perception of pain. The mind was preoccupied with something else, and the pain was not perceived by the mind.
When the distraction of the game or competition is gone, the mind then perceives the pain that was there all along. But when the mind is distracted, the perception of pain diminishes. With hypnosis, we are able to distract the mind from the pain. We can use hypnosis to focus on other perceptions and change the intensity of the feeling to decrease the discomfort.
In effect, hypnosis equips the client suffering from chronic pain and chronic illness with a resource that enables him or her to shift from a physical context of discomfort to a more comfortable (or neutral) state. Clients can expect that the process of altering one’s state of consciousness will be associated with (partial or complete) relief from the symptoms of chronic pain.
Imagine…
Experiencing long lasting relief from your discomfort
Getting up feeling refreshed after a restful night’s sleep
Feeling hopeful and having a new lease on life
“Comparative efficacy studies have demonstrated that hypnosis is often more effective than biofeedback, relaxation, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, or morphine for both acute and chronic pain with 75% of those who use hypnosis experiencing some relief of pain (Patterson & Jensen, 2003). Hypnotic techniques have proven useful for pain associated with burns, cancer, invasive medical procedures, headaches, musculoskeletal conditions, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia (Haanen et al., 1991; Lynch, 1999; Montgomery et al., 2000). Hypnosis has demonstrated particular utility for reducing cancer pain, including bone marrow transplant pain and coping with invasive procedures associated with cancer treatment (Ernst, 2001; Handel, 2001; Lynch, 1999; Marchioro et al., 2000; Pattison, 1997; Renouf, 1998).”
Hypnosis can help reprogram your mind and facilitate behavioral change.
The NYC Hypnosis Center Pain Management Hypnosis Program Can Help You
- Identify the Source of the Discomfort
- Release and Relieve Emotions or Feelings Associated with Pain
- Eliminate Discomfort
- Sleep Restfully
“Studies show that hypnosis can treat everything from chronic pain to poor study habits. Chances are, it can work for you.” Psychology Today
“Most patients benefit from the use of hypnotic suggestion for pain relief,” WebMD
“Hypnosis Reduces cancer pain” BBC News
“Childhood cancer patients suffer less pain when placed under hypnosis, scientists have claimed.”
“Children who have been hypnotized in trials reported they had less pain from medical procedures as well as cancer-related pain.”
“Hypnosis for pain relief can help reprogram your mind and facilitate change.”
Hypnosis and Pain Management:
Pain management hypnosis has been proven to work on reducing the pain that a person experiences. The pain killers that reside in your body are responsible for this. These natural pain killers are endorphins. Pain management hypnosis can access this natural morphine in your body and train your mind to access and activate the appropriate neurotransmitter to reduce the pain that you feel. The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus produce endorphins naturally during activities such as exercise (the so-called runner’s high is an example), being in love which can produce a bit of an adrenalin rush, as well as experiencing an orgasm.
Like real morphine, endorphins produce good feelings, blocking out the negative feelings, in this case, pain. Your nerve endings send messages to your spinothalamic tract. These nerve endings receive their messages from sensations that affect your body. The sensations activate the nerve endings which then transmit the messages to the spinothalamic tract, a pathway through your spinal cord.
The spinal cord is also called white matter. In the white matter, there are fibers that then transmit the message to your neurons which transmit the information to your thalamus. There are four main categories of messages — pain, itch, touch, and temperature. Have you ever hurt yourself and felt that initial numbness before the pain kicks in? The delay between the painful hit and the sensation of pain is due to endorphins.
As the nerve endings send their messages to your spinal cord, your body releases endorphins that slow down the next transmission of the pain signal to your thalamus. Relieve pain hypnosis raises your level of endorphins. You can see how the pain message is intercepted in your spinal cord by the increased level of endorphins and the overall pain sensation is mitigated by your body’s natural morphine.
Coupled with this natural relief from pain are the messages that relieve pain hypnosis sends to your subconscious. So, as well as the natural physical relief from pain, your subconscious is diminishing your mental reaction to pain. Both the mind and the body are working together to manage pain. As your body actually feels less pain, your mind picks up on the cessation of intense pain and begins to embrace the inner positive messages.
Your subconscious assures you that you are not feeling pain and the release of endorphins ensures that pain is diminished. If you are scheduled for surgery, or know someone else who is, consider surgical recovery hypnosis to accelerate the healing process and manage the pain.
A New York Pain Management Hypnosis session can retrain your mind to:
Enable you to live a Life Free of Chronic Pain
Provide you with the ability to lead a more normal life
Can Hypnosis Relieve Pain? A New Perspective on Hypnotherapy for Pain Management
Hypnotherapy, a therapeutic strategy with over two centuries of application, has proven its efficacy and trustworthiness for pain relief. The journey to find a healthcare expert skilled in chronic pain management can be challenging, given the lack of formal training in this area of medical education. As a result, patients suffering from chronic pain may encounter roadblocks in their quest for relief.
The Link Between Chronic Pain, Anxiety, and Hypnosis
The relentless presence of chronic pain can be a catalyst for anxiety. The fear surrounding the pain, its implications, and the anticipation of the next painful episode, can lead to heightened anxiety. Hypnosis for chronic pain can play a significant role here by reshaping your mental response to pain, thereby diminishing anxiety levels.
Chronic Pain and Sleeplessness: A Vicious Cycle
Chronic pain can be an obstacle to achieving restful sleep, occasionally progressing to insomnia. Sleep, which is critical for the body’s daily rejuvenation, becomes even more important for those battling persistent pain conditions.
The Emotional Toll of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain often brings a surge of negative emotions, potentially leading to feelings of depression. The constant discomfort may lead to self-questioning and a sense of hopelessness, seriously impacting your mental well-being. If conventional treatments have been ineffective in providing significant pain relief, it might be time to consider alternatives, like hypnotherapy for pain management.
A Beacon of Hope in Hypnosis
Despite some prevailing myths and misconceptions, hypnosis can be a powerful tool in pain management hypnotherapy. It’s crucial to remember that 80% of all chronic pain is related to stress and is highly treatable. So, if you’ve been advised to “just live with your pain”, it’s worth exploring hypnosis as a potential solution.
The Dark Side of Pain Medications
Pain medications, while sometimes necessary, can carry significant risks. Among the most frequently used pain relievers, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen and Aspirin can result in critical bleeding disorders and stomach damage. Acetaminophen, while common, can lead to liver issues. And while opioids are potent, their addictive nature and potential to cause respiratory failure or even death cannot be ignored.
The Limitations of Medication in Chronic Pain
For chronic conditions like persistent pain, medicines only offer limited relief. Physicians often need to balance the benefits of pain relief against potential side effects and the intensity of adverse reactions. This is where hypnotherapy stands out – it offers pain control without any negative side effects. In many cases, a tailored self-hypnosis meditation exercise can be an effective tool for managing chronic pain.
Embracing Hypnotherapy for Pain Relief
Hypnosis is a naturally effortless tool for pain management, mirroring the nature of pain itself. Hypnosis can help shift your focus away from your pain, transform and decrease it, and even disconnect from it. It can also enhance your functionality, enabling you to partake in the activities you love and ultimately improve your life’s quality.
The Brain’s Role in Pain Perception
Understanding that all pain is processed in the brain is essential. This is why hypnosis can be incredibly effective in pain reduction and management. Pain, when viewed as a helpful signal, serves a critical function. It’s nature’s way of alerting us to potential harm. For instance, the pain from a sprained ankle discourages us from putting weight on it prematurely, thus preventing further injury. Without such a signal, we wouldn’t know when to seek medical attention. Therefore, pain, while uncomfortable, isn’t inherently negative.
Understanding Pain Perception
Consider stepping into boiling water unintentionally. Your reflexes, guided by the subconscious, withdraw your foot before you consciously perceive the pain. This reaction speed surpasses that of pain receptors, revealing how our body processes injury.
Categorizing Pain: Acute vs Chronic
Pain is either acute, like a sudden burn or fracture, or chronic, such as arthritis, which can last indefinitely. Hypnotherapy has proven effective in managing both types. It can minimize swelling and pain from injuries or burns, and, in cases of chronic pain, it can push the discomfort into the background of conscious awareness.
Subjectivity of Pain
Pain and suffering are incredibly subjective. What causes minimal discomfort to one person might cause intense pain to another.
The Historic Use of Hypnosis in Pain Management
Hypnosis is often associated with smoking cessation or stage shows, but it’s particularly potent in pain management. In the late 1800s, Scottish surgeon James Esdaile conducted numerous pain-free operations in Calcutta using an early form of hypnosis, Mesmerism, before anesthesia was discovered.
Despite its success, hypnosis as anesthetic was replaced by chloroform in the 19th century, as it acted faster than the time-consuming trance induction required for hypnosis.
Hypnosis in Modern Pain Management
Presently, numerous medical practitioners and dentists utilize hypnotherapy for pain relief for various procedures like surgeries, dental treatments, burn treatments, allergies, and even irritable bowel syndrome. Hypnosis has demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing relaxation, reducing the necessity for pain medications, and facilitating recovery, as noted by Dr. Stanley Fisher in the ’90s.
The Power of Hypnosis
Through hypnosis, you can:
- Manage anxiety and discomfort before, during, and after procedures
- Lessen dependency on pain medications
- Make recuperation more comfortable, especially when confined to bed rest
- Lower the risk of complications
- Hasten healing of bones and soft tissues
- Improve comfort during physical therapy, aiding in maintaining mobility and desired range of motion
- Block pain perception while allowing other sensations
- Experience a more natural and comfortable childbirth
- Learn stress reduction and body relaxation techniques
- Master self-hypnosis techniques for pain control
The Science Behind Hypnosis for Pain Relief
Research shows that hypnosis alters brain activity, affecting regions involved in decision-making, cognition, motivation, and motor control. This manipulation of brain functionality improves the mind-body connection, helping control physiological processes.
Therapies addressing the mind-body connection are often suggested for chronic pain sufferers. The mind’s response to pain significantly influences physical sensation perception. Techniques like hypnotherapy help reduce stress and alter pain-related thought patterns, drastically influencing pain perception.
The Hypnotherapy Process
During hypnosis, your focus shifts towards relaxation and away from distracting thoughts. This state temporarily bypasses the conscious mind, making you more receptive to suggestions. Hypnotherapists use this opportunity to introduce suggestions for pain relief and teach self-hypnosis techniques for future use.
Hypnosis for pain management targets fear and anxiety related to pain, helping reduce stress and calm the nervous system. This approach makes the system less reactive to pain and refocuses your mind away from discomfort.
The Advantages of Hypnosis for Pain Management
Pain relief hypnosis offers multiple benefits:
- Drug-free approach, eliminating the need for potentially addictive and costly medications
- Empowers individuals with self-hypnosis techniques for pain management
- Considered safe, with various meta-analyses endorsing hypnotherapy as an effective treatment
- Quick and solution-based, allowing many to learn pain management techniques after a few treatments.
Efficacy of Hypnosis in Pain Management: A Review of Studies
Hypnosis has been proven effective in managing chronic pain, as demonstrated in a comprehensive review of controlled prospective trials. Hypnosis significantly reduced pain across various chronic conditions, often outperforming non-hypnotic interventions.
In conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, studies indicated that more than 75% of sufferers experienced significant pain relief through hypnosis, focusing on managing fear and anxiety related to pain rather than negating its existence.
