Stress Free Surgery By Linda
Thomson, Ph.D., M.S.N., C.P.N.P
Crown
House Publishing Limited, Copyright 2007
Reviewed
by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.
Dr. Linda
Thomson describes her two-CD set, Stress Free Surgery,
as a “self relaxation program to help you prepare for and
recover from surgery.” The first CD is for listening prior
to and during surgery. The second CD is for listening
post-surgery. Each CD is approximately 40 minutes in length
and they come packaged in an attractive, sturdy plastic
case.
The
pre-surgery CD opens by explaining the benefits of hypnosis,
and describes hypnosis as a method for tapping into inner
resources to create an optimum mental state for surgery.
She gives reassurances to ensure that listeners understand
the purpose of hypnotic suggestions. The hypnosis portion
of the CD gives suggestions about accessing feelings of
comfort, safety, and relaxation, with additional suggestions
that the listener can:
-
Converse with the surgical team prior to anesthesia
-
Constrict the flow of blood at the surgical site
-
Regulate blood pressure, as well as the supply of
glucose and nutrients to the tissues during surgery
- Pay
attention to any voice that speaks directly to the
patient during surgery
- Allow
for healing and mending after surgery
- Expect
to return to normal or improved physical functioning
The
post-surgery CD uses guided imagery, analogy, metaphor, and
progressive relaxation to promote comfort and to reduce pain
during the recovery period. The CD offers suggestions that
the listener can:
- Access
comfort and healing
- Reduce
pain and nausea
-
Anticipate improvement in health and physical
functioning
- Take
fluids and nourishment as appropriate
- Expect
that medications are working effectively
- Sleep
well
- Apply
the skills of pain reduction, self soothing, and self
appreciation
Dr. Thomson
speaks to the listener in a soft, soothing voice, with a
slow pace that is quite nurturing. She invites the listener
to access imagination and positive expectations and beliefs
to promote optimum results. Research validates her
approach, with findings that patients who are
psychologically prepared for surgery have improved outcomes,
including shorter hospital stays, less post-operative pain,
reduced need for pain medications, and less anxiety.
I highly
recommend this CD set for people who might be somewhat
anxious about the prospect of surgery, or who are
apprehensive about hospitals and medical procedures, or who
are having post-operative discomfort. The CD set also
provides an excellent starting point for practitioners who
use hypnotic approaches to help their clients mentally
prepare for hospital stays.
For clients
who are highly phobic of hospitals, doctors, and medical
procedures, this CD set could be used as an adjunct to
in-office methods that address phobias, post-traumatic
stress, and anxiety. An example of one such method is the
NLP process called Visual Kinesthetic Dissociation. I can
speak to the efficacy of pre- and post-surgery hypnosis on
the basis of personal experience. I have used NLP and
hypnotic relaxation methods with three clients who were
highly phobic of hospital procedures, and in all three
cases, obtained very good results. While individual case
examples do not constitute scientific proof, hypnosis does
seem to have a positive effect on surgical outcomes.
Thompson’s CDs seem to be right on target in every way.
The
Author
Linda
Thomson is a nurse-practitioner who has 30 years of
experience in family and pediatric practice. She received
her training in hypnosis via the Society for Developmental
and Behavioral Pediatrics, the American Society for Clinical
Hypnosis, the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
and the International Society of Hypnosis. She is an
Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis and has also
published Harry the Hypno-Potamus, a delightful book
of metaphorical tales for explaining clinical hypnosis to
children. A major focus of her life’s work is to change the
attitudes of health care professionals regarding clinical
hypnosis and promote wider acceptance of hypnotherapy
interventions.
