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HYPNOSIS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT
BY SCOTT DALY, FORWARD HYPNOSIS
Chronic pain continues to be a growing concern for both
individuals and society as a whole. Standard medical treatment
of chronic pain is often insufficient and can leave patients feeling
frustrated and without significant relief. If appropriate medical
diagnosis and treatments have been sought and chronic pain
persists, the use of hypnosis and self-hypnosis can be a useful
tool for managing pain. Support for the use of hypnosis in pain
management has grown over the last two decades. In 2000 an
analysis of 18 published studies showed that 75% of participants
in clinical and experimental trials gained substantial pain relief
from hypnotic techniques.
In its simplest terms pain is defined as an unpleasant physical
sensation caused by illness or injury. This physical sensation is a
signal, the body’s way of letting us know that something is wrong
and needs our attention. We all possess the ability to ignore large
amounts of pain given certain circumstances. An extreme example
is the soldier running across the battlefield after being shot in the
foot. Pain that would normally render him unable to move is ignored
because his life is in danger and survival is his utmost priority.
Another example I often use is the time I was in conversation with
someone who was preparing a meal. I noticed that whilst talking
to me and chopping away they had sliced their finger. They carried
on talking to me, totally unaware and it was only when I drew
their attention to the bleeding that they felt anything at all. In the
first example the soldier is absolutely aware of what is happening,
in the second there was no awareness until it was directed but the
same thing is happening in both cases. Pain signals can be reduced
or ignored when our attention is focussed elsewhere. Under normal
circumstances this can be difficult to do consciously, however with
hypnosis we can learn how to tap into this natural ability.
These physical sensations are only one component of our experience
of pain. The way we respond to these messages from our body has a
big impact on how much we suffer. One of the keys to managing pain
is in separating the physical sensations from the emotional response,
as they are often intertwined. In other words, when a pain signal is
noticed, the amount of suffering it causes stems largely from the way
it is interpreted emotionally through feelings of anger, frustration,
anxiety, hopelessness and so on. Morphine does not kill pain, it puts
people in a state of mind where they no longer think or care about it.
The sensation itself is still there, but when the negative connotations
of the pain are eliminated the emotional suffering is greatly reduced
as well.
By using hypnosis, we can begin to learn how to direct attention
elsewhere whilst at the same time re-examining the associated
negative connotations. In doing this we are addressing both of the
components that play a part when we experience pain.
Occasionally someone suffering from chronic pain will tell me that
they wouldn’t be able to relax enough to benefit from hypnosis. On
the surface this appears to be a valid concern but I have long held the
belief that relaxation is not a prerequisite to experiencing hypnosis.
In my opinion, the idea that hypnosis and relaxation are mutually
exclusive is unhelpful and based on outdated thinking. That being
said, the ability to relax is of course incredibly beneficial to someone
in pain. The good news is, there are ways of using the pain itself
to learn how to experience hypnosis and as this is developed there
is a much better chance of being able to relax and release tension.
Hypnosis comes first, then relaxation can follow. Not the other way
around.
When addressing pain management, I always teach my clients self-
hypnosis. Through the use of simple, practical techniques, they can
become their own hypnotist and develop skills that will serve them
beyond the scope of a live session. It is worth noting that all too
often self-hypnosis is confused with the use of hypnosis CDs or audio
tracks. Many people have told me that they have tried CDs with little
to no results, because of this I have very little faith in them. After
many years of doing this work, it is my opinion that hypnosis is a
two-way communication. People are all different, we are individuals
with unique thoughts and ideas, what works for one may not work
for another. A ‘one size fits all’ script is no substitute for a flexible
hypnotist. I often wonder who these CDs benefit most, the people
buying and listening to them, or the people who record them?
Forward Hypnosis is based in Ness, Cheshire. Scott works with
people every day to help them overcome their limitations, unlock
more of their potential, and achieve their goals. To find out more
visit www.forwardhypnosis.com
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