Hypnoanelgesia and pain management

Hypnoanelgesia is a method of removing the sensation of pain or discomfort in a given area of the body by hypnotic intervention.

Pain is the signal from body that something is wrong and needs our immediate attention; pain can also be a mask for psychological problems and can be secondary gain as well (“If I am in pain, people will feel sorry for me and I will get attention”). In this case I would need to address the emotional attachments even more than pain itself.

Just because hypnotherapy has the ability to alleviate or silence/remove the pain signal hypnotically, it does not mean it can be done without doctor’s consent to ensure that medical emergency is not developing… the cause of the discomfort has to be diagnosed by Med. Practitioner and pain alleviation can only be done after written permission from doctor or licensed therapist…..

It was discovered in 1975 that the source of powerful analgesic agent is actually within human body - the breakthrough led to an isolation of endorphins (neurotransmitters), the neuropeptides in the hypothalamus and in pituitary gland, whose analgesic ability is 200 times that of morphine/ opiates. They suppress synaptic activity leading to pain sensation and therefore, produce anesthetics for the body and sense of well being. Since then, there have been done considerate research to prove that relaxation exercises trigger production of endorphins. Consequently, hypnosis is effective in preventing, reducing, possibly, eliminating almost every kind of pain. While in trance, the mind does not go into stress response, so the muscular system remains undisturbed and less resistant.

Hence, hypnotherapy is one of the most effective methods of inducing the neuro muscular relaxation response; it’s a wonderful powerful tool in managing and controlling pain in every medical field because hypnosis relieves pain in following ways:

  • Through Progressive physical relaxation - when people are in pain, they tensed up and increase pain threshold; by relaxing the physical body muscles loosen up and pain is reduced;
  • Through Sensory alteration - by changing the perception of pain by coaching the mind to take control over the pain and transfer it into another sensation (knowledge of NLP - use of sub modalities would be beneficial);
  • Through Distraction – the attention is diverted from the pain area by focusing on sensations in some other parts of the body.

For more information on therapies offered please call us on 0499 727 121 or request an appointment today.

I believe multiple psychosomatic conditions may be approached in the drug free manner coupled with supportive Client Centred approach and therefore can only advantage, support clients in their best interests. In my opinion, focusing on quality of the relationship with client is paramount as treatment itself.