Hypnosis and Pain Management

Recently shown (June 2003) on David Suzuki's 1-hour special on hypnotism, was a lady who underwent facial surgery with no general anesthesia. She was hypnotized by the anesthesiologist and endured a 3-hour operation with no discomfort at all. This hospital located in Liege, Brussels has performed 3539 surgeries using hypnosis for pain control. Only 18 out of 3539 surgeries did they have to introduce general anesthesia because the patients were uncomfortable.

As unpleasant as pain is, pain does serve a beneficial purpose. It is our body's warning system to our conscious mind that something needs attention or fixing. Sharp, sudden pain that comes with little or no notice should be attended to be a physician. However, frequent and long-term chronic pain such as migraines, aches and sores can be treated with hypnosis. Pain due to surgery or child-birthing can also be alleviated through hypnosis.

Pain triggers different parts of the brain. Our senses perceive the pain, however there is often emotional and mental anguish accompanying the physical pain.

Sensory pain describes the nature, intensity and extent of injury associated with the pain. Suffering is triggered in another part of the brain which is responsible for the discomfort and unpleasantness felt. Mental anguish is the emotion of sadness and depression felt with on-going chronic pain. Using pain-control in hypnosis, you will still be able to sense the area of the pain but the discomfort will be diminished or eliminated. Mental anguish can also be helped through positive suggestions.

Clients will need to evaluate the reason for wanting to get rid of the pain or why the pain is there in the first place. Sometimes, the client's unconscious has reasons for inflicting or keeping the pain. This is called "secondary gain". Hypnotherapy and hypnosis can uncover any motivation or secondary gain for keeping the pain.

Hypnosis has been used effectively in clients with chronic pain such as cancer. Not only will these clients benefit from reduced pain, due to distortion of pain under hypnosis, the pain may not seem as long as it really is.