How does this work?
Pain is a subjective experience - it differs from one person to the next, and also from one situation to the next. How is it that we can be distracted by the television while preparing a meal and not even notice when we cut ourselves, yet a simple paper cut can cause us discomfort for a few minutes or longer? Why is it when we are playing sports, we do not notice when we get hurt to the point of bruising, and yet stubbing our toe in the middle of the night can sting for 10 minutes? The truth is that your level of attention or lack thereof impacts how you interpret the pain signals. In these examples, the same pain signals go to the brain, but you processing them differently because your attention is elsewhere. Hypnosis uses this natural power of the brain to interpret signals differently to modify your subjective experience of the pain.
Almost everyone can visualize or imagine pain increasing and that, in turn, makes the pain stronger. Similarly, in hypnosis sessions, we can do the inverse to help diminish the pain, oftentimes to the point of making it disappear. By learning new techniques, you can finally end the living in dread of your symptoms!
Through hypnosis we also help minimize factors that worsen pain. In many cases, clients experience sleep disturbances, shortened attention span, anticipatory pain, increased levels of stress, and so on, all of which can exacerbate discomfort. This creates a downward spiral as each of these symptoms feed of each other (for example, as the pain increases the client can not sleep, this increases stress causing more muscle tension thereby increasing the pain further). Hypnosis can help break this cycle and bring comfort back to your life.
What kind of pain do you help deal with?
Hypnosis is a powerful tool for all kinds of pain, including, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ, fibromyalgia, medical procedures, dental work, an so on. If you can think it, hypnosis is probably appropriate.
What about medical referrals?
Medical referrals are absolutely required. Remember, pain is an indication that some part of us needs attention. Hypnosis is a complementary practice that should only be used in conjunction with your health care professionals.
