Under normal circumstances pain is a message that alerts us to the fact that something is wrong in the body and
requires our attention. This is especially true for what is known as
acute pain where the signal is meaningful
and protective; motivating you to take action to resolve the problem.
Chronic pain is described
by the medical community as a pain signal that has persisted and is no longer providing a useful or protective message. Some
experts now believe that chronic pain is a neurological condition unrelated to the original cause or injury. (This is thought
to be similar to
tinnitus)
Some situations where people struggle with chronic pain include fibromyalgia, post-herpetic neuralgia
and injuries that have apparently long since "healed."
Sadly, people with chronic
pain are often told they have to “learn to live with it,” leading to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness
and despair. Some feel insulted when they are told, "it must all be in your head."-although MRI studies show that
the same centers in the brain become active during both acute and chronic pain situations. Your pain is real!
In
addition, hypnosis and other methods of mind/body healing bring about significant relief for those struggling with conditions
that are aggravated but not necessarily caused by stress like tinnitus and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Yet
hypnosis counseling can help many people refocus their minds away from their pain and towards enjoyable and fulfilling activities.
Understandably, this may be hard for you to believe at first. However, the following points may help you understand how this
possible.
Point One: Pain is the nerve signal or sensation. (nociception).
Suffering is your “unconscious reaction to the signal” or the perception and subsequent experience you have. Your
pain experience is mediated by your mind/brain and this can be altered to lessen the suffering.
Point Two:
We are taught that pain is always meaningful. Except sometimes it isn’t. As mentioned previously, chronic pain is not
a meaningful or protective signal, which means it is safe to ignore it. Of course, you need a full medical workup to ensure
that this is so in your situation.
Point Three: Once you have been assured that the pain signal
is safe to ignore, then you can learn to find healthier directions to focus your attention. The idea is to feel too good to
be bothered with the pain signal.
Point Four: The body responds to pain by tensing up, creating
further discomfort and a vicious cycle ensues. Hypnosis is one of the most effective stress relievers known to
man. Its been said, “the body expresses what the mind possesses” and you can learn the skill of calming
your body and mind.
Point Five: People who feel better, heal better. Unhealthy stress levels
impair digestion and immune function, making it harder for your body’s natural healing abilities to function at their
best. Also your body is able to manufacture its own natural "feel good" chemicals (endorphins) which are as
potent as prescription pain-killers.
Point Six: Hope is realistic, however there are no “magic
bullets.” It is unlikely that your longstanding pain will just disappear overnight. Very often people with chronic pain
have been given numerous promises and subsequently have experienced numerous disappointments from remedies that promise an
instant cure. What you can expect with hypnosis is perhaps a 10-15% reduction initially and then that success will be built
upon. For best results, you will have to consistently practice the mind/body healing skills you will be taught.
Hypnosis counseling for pain relief is usually conducted over the course of 3-5 sessions. If you have any questions
or would like to set up an initial meeting, please call me at (732) 714-7040.
