Self-Hypnosis As A Cure for Pain
Pain is defined as an annoying feeling that can range from slight, localized soreness to agony. This sensation has both physiological and emotional components. This experience typically results in decreased zest and energy. People describe themselves as exhausted and emotionally distressed. This sensation can create difficulties with career, home, and interpersonal interactions.
When the body is injured, it discharges alarms that signal the brain that something is wrong. The brain interprets this alarm as pain, and advises the person of the injury. The individual then acts in response to the alarm, and attempts to resolve it. Many times, however, a warning of pain is sent to the brain when the body is not injured. This can occur when the signal has an emotional, rather than a physical, origin.
One way to relieve painful sensations is by using medicine. Non-narcotic drugs, such as Advil or Aleve, stop body tissues from discharging chemicals used to notify the brain of painful stimuli. Narcotic medications, in comparison, attach to cells in the brain and tell them that the problem has been addressed. Narcotics, like Demerol and Dilaudid, can be very addictive and create dependency in those who take them for a long time as pain management techniques.
The body also releases substances called endorphins. These are completely natural painkillers, released by the brain’s cells to fool the body into thinking that it does not ache. Athletes, for example, release endorphins after running long distances; this chemical causes the “runner’s high” many athletes report experiencing. Those persons who like to participate in strenuous exercise report the same endorphin release. Frequently, athletes are able to participate in spite of pain due to the existence of these drugs in their bodies.
Painful experiences can also be treated by through the use of distraction, or coached imagery. Individuals are coached to focus on a mental picture or to imagine a peaceful and relaxing setting that offers relief from the feelings they are experiencing. People can also be distracted through the use of music or other activities. These techniques sometimes are very helpful to persons who have chronic lower back pain.
Clients may experience a reprieve by using hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programming tools. These natural pain relief methods often help people to get relief from a lot of chronic conditions, including migraines and other chronic, disabling headaches or throbbing neck pain. A lot of people are able to significantly cut down on, or completely end their use of medicines through the use of these approaches.
Traditional hypnosis pain relief strategies work most effectively for persons who are open to post-hypnotic suggestions. A good hypnotherapist helps the client to enter a very relaxed state. While in this state, the client is very aware of the ideas being made by the therapist.
The hypnotherapist can encourage the client to concentrate on other activities or tasks, and that change of focus will decrease any sense of discomfort. Indeed, the mere use of the word discomfort during a hypnotherapy session rather than the use of the word pain can radically decrease any perception of pain. A lot of clients have astonishing results, and they can be assisted to use self-hypnosis for pain relief to regain control over their personal lives.
More analytical persons typically require either an Ericksonian hypnotherapeutic approach, or an NLP approach in order to overcome their conscious resistance to suggestion.
The hypnosis strategy for pain treatment can also be employed to train the brain to discharge endorphins which can induce light anesthesia, sometimes described as analgesia. This state may be used to aid ladies to give birth without using painkillers that may harm the infant. It also can help provide natural arthritis pain relief in chronic sufferers.
Hypnotherapy can also be used to induce total anesthesia in some people. Medical researchers call this hypnoanesthesia. Long before general anesthesia became popularly available to patients, many surgeons used hypo anesthesia to perform major surgery.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) may be used to help people who think critically and analytically. Professionals aid clients to master a very useful technique used by NLP, called the ‘Flash’. The Flash allows people to teach their subconscious minds to instantly move past a painful feeling, and to concentrate on things that will offer peace and calm. People who have learned this strategy realize that they are no longer capable of focusing on the pain, because their thoughts immediately swap it for thoughts that produce comfort.
Both Neuro-Linguistic programming and hypnosis are innovative approaches that teach entirely natural methods to relieve pain. They aid people to avoid taking pain medicine or limit their requirement for these painkillers. Both clients who very suggestible and people who think analytically can be helped by these [program structures. Furthermore, both are greatly beneficial in helping people to obtain a reprieve from their pain.
Today, many approaches can be used to this manner of assistance. Experts routinely charge an average of $150.00 to $200.00 for a single hour. Any person who has sought out this type of treatment can verify that the expense spent was certainly worth paying. A less costly method of obtaining treatment, however may be purchasing one of the high quality hypnosis CD programs that are offered for purchase.
Summary: People experience both physical and emotional pain. Numerous treatments can be used; such as narcotic and non-narcotic medicines, as well as guided imagery and distraction techniques. The most beneficial methods of ending suffering, however, are NLP and hypnosis.
Alan B. Densky, CH has been helping people with self hypnosis pain relief since 1978. A well-known authority in the hypnotherapy field, he offers pain management hypnosis & NLP CDs and free self-hypnosis resources on his Neuro-VISION website.
- Alan B. Densky, CH