Anyone who has ever suffered any kind of pain knows that it's no fun at all. Now imagine that this turned into chronic pain and you are experiencing the condition every single day or at least once per month, not knowing when it strikes. There is a good reason why we seek help for our pain and hypnotherapy can be very effective.
The Difference between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain
Acute and chronic pain might feel the same but we need to differentiate. When you put your hand on a hot stove, you will feel the burn and the associated pain. This, however, is a one-off sensation that usually passes. With chronic pain, on the other hand, you might not even be certain why you are having it and it is a reoccurring experience.
We once thought that pain sensations are directly linked to the receptors of the body part that experiences the pain. This is not true. Physical sensations are, to a certain degree, subjective and therefore the pain perception can be altered. When we feel pain we can choose to ignore it or divert our attention to a more pleasant sensation.
The management of chronic pain through hypnosis, however, often not only addresses pain relief but also mental health such as low self-esteem and depression. Due to its complex nature and effects on several areas of our life, chronic pain patients often experience social anxiety as well. Hypnosis techniques can therefore be used not only for pain management when it comes to, for example:
Tension headaches
As part of cancer treatment
Irritable bowl syndrome (IBS)
Low back pain
HIV neuropathic pain
and more
But also to help you gain control over all aspects that chronic pain has claimed from you.
Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis for Pain Management
Clinical hypnosis for chronic pain management entails a variety of methods but are usually used as complementary therapy to the traditional pain treatment such as pain medication and physical therapy. Pain control can be achieved through:
Deep relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises
Progressive muscle relaxation
Positive changes to address psychological problems
Specific suggestions for perceiving more positive outcomes
Reduced anxiety in itself often leads to reduced pain. When we stop being worried about negative sensations we free ourselves from their grip. Significant pain relief can also be achieved through reduced muscle tension. Instead of activating the part of the nervous system that prepares us for the fight or flight response, the hypnotic process enables us to calm down.
Negative emotions can be addressed through hypnotic suggestion. Rather than feeling helpless and overpowered by a chronic pain condition we can learn to accept it and path the way for managing pain. Combining hypnosis with breathing techniques, relaxation therapies and traditional medicine has been proven to be effective in various research findings.¹
Some medical professionals even use the hypnotic state to replace analgesic medications, for example during dental procedures. Clinically meaningful pain relief through hypnosis and self-hypnosis is therefore possible. But as mentioned before, hypnosis sessions should also address accompanying issues. The treatment plan of a good hypnotherapist is always tailored to the client's specific needs. Cancer patients, for example, aren't all the same, nor do they experience cancer pain equally.
In order to reduce chronic pain a hypnotic intervention needs to focus on the individuality of the client. Do they suffer from anxiety or depression caused by chronic conditions? Only if these issues are also taken into consideration will hypnosis be a helpful tool to reduce pain.
References:
¹British Medical Journal, 1999: "[...] Randomised controlled trials support the use of various relaxation techniques for treating both acute and chronic pain, […]. Randomised trials have shown hypnosis to be of value in asthma and in irritable bowel syndrome […]. Relaxation and hypnosis are often used in cancer patients. There is strong evidence from randomised trials of the effectiveness of hypnosis and relaxation for cancer related anxiety, pain, nausea, and vomiting, particularly in children."
¹National Institutes of Health (NIH), 1995: "The evidence supporting the effectiveness of hypnosis in alleviating chronic pain associated with cancer seems strong. In addition, the panel was presented with other data suggesting the effectiveness of hypnosis in other chronic pain conditions, which include irritable bowel syndrome, oral mucositis [pain and swelling of the mucus membrane], temporomandibular disorders [jaw pain], and tension headaches."
¹British Psychological Society, 2001: "There is convincing evidence that hypnotic procedures are effective in the management and relief of both acute and chronic pain and in assisting in the alleviation of pain, discomfort and distress due to medical and dental procedures and childbirth. [...]"
FAQ
Does hypnosis help with pain?
Hypnosis can be a great tool when it comes to dealing with pain. However, you should always speak with a doctor in order to find out the cause of your pain before you seek help from a hypnotherapist. With some conditions it would not be wise to use hypnotic pain management instead of an operation or another medical treatment.
What to do when chronic pain is unbearable?
First of all you should speak with a medical professional who is an expert in the chronic pain you are suffering from. If pain medication, physical therapy and other forms of therapy do not bring the pain relief you seek, hypnotherapy can be used as a complementary treatment in order to both address the pain sensation as well as the effects it has on your mental health.
How do you mentally deal with chronic pain?
Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, can help you with pain management both physically as well as mentally. Hypnosis can be used to replace negative beliefs with positive suggestions. This can be useful in case of, for example, low self-esteem and anxiety caused by chronic pain conditions.
What are the pain control techniques of hypnosis?
The hypnotic process is like a teaching programme that will eventually allow you to use the learnt techniques without having a therapist by your side. Common hypnotic techniques for pain control are progressive muscle relaxation and deep relaxation. Educating clients about pain, using mindfulness exercises and cognitive behavioural techniques alongside hypnotherapy are also effective.
How do you overcome chronic pain mentally?
Even though chronic pain can feel like it's taken over every inch of your body, the mind is equally strong. Positive changes can be brought forward by applying a realistic but optimistic outlook and breaking free of inflexible patterns that we often form in our minds when we are dealing with pain. Hypnosis can help to achieve this.
Does self-hypnosis work for pain?
Yes, self-hypnosis can be used for pain management. It would be wise to be taught the techniques by an experienced hypnotherapist before embarking on this journey yourself. There is a lot to be taken into consideration when it comes to hypnosis in general and the hypnotic process for pain relief in specific.
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