Therapies that address the mind-body link are often recommended for those dealing with long-term pain. Stress and anxiety are common side effects of pain and can even make the sensation feel worse. The way the mind responds to pain also links to the perception of physical sensations.
Helping to reduce stress and change the thought patterns related to pain can therefore make a huge difference to pain perception. For this, many opt for hypnotherapy.
When you are under hypnosis you focus on relaxation and letting go of distracting thoughts. This temporarily tunes out the conscious part of your mind, opening you up to the power of suggestion. At this point your hypnotherapist can make suggestions to encourage pain relief. Most hypnotherapists will also give post-hypnotic suggestions, allowing you to carry out self-hypnosis after your sessions end.
Rather than convincing you that your pain doesn’t exist, hypnosis for pain aims to manage any fear and anxiety you may have relating to your pain. It also helps to reduce stress and relax the nervous system to help it become less reactive to pain.
Hypnosis for pain also refocuses your mind away from the pain and onto something more pleasant. For example, many hypnotherapists will ask you to imagine that you’re somewhere nice, like a beach. Using visualisation techniques you may be asked to describe the place in more detail. Thinking about what the sea looks like, the warmth of the sun and the feeling of sand between your toes will help to distract you from your pain.
The number of sessions you’ll need will depend on your individual circumstances, however hypnosis for pain usually lasts between four and 10 sessions. Some hypnotherapists will make recordings for you to use at home so you can continue to employ hypnosis techniques.
The nature of hypnotherapy means it doesn’t work for everybody. However, it is a natural therapy with no side effects, so it is certainly worth trying. Many people say it is an effective tool to use as part of their chronic pain management plan.