Mind over matter…a phrase that is typically interpreted to mean that we can use our mind to overcome a situation or even physical condition.
For pain sufferers, does this mean that a technique such as hypnosis could help overcome the feeling of pain?
Hypnosis has been used for pain relief for centuries, and even today is widely used in surgical procedures. Most of us have preconceived notions of hypnosis and primarily consider it a form of entertainment for the enjoyment of an audience rather than a medical technique. However, hypnosis for pain management has more validity than most people realize – and it may be effective for you.
For many people experiencing chronic pain, hypnosis and hypnotherapy form a part of the treatment plan. Chronic pain is a very complicated issue that can be hard to treat. Quite often, a variety of approaches are needed to help lessen pain, improve your independence and help you cope with all of the emotional implications that go along with the pain. Therapies that address the mind-body connection are often recommended for those who are dealing with chronic pain. Stress, anxiety and depression are common side effects of chronic pain and can even make the pain feel worse. Between 40% and 60% of patients with chronic pain have depression. Chronic, debilitating pain requires medical intervention and a pain management treatment plan that includes the behavioral treatment of pain among other interventions. Hypnosis is one of those behavioral treatments that addresses the mind-body connection.
Does hypnosis work for pain management?
Research shows that hypnosis works as part of a treatment program for a number of psychological and medical conditions, with pain relief being one of the most researched areas.
A meta-analysis (a study of studies) in 2000 of 18 published studies showed that 75% of clinical and experimental participants with different types of pain obtained substantial pain relief from hypnotic techniques.
Thus, hypnosis is likely to be effective for most people suffering from diverse forms of pain. Drs. Patterson and Jensen indicate in their study that hypnotic strategies are equivalent or more effective than other treatments for both acute and chronic pain. The growing evidence and findings indicate that hypnosis interventions consistently produce significant decreases in pain associated with a variety of chronic-pain problems.
How does hypnosis work for pain management?
Imaging studies of the brain show that hypnosis decreases the intensity of pain and the unpleasantness of pain. Hypnosis can alleviate the sensory and/or affective components of a pain experience, which may be all that is required for acute pain.
Imaging studies of the brain have allowed us to see that hypnosis modulates activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, which links the limbic (emotions) and sensory cortical areas of the brain during hypnotic pain relief. This appears to allow sensations that would normally be experienced as painful to no longer have the suffering or negative emotions that would normally be associated with them.
How do I find out more about hypnosis as a treatment for my pain?
Very often, it is the combination of approaches that help people with their chronic pain management. If you are considering hypnosis for pain, be sure to talk to your doctor about it and then call us at Comforts of Home Counseling for a consultation to see if hypnosis may be an option for you to take back control of your life and effectively deal with the pain you’ve been suffering from.