BurlingtonHypnosis.com
Did you know that
Americans spend as much out-of-pocket for complimentary healthcare as they do
for inpatient hospitalizations? The Eisenberg studies of 1991 and 1997
revealed that people are searching for alternatives and don’t mind paying for
it.
The authoritarian approach to western medicine assumes that health and
wellness comes from others which minimizes the importance of our own natural
ability to not only enhance the healing process but to avoid illness to begin
with. If the rapid assembly line of mainstream healthcare has clinicians
overwhelmed how about the emotional state of those being cared for? How are
the patients coping with their situation? What expectations do they have for
recovery?
Do they see themselves as temporarily side tracked or powerless? Do they feel
there is a role for them to play in their own recovery? This article describes
how hypnosis works and reviews some of the clinical applications of this
empowering technique. The term “hypnosis” is a Greek word for “sleep” coined
by scientist James Braid in 1843. It was an unfortunate choice of words
because, as you will learn, hypnosis is not sleep at all. Nearly all clients
hear and remember everything during a session.
Hypnosis is better described as a form of communicating with the subconscious
mind and offering it information and healthy direction. The conscious and
subconscious minds have two very different job descriptions. The conscious
mind keeps us in the here and now, it is our short-term memory and gate
keeper. It analyzes, critiques, judges, accepts or denies information for
long-term storage in the subconscious mind.
Think of the subconscious as the hard drive where all the programming is
stored. It’s the home of our imagination, values, beliefs, habits and
patterns. It’s also our body’s control center. It tells the heart when to
beat, lungs when to breath and controls every step we take every day of our
life. It’s a very powerful place.
A hypnotist uses
soothing music and paints peaceful verbal images enabling clients to shift
from conscious to subconscious thought. Once this is accomplished they are
prepared with suggestions, affirmations and imagery supporting the desired
goals. The client then integrates all accepted information and puts it into
action.
Clinical hypnosis is the application of this technique to support medical
concerns. It is not a mystical power nor is it something administered to you
like medication. It is simply the natural process of tapping into our enormous
self-healing resources. Because the subconscious mind is the control center
for all bodily function it can be led in many positive directions. The
information offered with hypnosis mobilizes and maximizes a client’s physical
and emotional response to recovery and maintaining health.
Applications
Intensive Care: Clients can block out distractions and reduce
discomfort, which improves their ability to get quality rest and speed up the
time of recovery. Clinical hypnosis balances blood pressure and reduces
stress, heart rate, which minimize complications. It can also be used to
reduce secretions, bleeding, improve immune response and make procedures more
tolerable.
Oncology: Hypnosis lessens stress, anxiety, pain, nausea and vomiting.
It reduces respiratory distress and even helps prevents hair loss. It
increases confidence and self-image. Clinical hypnosis helps ease the
acceptance of physical restrictions or even managing end of life transition.
Pediatrics: What better gift to give a frightened child than control
during a time of crisis. Children have active imaginations and respond very
well to hypnosis. It can melt away fear; increase their relaxation and focus
making it easier for them to understand instructions, procedures and
treatments.
Surgical: Pre-surgical hypnosis reduces anxiety, pain, stress and
bleeding. It promotes rapid healing and improved immune response. These
clients can better manage post-op pain and nausea. They use less medication
and avoid the side effects that go with it. Those who are relaxed going into
anesthesia are relaxed coming out of it.
Internal Medicine: It speeds up the healing process, improves immune
response, which minimizes infection; it can decrease inflammation, and
relieves tension and migraine headaches. Hypnosis is also helpful for weight
loss, arthritis, improved self-image and relief of symptoms associated with
irritable bowel syndrome.
Mental Health: Hypnosis relieves symptoms of despair or sadness, fears,
phobias and addictions. It can put the client in control. They get to play an
active role in their own recovery, which adds to an increased sense of
fulfillment ensuring long-term success.
Dentistry: Hypnosis helps minimize anticipatory anxiety, bleeding,
gagging, pain, excess salivation and distorts time perception making procedure
seem to go by quickly. Hypnosis can also help establish a positive association
with dental care promoting routine care.
Summary: Clinical hypnosis offers clients an oasis of relaxation and
control when they need it most. They have a shorter length of stay, use less
medication, have fewer complications and feel like they were a part of the
team. Hypnosis can blend nature and science with dramatically positive
results. And clients who go on to become practitioners of self-hypnosis can
make positive changes in many other areas of their lives as well.
To link
directly to this article use this link:
http://www.hypnotherapyarticles.com/ArtG/articleg00011.htm
Paul Gustafson, R.N., C.H. is a Clinical Hypnotherapist in Burlington, MA. His
11 years of acute cardiac and hospice experience offer a solid foundation
supporting his empowering and creative use of hypnosis.
Visit
BurlingtonHypnosis.com
or call toll free at 888-290-3972.
© Paul Gustafson - all rights reserved
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