Hypnosis Can it Help with Pain?

When growing up one of the hottest tickets was to watch the hypnotist on TV, wearing cat-eye makeup and voluminous caftans, called volunteers up on stage, coaxed them into a trance and then had them do embarrassing things. Everyone would howled with laughter, especially when people "woke up" and professed to have no memory of the crazy stuff they'd just done.

Well this is not the kind of hypnosis that I am talking about; some of the top medical institutions are using hypnosis from anything to mitigate hot flashes to surgical pain relief.

Even though doctors have very different techniques and goals when using hypnosis it generally starts with getting the patient to relax and focus.

What is it like, you may ask? Have you ever had the experience of being so immersed in what you were doing you did not notice that somebody walked into the room? Well that is what hypnosis is like a simple trance. During Trance your mind is fully focused on something that you are imagining at the direction of your therapist - a memory or future goal. In this state you're more open to imagery and suggestion, but only to images and suggestions you are comfortable with. You will not bark like a dog or think you are a chicken.

When you're in a trace you feel everything you're asked to visualize more vividly and intensely. Whether your goal is to quit smoking, lose weight, and overcome a phobia or to help with pain management.

Hypnosis helps control pain by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. I started doing self hypnosis about two years ago. At first it was to help me deal with my migraines, then when I was going through radiation therapy for my cancer, I used it on a daily bases to help deal with the pain.

To put yourself into a trance is easy to learn to do; I would recommend that you practice it a few times before you really wish to use it for whatever seeking assistance with. If you can focus your attention, are confident you can accept suggestions and are motivated to succeed, you can hypnotize yourself. Here are the steps you will need.

1. Sit or lie down and gently close your eyes

2. Focus on your breathing. Count down from 10 to 1 using your out breath to time the numbers.

3. Let your mind start drifting.

4. Give yourself one clear suggestion. For example "I will not smoke tomorrow" or whatever it is that you are trying to overcome.

5. When you have done this , relax for 10 breaths

6. Then count from 1 to 10 becoming more alert as you go. You'll be fully alert at 10.

7. Open your eyes.

If you go to a licensed therapist you can expect to pay anywhere from $75.00 to $250.00 any hour, they may also give you tapes to listen to when at home. The number of treatments that you will need depends on your problem and how you respond to therapy.

Be aware that hypnosis is far from a cure-all, especially for its most popular uses; pain management, weight loss, and quitting smoking.