The Hypnosis Treatment Option: Proven Solutions For Pain, Insomnia, Stress, Obesity, and Other Common Health Problems

Dr.
Scott Lewis is a licensed chiropractic physician, clinical hypnotherapist, and

author. Over the last 25 years he has helped thousands of people quit smoking,
lose weight, and treat common health problems through the use of hypnosis.
Dr. Lewis lectures to thousands of people each year, has appeared on television
and radio programs throughout the world, and also works with corporations,
helping their employees achieve better health through hypnosis and self-
hypnosis techniques.
Dr. Scott Lewis has written a valuable resource to help people improve their
health and enable doctors to improve their care for many different types of
patients, especially those for whom traditional Western medicine has few
helpful options.
Myles Spar, MD, MPH, Clinical Instructor, UCLA David Geffen School of
Medicine, and coeditor of Integrative Mens Health, part of the Andrew
Weil Integrative Medicine Library
Curious about
hypnosis? Scan
to watch a
personal message
from Dr. Lewis.
LEARN WHAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS KNOWN

FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS
YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WITH HYPNOSIS
Hypnosis is a legitimate, scientically proven wellness tool used by reputable medical
professionals throughout the world to treat many common health problems. In The Hypnosis
Treatment Option, Dr. Scott Lewis clears up the myths about hypnosis and presents scientic
research documenting the efcacy of using hypnosis and self-hypnosis for a variety of health
issues, from chronic lower back pain to headaches.
Citing his own work with patients as well as published studies, Dr. Lewis demonstrates that people
who use hypnosis and self-hypnosis can achieve measurable and rapid improvements in their
health as well as

Experience less stress and anxiety
Use less medication for illnesses and other health conditions
Heal from surgery faster and better
Youll also learn how hypnosis can help children with over 30 health problems including asthma,
needle phobias, bedwetting, and chronic headaches.
FREE GIFT: Dr. Lewiss bestselling guided self-hypnosis
program, The Stress Vanisher ($35 value!)
Health & Fitness/
Alternative Therapies
$17.95
Cooper Ridge Press
HY P NOS I S
TRE ATME NT
OP TI ON
S C O T T D. L E WI S
Proven Solutions for Pain,
Insomnia, Stress, Obesity, and Other
Common Health Problems
Anxiety , Smoking , Fear of Public Speaking , Lower Back Pain
Irritable Bowel Syndrome , Impotence , Tinnitus , Bedwetting
Ho t F l a s h e s , Bu r n s , L a b o r Pa i n , F e a r o f F l y i n g
Postpartum Fatigue , Morning Sickness , Urinary Incontinence
Hair-Pulling , Phobias , Muscle Tension , Cough , Allergies
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder , Surgical Pain , Osteoarthritis
Fibromyalgia ,Claustrophobia ,Distress from Medical Procedures
Migraines , Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting , Teeth Grinding
Asthma , Chronic Pain , Eating Disorders , Tension Headaches
Dr. Lewis is blessedly clear in his writing. There is nothing to fear with
hypnosis, and there are so many wonderful benefits to gain.
from the foreword by Daniel E. Bendor, MD
The
H
Y
P
N
O
S
I
S

T
R
E
A
T
M
E
N
T

O
P
T
I
O
N
S
C
O
T
T

D
.

L
E
W
I
S
T
h
e
C
o
p
p
e
r

R
i
d
g
e

P
r
e
s
s
TheHypnosisOption.indd 1 10/22/12 2:03 PM
Copviiglr 2O13 lv Scorr . !ewis
All iiglrs ieseiveo. o pair o rlis pullicarion mav le iepioouceo, oisriilureo, oi riansmir-
reo in anv oim oi lv anv means, incluoing plorocopving, iecoioing, oi orlei elecrionic
oi meclanical merloos, wirlour rle piioi wiirren peimission o rle pullislei, excepr in
rle case o liie ouorarions emlooieo in ciirical ieviews ano ceirain orlei noncommeicial
uses peimirreo lv copviiglr law. !oi peimission ieouesrs, wiire ro rle pullislei, aooiesseo
'Arrenrion: Peimissions Cooioinaroi," ar rle aooiess lelow.
Coppei Rioge Piess
8+O S. Ranclo Blvo., #+-+O5
!as Vegas, V 891O6
!"#$"%&'()&*+",-.%+&
/0-&.%.1(2-3$24 Special oiscounrs aie availalle on ouanrirv puiclases lv coipoiarions, asso-
ciarions, ano orleis. !oi oerails, conracr rle 'Special Sales epairmenr" ar rle aooiess
alove.
!"#$"2( 51( 67( ."-#$( 5++82.+"$2( -&#( 9:+3$2-3$"24 Please conracr !noepenoenr Pullisleis
Cioup: Tel. (8OO) 888-!PC1: !ax. (312) 337-5985, nline, oioeis@ipglook.com: oi wiire
ro !noepenoenr Pullisleis Cioup, ioei epairmenr, 81+ oirl !ianklin Srieer, Clicago,
!! 6O61O
Piinreo in rle !nireo Srares o Ameiica
Caraloging-in-Pullicarion oara
!ewis, Scorr .
Tle !vpnosis riearmenr oprion : pioven solurions oi pain , insomnia , sriess , olesirv ,
ano orlei common lealrl piollems / Scorr . !ewis.
p. cm.
!SB 9781938636O97
!ncluoes lilliogiaplical ieeiences ano inoex.
1. !vpnorismTleiapeuric use. 2. Mino ano loov. 3. Alreinarive meoicine. +. Mino ano
loov rleiapies. 5. !vpnosismerloos. !. Tirle.
RC+95 .!+9 2O13
616.89 oc232O129+6933
!iisr !oirion
17 16 15 1+ 13 1O 9 8 7 6 5 + 3 2 1
Copveoiring: PeopleSpeak
Covei esign: Kuo esigns
!nreiioi esign: Maiin Bookwoiks
!SC!A!M!R: Tle inoimarion conraineo in rlis look ('!noimarion") is nor inrenoeo ro le
useo as ano is nor meoical aovice oi iecommenoarions oi anv pairiculai riearmenr. Sucl aovice
ano iecommenoarions sloulo come onlv iom rle ieaoei`s plvsician oi orlei lealrlcaie piovioei.
All ieaoeis sloulo consulr rleii own plvsician oi orlei lealrlcaie piovioei piioi ro using lvpno-
sis ro riear anv meoical conoirion oi lealrl piollem, wlerlei as conraineo in rle !noimarion oi
orleiwise. Tle aurloi, rle pullislei, ano anv orlei pairv make no iepiesenrarions oi guaianrees
rlar anv o rle !noimarion will pioouce anv pairiculai meoical, plvsical, emorional, oi orlei
iesulr, ano none o saio pairies is engageo in rle ienoeiing o meoical aovice as a iesulr o wiiring
oi pullisling rlis look oi orleiwise making rle !noimarion availalle. one o rle !noimarion
iepoireo as iesulrs aclieveo lv pairiculai inoiviouals sloulo le consioeieo as rvpical oi as pioo
rlar rle ieaoei miglr aclieve rle same iesulrs. !acl insrance vaiies.
Tle !noimarion is piovioeo on an 'as is" lasis wirlour anv waiianries o anv kino, expiess oi
implieo. Tle aurloi, rle pullislei, ano anv orlei pairv expiesslv oisclaim anv lialilirv oi anv loss
oi oamage, incluoing lur nor limireo ro anv loss oi oamage iom anv use o anv lvpnosis riear-
menr, oi orlei aspecr o anv pair o rle !noimarion
3
C H A P T E R 1
What Is Hypnosis?
!"#$!%&'#(%')*+,-%'&%%$'lvpnosis oepicreo in rle movies oi on
relevision oi lave even seen a live comeov slow. Peilaps someone
vou know visireo a lvpnorleiapisr ro lelp oeear a smoking lalir
oi ro lose weiglr. Mavle vou`ve even leen lvpnorizeo vouisel, on
a laik ar an evenr, ano weie impiesseo enougl lv rle expeiience ro
rake ir moie seiiouslv as a rool oi clanging voui lie. \larevei voui
ieason oi ieaoing rlis look, ! am glao vouìe leie ro leain moie.
)ZQOPTJT BT B TDJFOUJDBMMZ WBMJE UIFSBQFVUJD UPPM JT XJEFMZ NJTVO-
oeisrooo ano unoeiesrimareo lv rle geneial pullic. !`m excireo oi
rle oppoirunirv ro slaie wirl vou some o rle mosr compelling
ieseaicl !`ve ouno alour low lvpnosis ieallv woiks ano low vou
can use ir ro impiove voui oveiall lealrl ano wellness.
!er`s srair ar rle leginning. \lar is lvpnosis, exacrlv? Tlougl
lvpnosis las leen iecognizeo ano useo oi lealing in some oim oi
anorlei oi cenruiies, even lack ro rle rime o rle ancienr Cieeks
(see claprei 3), irs piecise naruie is srill somerling o a meoical
mvsreiv.
5IPVHI EFOJUJPOT BOE EFTDSJQUJPOT PG IZQOPTJT WBSZ EFQFOE-
ing on low one inreipiers rle ieseaicl, mosr expeirs agiee rlar
ceirain olseivalle plenomena occui (sucl as rle oiminislmenr o
peiceiveo pain) wlen people aie in a lvpnoric srare.
1
Also, laseo on
4 What You Need to Know about Hypnosis
rle iesulrs o liain imaging resrs, manv ieseaicleis agiee rlar lvp-
nosis aecrs sriucruies in rle liain rlar iegulare arrenrion.
2
\len
people aie expeiiencing lvpnosis, ceirain iegions o rleii liains
aie accesseo ano acrive. Tlese liain acriviries aie consisrenr wirl
wlar suliecrs sav rlev expeiience ouiing a lvpnosis session: ocuseo
arrenrion, alsoiprion in a rask, ano a ceirain 'oisarrenrion" ro exrei-
nal srimuli (oi example, noises oi ioom rempeiaruie).
3
Reseaicl
rlar !`ll explain in giearei oerail lelow also poinrs ro rle alilirv o
specihc lvpnoric suggesrions ro pioouce acrivirv in pairs o rle liain
rlar aecr sensoiv, moroi, ano cognirive piocesses.
Riglr now, one o rle mosr wioelv agieeo-upon oehnirions o
lvpnosis is piovioeo lv rle Ameiican Psvclological Associarion
(APA):
!vpnosis rvpicallv involves an inriooucrion ro rle pioceouie
ouiing wlicl rle suliecr is rolo rlar suggesrions oi imaginarive
expeiiences will le piesenreo . . . \len using lvpnosis, one pei-
son (rle suliecr) is guioeo lv anorlei (rle lvpnorisr) ro iespono
ro suggesrions oi clanges in suliecrive expeiience, alreiarions
in peiceprion, sensarion, emorion, rlouglr oi lelavioi. Peisons
can also leain sel-lvpnosis, wlicl is rle acr o aominisreiing
lvpnoric pioceouies on one`s own.
+
Tooav, i vou ask pioessional lvpnosis piacririoneis ro explain
lvpnosis ro vou, mosr will rell vou rlar ir is similai ro wlar lap-
pens ro us wlen weìe alsoileo in a gooo look oi hlm: ir`s a srare
o ocuseo arrenrion ouiing wlicl oui awaieness o rle peiipl-
eial woilonoises, acrivirv, people ralkingis oimmeo. Manv
piacririon eis agiee rlar lvpnosis can occui naruiallv in a vaiierv o
conoirions ano siruarions ano rlar we enrei inro rle srare rliougl-
our oui oavs on a iegulai lasisoi example, wlen we slip inro oav-
oieams oi lecome so engiosseo in rasks rlar we lose riack o rime.
!ave vou evei oiiven voui cai lome wirlour iealizing wlar ioure
vou rook? Tlar`s leen calleo 'liglwav lvpnosis."
5
An inouceo lvp-
noric srare is pierrv mucl rle same expeiience, onlv guioeo lv a
What Is Hypnosis? 5
riaineo pioessional wlo knows low ro lelp vou pur rlis ocuseo
srare o mino (oren accompanieo lv ielaxarion) ro woik oi vou.
The Process of Hypnosis
!ow, exacrlv, ooes a lvpnosis piacririonei inouce a lvpnoric
srare? !sing a vaiierv o specializeo reclnioues sucl as !"#$"%&&'(%)
*+&,-%) "%-./.0'#1 (wleie vou concenriare on rensing ano ielaxing
voui muscles in a seouenrial oioei) oi orleis rlar mav involve srai-
ing ar a spor on rle wall ano eeling voui eves gerring leavv oi simplv
ocusing on voui liearling, a piacririonei will rvpicallv uslei vou
inro a srare o ielaxarion. Tlis is 23!1#0', '14+,0'#1rle hisr plase
o guioing vou inro a lvpnoric srare. Tle lvpnorisr commonlv will
use a lulling, ieperirive oim o speaking ano mav pace lis speaking
ro marcl rle iare o voui liearling. !noucrion oren incluoes visual-
izing ielaxing imageiv, sucl as leing on a leauriul leacl: walking
in a peaceul, gieen meaoow: oi lving cuileo up on a coucl nexr ro
a waim hieplace in rle comoir o voui own lome. Youi lvpnorisr
mav also involve vou in simple rasks oesigneo ro ielax vou ano ocus
voui arrenrion, sucl as noricing wlen voui hngeis legin ro rwircl
oi imagining voui aim is leing lireo lv a rlousano lelium lalloons.
exr, rle lvpnorisr mav use aooirional reclnioues ro oeepen
voui lvpnoric srare. ren rlese oeepening reclnioues will luilo
upon rle reclnioues useo in inoucrion. !oi example, i vou aie visu-
alizing leing on an exoric leacl in !iii, voui piacririonei mav sug-
gesr rlar vou counr rle waves coming in. 5'02)%.,2)6.(%),#*'1$)'1,
le miglr sav, 3#+) $#) 4%%!%") .14) 4%%!%") '10#) 23!1#&'&. i, i le uses a
counring reclnioue iom one ro ren oi rle inoucrion, le mav sug-
gesr rlar wirl eacl aooirional numlei le savs, vou will go oeepei
inro lvpnosis. Some piacririoneis will simplv rell vou rlar now vou
will go oeepei inro lvpnosis.
Arei rlis oeepening plase, voui piacririonei will oren piovioe
lvpnoric suggesrions oesigneo ro lelp vou impiove voui siruarion. !
vou aie riving ro eliminare leaoacles, oi example, le mav ask vou
ro imagine vouìe wiapping a cool clorl aiouno voui leao. ! vouìe
riving ro lose weiglr, le mav rell vou rlar vou`ll le veiv awaie o
wlen voui sromacl srairs ro eel ull ano rlar vou`ll hno ir veiv easv
ro srop earing.
!veiv lvpnosis pioessional las lis oi lei own merloos o pie-
senring rlese suggesrions ro clienrs. Some piacririoneis use !"#$%&'
()**$(&"+,( ano will rell vou, oi example, rlar vou will hno ir veiv
giariving ro le a nonsmokei ano rlar vou will eniov wonoeiul len-
ehrs sucl as weaiing iesl-smelling clorling ano saving porenriallv
rlousanos o oollais. i oi weiglr loss, rlev mav sav rlar vou will
eel complerelv sarisheo arei earing iusr a ew lires o oesseir. rleis
will make use o ",!"#$%&'()**$(&"+,(, wlicl mav le piesenreo in rle
oim o meraplois'in rle conrexr o a sroiv. !oi example, a lvpnorisr
mav rell someloov riving ro ouir smoking alour a lomeownei wlo
one oav iealizeo rlar rle ieason sle oion`r eel well wlenevei sle
was in lei lome was lecause rle walls weie lineo wirl roxins ano
oangeious clemicals rlar weie oiiecrlv aecring lei lealrl. ren,
lvpnorisrs will use lorl reclniouesoiiecr suggesrion ano inoiiecr
suggesrionas a pair o riearmenr.
Ar rle conclusion o voui session, voui lvpnosis piacririonei
mav piovioe a -+(&./-,+&"%'()**$(&"+,, an implanreo piompr oi lelp-
ing vou ro clange voui lelaviois, emorions, rlouglrs, oi peicep-
rions arei rle session is ovei. !oi example, le mav sav, '!veiv rime
vou see a piece o clocolare cake, vou`ll rell vouisel, '! ar mv ioeal
weiglr am moie appealing ro me rlan rlar cake.`" i le mav sug-
gesr rlar eacl rime vou expeiience ielie o pain arei lisrening ro
voui lvpnosis auoio piogiam, voui ielie will lasr longei ano longei.
!asrlv, voui lvpnorisr will $0$#*$ vou iom (liing vou our o)
voui lvpnosis session (oi example, lv using a simple counring recl-
nioue ano an incieasing awaieness o voui exreinal enviionmenr
wirl eacl numlei saio) ano will oren supplv vou wirl an auoio
iecoioing oi piacricing lvpnosis ar lome so rlar vou mav ieinoice
rle riaining vou`ve iusr ieceiveo.
How Should I Feel?
ow vou know rle lasic merloo lv wlicl manv piacricing
clinical lvpnorisrs will guioe vou inro a lvpnoric srare ano make
What Is Hypnosis? 7
suggesrions oi svmprom impiovemenr ano lelavioial clange. You
also know rlar lvpnosis is rvpicallv a ielaxeo srare ano oren a pleas-
anr expeiience, lur vou srill mav le wonoeiing low rle piocess o
lvpnosis is supposeo ro !""#.
Television ano movie oepicrions o lvpnoric suliecrs in a
zomlie- like riance lave osreieo a numlei o mvrls ano misconcep-
rions alour rle naruie o lvpnosis. (!oi moie on rlese mvrls, see
claprei 2.) !er`s srair lv aooiessing one o rle mosr common oues-
rions !`m askeo: !s lvpnosis acruallv an alreieo srare o conscious-
ness? !oi manv veais, rlis suliecr las leen rle souice o conrio-
veisv. ! go along wirl ieseaicleis ano expeirs i. Sreven Jav !vnn
ano i. !iving Kiiscl, wlo srare, 'ecaoes o ieseaicl lave aileo
UPDPOSNUIBUSFTQPOTFTUPTVHHFTUJPOTBSFEVFUPBOBMUFSFETUBUF
o consciousness ano as a iesulr, rlis lvporlesis las leen alanooneo
CZNPTUSFTFBSDIFSTJOUIFFMEp5IFZBMTPDPNNFOUPOUIFJSPXO
pieeience o nor using rle reim 'riance," wlicl 'manv knowleoge-
BCMF TDIPMBST FJUIFS SFKFDU BT NJTMFBEJOH PS VTF JU JO B TVGDJFOUMZ
lioao sense ro incluoe sucl commonplace expeiiences as leing
alsoileo in an inreiesring movie, concenriarion oi oavoieam."
6
!ike Kiiscl ano !vnn, ! pieei nor ro use rle woio 'riance"
(rlougl vou will see ir menrioneo a ew rimes in rlis look wlen ir`s
in rle ieseaicl sruoies cireo). !n mv expeiience as a clinician ano a
srage peioimei, ! lave ouno rlar manv people aie aiaio o going
inro a riance. Manv associare 'riance" wirl eais o losing conriol oi
o 'nor leing alle ro come our o ir." ! peisonallv eel rlar rle use
o rle woio 'riance" conriilures ro rle mvsreiv ano eais associareo
wirl lvpnosis ano mav le one o rle ieasons lvpnosis lasn`r enioveo
rle populaiirv ir oeseives.
Kiiscl ano !vnn also eel rlar using rle reim can aecr rle
rleiapeuric value o a lvpnosis session lv clanging rle expecrarions
a parienr mav lave alour wlar lvpnosis is supposeo ro eel like. !
lave ouno rlar manv people expecr rlar ro successullv expeiience
lvpnosis, rlev musr le in a passive, zomlie-like srare. \len rleii
expeiience o lvpnosis ooesn`r meer rlis expecrarion, rlev mav eel
rlar lvpnosis lasn`r woikeo ano rlar rlev cannor le lvpnorizeo.
Tlis conusion can le avoioeo iom rle srair lv iemoving mvrls
ano misconceprions. As Kiiscl ano !vnn elaloiare, 'Counreiing
rle ioea rlar lvpnosis is a riance srare allows rle parienr ro inreipier
ielaxeo involvemenr as evioence rlar rle inoucrion was successul,
wlicl rleielv rakes rle piessuie o o a parienr ro expeiience a
riance ano acilirares iesponse ro suggesrion."
7
Tlar is wlv ! alwavs explain ro mv parienrs ano in mv lecruies
(ano even in mv srage slows) rlar lvpnosis is a common expeiience
o ocus ano concenriarion rlar we go in ano our o seveial rimes
eveiv oav. i. !eileir Spiegel ano i. avio Spiegel, leaoeis in rle
NFEJDBMIZQOPTJTFMEXIPIBWFTFSWFEPOUIFSFTFBSDIBOEUFBDIJOH
aculries o Columlia !niveisirv ano Sranoio !niveisirv, oesciile
rlis as a 'consranr sliring lack ano oirl lerween peiipleial awaie-
ness ano ocal arrenrion" ano claim rlar rlese 'alreiarions o luman
awaieness occui all rle rime."
8
As ! menrioneo eailiei, manv piacririoneis will ielare rle expeii-
ence o lvpnosis ro gerring losr in a gooo movie, look, oi oavoieam.
! like ro use rlese examples wlen explaining ro people low lvpno-
sis rvpicallv eels. \e`ve all lao rle expeiience o warcling a gooo
movie ano oigerring rlar weìe sirring in a movie rlearei. Cerring
losr in rle movie is iepiesenrarive o oui incieasing ocal arrenrion
(on rle movie) ano oui oecieasing peiipleial awaieness (o oui
enviionmenrleing insioe a rlearei, suiiounoeo lv orlei people
ano lackgiouno noises). \len rle movie enos ano rle liglrs come
on, we slir lack ro oui peiipleial awaieness o oui enviionmenr.
9
So, in sloir, we all go in ano our o lvpnoric srares seveial rimes
a oav. To successullv expeiience lvpnosis, vou oon`r lave ro walk
aiouno in a zomlie-like srare. ren, all vou lave ro oo is iusr close
voui eves ano ielax.
How Hypnosis Works
ow rlar vou oon`r lave ro woiiv alour lecoming a minoless
zomlie ro expeiience lvpnosis, vou srill mav le wonoeiing low
lvpnosis acruallv woiks. As ! menrioneo ar rle srair o rlis claprei,
mucl alour rle riue naruie o lvpnosis iemains a mvsreiv, mainlv
What Is Hypnosis? 9
lecause so mucl is srill unknown alour low rle liain woiks. !oi
rlis ieason, manv skeprics lelieve rlar lvpnosis is, ar woisr, a akeiv
ano, ar lesr, meielv a placelo. !owevei, rle science pioves rlese
skeprics wiong. A numlei o sruoies lave oemonsriareo rlar mea-
suialle clanges in liain acrivirv occui ouiing lvpnosis, ano rlese
clanges aie oieienr iom rle clanges rlar occui wlen people aie
simplv pierenoing ro le lvpnorizeo.
1O
rlei sruoies lave slown
rlar wlile ielaxarion is an impoiranr pair o lvpnosis, lvpnosis is
nor meielv a oim o ielaxarion.
11
!n acr, vou oon`r even neeo ro le
ielaxeo ro ieceive ano acr on lvpnoric suggesrions: ieseaicl suliecrs
lave leen successullv lvpnorizeo wlile iioing exeicise likes (see
claprei 2). Aooirionallv, numeious sruoies lave slown rlar lvpno-
sis consisrenrlv ourpeioims ielaxarion rleiapv.
12
So wlile rle ielax-
BUJPODPNQPOFOUPGIZQOPTJTDFSUBJOMZDPOUSJCVUFTUPJUTCFOFDJBM
eecrs, somerling else is cleailv lappening.
ne rleoiv comes iom is. avio ano !eileir Spiegel, wlo
CFMJFWF UIBU IZQOPTJT NBZ JQ UIF XBZ XF OPSNBMMZ QSPDFTT XPSET
ano images. Ceneiallv, rlev sav, we ieacr ro images ano we manipu-
lare woios (oi example, wlen we wiire oi speak). !n lvpnosis, low-
evei, rle ieveise is riuewe ieacr ro woios iom rle lvpnorisr, ano
we manipulare images lv engaging in visualizarion. Tlis ieveisal
o oui noimal wav o rlinking mav cieare a liain srare in wlicl we
aie alle ro oveiiioe oui oeaulr '!s rlis possille?" uncrion in avoi
o wlarevei veilal insriucrion is pur leoie us.
13
Tle Spiegels sup-
poir rlis rleoiv lv saving rlar oue ro clanges in liain acrivirv oui-
ing lvpnosis, people aie less likelv ro clallenge veilal inpur given
ro rlem.
1+
Tlev srare, 'Mucl o rle powei o rle lvpnoric srare
involves rle unciirical acceprance o rle implausille (e.g., rle alilirv
ro ieouce oi eliminare pain oespire rle piesence o an unpleasanr
srimulus). !n sucl cases, rle veilal insriucrion ro alrei expeiience
oveiiioes cognirive piocessing o rle likelilooo rlar sucl expeiience
is possille."
15
Some o rle moie ascinaring sruoies on lvpnosis pullisleo
JO UIF MBTU GUFFO ZFBST FWFO TVQQPSU UIF QPTTJCJMJUZ UIBU EVS-
ing a lvpnoric srare, rle liain can`r rell rle oieience lerween
rle imaginarive siruarions vou expeiience ouiing lvpnosis ano
acrual iealirv. Accoioing ro one well-known sruov pullisleo in rle
!"#$%%&'()*+ #,+ -.%+ /0-'#(01+ 2$0&%34+ #,+ 5$'%($%*, wlen people unoei
lvpnosis weie askeo ro lallucinare a souno, rle rempoial lolerle
pair o rle liain rlar piocesses auoiolecame acrive. !owevei, rle
nonlvpnorizeo conriol gioup, wlen askeo ro consciouslv imagine
leaiing rle same souno, oio nor expeiience acrivirv in rlis pair o
rle liain. nlv rle lvpnorizeo suliecrs weie alle ro successullv
alrei rleii peiceprionro lireiallv leai a noise rlar wasn`r ieal.
16
!n a similai !aivaio !niveisirv sruov, ieseaicleis examineo rle
liains o lvpnorizeo sruov pairicipanrs via P!T (posirion emission
romogiaplv) scans wlile rle suliecrs lookeo ar lorl giav-scale ano
coloi images. Tle ieseaicleis askeo rle suliecrs ro hisr aoo coloi
ro rle giav-scale images ano rlen oiain coloi iom rle coloi images.
!noei lvpnosis, wlen rle suliecrs weie askeo ro peiceive coloi, rle
coloi aieas on lorl sioes o rleii liains lecame acriveiegaioless
o wlerlei rlev weie looking ar a coloi oi a giav-scale image. \len
rle suliecrs weie insriucreo ro see a giav scale, rlese same liain
aieas lao oecieaseo acrivirv. Accoioing ro rle ieseaicleis, rle acriv-
irv in rle pairicipanrs` liains pioveo rlar rleii suliecrive expeiience
o coloi lao clangeo in iesponse ro rle lvpnoric suggesrions.
17
!n a amous sruov our o Coinell !niveisirv, ieseaicleis weie
alle ro slow rlar lvpnosis can sepaiare woios iom rleii meaning
essenriallv, suppiessing rle alilirv ro ieao. You mav lave raken oi
leaio alour a resr in wlicl vouìe askeo ro view a seiies o coloieo
woios rlar asl lv on a compurei scieen. !oi eacl woio, vou musr
ouicklv piess a lurron oesignaring wlar coloi vouìe seeing. Tlis
piocess is complicareo lv rle acr rlar rle lerreis in rle woio 'ieo"
mav acruallv le gieen, rle woio 'vellow" mav le llue, ano so on. !
vou`ve evei raken rlis resr, vou know low oihculr ir is ro srop ieao-
ing ano simplv supplv rle coloi, nor rle woio. Mosr people neeo ro
rlink leoie answeiing. (Tlis oelav in iesponse is calleo rle 'Srioop
eecr.") !owevei, wlen ieseaicleis lvpnorizeo sruov pairicipanrs
ano rolo rlem rlar rle woios rlev weie alour ro see woulo le in a
What Is Hypnosis? 11
oieign language rlev woulon`r unoeisrano, rle pairicipanrs weie
alle ro answei rle ouesrions iapiolv ano coiiecrlv wirlour oelav.
18
Tlese alreiarions in peiceprion aie pairiculailv impoiranr wlen
looking ar low lvpnosis aecrs pain. Sruoies slow rlar wlen lvp-
norizeo suliecrs aie given suggesrions oi clanging rle inrensirv
o rleii pain, rleie is ieouceo acrivirv in rle somarosensoiv coi-
rexrle pair o rle liain iesponsille oi 'eeling pain." !owevei,
suggesrions aimeo ar oecieasing rle unpleasanrness o pain insreao
ieouce acrivirv in rle anreiioi cingulare coirex (ACC)rle pair o
rle liain rlar piocesses oui emorional ieacrion ro pain.
19
!oi pain-
ul ano unpleasanr conoirions wirl an aggiavaring sriess ano anxierv
componenr (sucl as hliomvalgia, rension leaoacles, ano iiiiralle
lowel svnoiome !BS], all o wlicl aie oiscusseo in rlis look), lvp-
nosis can le especiallv lelpul lecause o irs oemonsriareo alilirv ro
suppiess rle pairs o rle liain rlar inreipier pain signals ano arracl
meaning ro rlem. You mav srill lave svmproms, lur vou`ll eel lerrei
lecause vouìe nor arracling meaning ro anxious eelings oi olsess-
ing alour rlem.
2O
!`ve seen rlis plenomenon in manv o mv own lvpnosis parienrs.
!vpnosis lelps rlem peiceive less pain. As rlev legin ro eel plvsi-
callv lerrei, rleii mooo lirs. Tle new posirive arriruoe makes rlem
eel less anxious, wlicl in ruin uirlei impioves rleii peiceprion
o pain. Tlis posirive eeolack loop iesulrs in giearei ano giearei
impiovemenrs in lorl svmproms ano emorional ourlook. !n some
cases, rle pain ano rle svmproms oisappeai alrogerlei. \lar`s nor
ro like alour rlar?
Tlose wlo srill lave ooulrs alour lvpnosis neeo onlv rake a
look ar rle amazing plvsiological clanges rlar can occui arei peo-
ple wirl meoical conoirions ieceive lvpnosis riearmenr. Sruoies
slow rlar lvpnoric suggesrions can clange alleigic ano inamma-
roiv ieacrions, eliminare wairs, conriol seizuies, loosr rle pioouc-
rion o cells involveo in immunirv, ieouce inammarion ano pain
iom luins, lelp asrlma parienrs cur lack on oi eliminare rle neeo
oi inlaleis, ano enalle lemopliliacs ro conriol excessive lleeoing.
21

!n some o rlese cases, rle scienrihc evioence suppoiring lvpnosis
!"#"$%&'()#!'#&$*+%",#$*+#%+"+-%.*#!"#"$!//#!'#!$"#0+%1#2%&3!"!'(#!'4-'.15#
6'#$*!"#7&&8,#6#*-0+#.*&"+'#$&#4&.9"#3-!'/1#&'#.&33&'#*+-/$*#2%&7:
/+3"#$*-$#;!//#/!8+/1#-44+.$#3&"$#&4#9"#<&%#$*&"+#;*&3#;+#8'&;=#-$#
"&3+#$!3+#&%#-'&$*+%5#>-'1#&4#$*+#.&'?!$!&'"#6#!'./9?+#-%+#*!(*/1#
%+"2&'"!0+# $&# *12'&"!",# ;!$*# +@$+'"!0+# %+"+-%.*# $&# 7-.8# $*-$# ./-!3#
925#A&;+0+%,#!4#1&9B%+#!'$+%+"$+?#!'#/+-%'!'(#3&%+#-7&9$#$*+#+44+.$#
&4#*12'&"!"#&'#$*+"+#-'?#&$*+%#*+-/$*#.&'?!$!&'",#6#+'.&9%-(+#1&9#
$&#%+-?#$*+#-%$!./+"#6#.!$+#!'#$*+#+'?'&$+"#-'?#$&#2+%9"+#$*+#-22+'?!@#
4&%#-??!$!&'-/#%+"&9%.+"5
C*-$# !"# *12'&"!"D# E*+# 7&$$&3# /!'+# !"# $*-$# !$B"# -# %+-/,# '-$9%-/,#
-'?# 0+%1# 2&;+%49/# 3+'$-/# -'?# 2*1"!&/&(!.-/# +0+'$# $*-$# .-'# 7%!'(#
-7&9$#3+-"9%-7/+,#2%&0+'#.*-'(+"#!'#1&9%#7&?1#-'?#1&9%#3!'?5#E*+#
scienrihc sruoies ievieweo in rlis look, manv o rlem conoucreo ar
3-F&%# %+"+-%.*# 9'!0+%"!$!+"# -'?# 3+?!.-/# ".*&&/"# -%&9'?# $*+# ;&%/?,#
;!//#/+-0+#'&#?&97$#$*-$#*12'&"!"#!"#-#"-4+#-'?#+44+.$!0+#$&&/#$*-$#1&9#
can easilv leainro rle lenehr o voui lealrl ano well-leing.
13
C H A P T E R 2
Myths and
Misconceptions
!"#$% &'(&)'% "*'% !+,+#-(*!'.% alour lvpnosis. ! lave ouno
rlar rle oiigins o rlese misunoeisranoings aie mosr oren iooreo in
populai culruie. As vou`ll leain in claprei 3, people lave leen using
lvpnosis oi lunoieos o veais, lur rle plenomenon las nor leen
piopeilv oocumenreo ano unoeisrooo unril aiilv iecenrlv in scien-
rihc lisroiv. !n rle 17OOs ano 18OOs, wlen scienrihc inouiiv was in
irs inancv, less-rlan-lonesr lealeis piohreo iom a vaiierv o plvsi-
cal ano menral 'cuies" rlar coulo nor le sulsranriareo. Spiiirualisrs,
airl lealeis, ano orlei mino-loov piacririoneis alounoeo, lur
nor all o rlem weie sinceie, ano manv weie clailarans. Tle mosr
amous piacririonei was !ianz Mesmei, a masrei o rle powei o
suggesrion, wlose oemonsriarions o 'animal magnerism" rook on a
sioeslow armospleie iesemlling a mooein-oav celeliirv magician
acr (complere wirl ligl ricker piices). !vpnorism sraireo gaining
meoical ano scienrihc legirimacv in rle 195Os, lur unoirunarelv,
Mesmei`s cainival-like legacv iemains even rooav.
vei rle veais, srage slows lave given iise ro a numlei o mvrls
ano misconceprions alour lvpnosis. Tlougl ! am pair o a srage
riaoirion (ano piouo o ir), ! am also a clinical lvpnorisr wlo las
leen woiking wirl parienrs one-on-one mucl longei rlan !`ve leen
peioiming. !eie aie some o rle main poinrs o conusion ano low
! aooiess rlem wirl parienrs ano wirl auoiences.
Myth 1: Hypnosis Isnt Scientic
ne o rle mosr common misconceprions alour lvpnosis, ano
nor iusr among skeprics, is rlar ir is nor giounoeo in science. !ven
rlose inclineo ro lelieve lvpnosis is eecrive consioei ir ro le moie
o a meraplvsical piacrice, wirl anv olseiveo lenehrs leing solelv
oue ro irs ielaxing naruie oi ro rle placelo eecr.
\lar mosr people oon`r iealize is rlar lvpnosis las leen sul-
iecr ro iigoious scienrihc piacrices ano ieseaicl since rle 195Os.
Tle Ameiican Socierv o Clinical !vpnosis (ASC!), ounoeo
in 1957, las ovei +,OOO memleis ano exisrs ro uirlei rle erlical
ieseaicl inro lvpnosis as a clinical rool.
1
!vpnosis rooav is invesri-
gareo ar some o rle woilo`s leaoing univeisiries ano lals, incluoing
!aivaio !niveisirv, Sranoio !niveisirv, Coinell !niveisirv, ano
rle !niveisirv o Ceneva, ano ieseaicl sruoies alour low lvpno-
sis uncrions ano aecrs rle liain ano loov aie pullisleo in pies-
rigious ano mainsrieam scienrihc iouinals sucl as !"#$%&'()#,* +'#,*
-.&/&$*!),$001&/2", 3$&0/$0,*4,5)/'.*,6*(%0*780)&$'/*+01&$'.*7"",$&'(&,/,*
ano !),$001&/2"*,6*(%0*9'(&,/'.*7$'108#*,6*3$&0/$0": Reseaicleis lave
oocumenreo numeious applicarions o lvpnosis oi a wioe vaiierv
o meoical conoirions. Pain iom cancei is one example. !n 1996,
rle arional !nsrirures o !ealrl issueo a sraremenr inoicaring rlar
rleie was 'sriong evioence" oi rle use o lvpnosis ro alleviare pain
associareo wirl rle oisease ano irs riearmenr.
2
Myth 2: The Hypnotist Controls the Patient
Tle novelisr Ceoige ou Mauiiei was a peisuasive wiirei, enougl
so rlar lis oesciiprion o Svengali, rle evil lvpnorisr, peisisrs rooav.
!n lis novel ;)&.<#* ano in rle Joln Baiivmoie silenr hlm 3=0/2'.&,
a claiismaric piomorei uses lis poweis ro riansoim a voung ing-
nue inro a amous singei. Bur since Tiillv cannor peioim wirlour
Myths and Misconceptions 15
Svengali`s lelp ro ger inro lei 'riance srare," le las ulrimare powei
ovei lei caieei.
Mosr people lave seen a movie sucl as rlis oi a relevision slow
oepicring lvpnosis. ren in rlese slows, lvpnorizeo suliecrs aie
maoe ro appeai vulneialle ano unoei rle conriol o rle lvpnorisr.
!ven rlougl ! eoucare mv auoiences ouiing mv srage slows rlar
rlose wlo volunreei aie in complere conriol o wlar`s going on ano
can emeige iom rle lvpnoric srare ar anv rime rlev wisl, some
people will iemaik ro me arei rle slow rlar rlev weie amazeo ar
rle conriol ! lao ovei rle people on srage.
!n iealirv, rle inoucrion ano oeepening o rle lvpnoric srare is a
collaloiarion lerween rle lvpnorisr ano rle suliecr.
3
uiing voui
session, a riaineo lvpnorisr will guioe vou rliougl rle piocess ano
lelp vou ocus voui arrenrion on rle piollem ar lano, lur vou can
cloose ro emeige iom rle lvpnoric srare ar anv rime.
!n clinical lvpnosis, vou will nor slaie inoimarion againsr voui
will. A gooo lvpnorisr will ask vou i vou aie willing ro ioenriv
ano exploie rle causes o voui svmproms. You will alwavs lave rle
oppoirunirv, awaieness, ano alilirv ro sav no.
Myth 3: Hypnosis Is Dangerous
A commonlv iepeareo mvrl alour lvpnosis is rlar someone in
a lvpnoric srare miglr nevei come our o ir. ! vou saw rle movie
0GDF4QBDF, vou mav iecall rle main claiacrei leing lvpnorizeo lv
a rleiapisr. \lile rle parienr is srill in rle lvpnoric srare, rle rleia-
pisr collapses, leaving rle parienr 'unoei lvpnosis." !n rlis srare o
mino, rle parienr oecioes ro acr on lis rleiapeuric lieakrliougl lv
nevei going lack ro woik. Some vieweis wonoei i rle claiacrei is
TUJMMJOBIZQOPUJDTUBUFBUUIFFOEPGUIFMN
Tle riurl is, rime-exrenoeo oi piolongeo lvpnosis (a lvpnosis
session lasring seveial louis oi oavs) is so iaie, ir`s nor even men-
rioneo in mosr lvpnosis rexrlooks. Some expeirs rlink piolongeo
lvpnosis miglr woik i a piacririonei piovioes special lvpnoric sug-
gesrions oesigneo ro mainrain rle lvpnoric srare rliougl sleep.
+

!owevei, mosr piacririoneis woulo nevei neeo oi wanr ro oo rlis.
Ar rle eno o voui lvpnosis session, voui lvpnorisr will announce
rle session is ovei ano will make suie vou ullv emeige iom rle
lvpnoric srare.
\len vou aie piacricing guioeo sel-lvpnosis lv lisrening ro an
auoio iecoioing, voui session will eno once rle piogiam is ovei. !
vou all asleep ouiing a session, vou will nor ieawaken in a lvpnoric
srare.
5
As ai as geneial saerv is conceineo, lvpnosis is wioelv consio-
eieo ro le a sae, lenign piacrice wirl veiv lirrle iisk.
6
Accoioing ro
is. avio Spiegel ano !eileir Spiegel, 'Tleie is simplv no evi-
oence ro suppoir rle ioea rlar lvpnosis is oangeious . . . !uirleimoie,
UIFVTFPGIZQOPTJTJOBQSPGFTTJPOBMTFUUJOHIBTCFFOPGDJBMMZTBOD-
rioneo lv rle Ameiican Psvcliariic Associarion ano rle Ameiican
Meoical Associarion."
7
! vou lave iealisric expecrarions ano cloose rle iiglr riaineo
lvpnosis piacririonei (see claprei +), vou sloulo lave gooo iesulrs
wirl no sioe eecrs.
8
*NNFEJBUFMZBGUFSBTFTTJPOZPVXJMMCFOFUP
oiive ano pairicipare in noimal acriviries. !owevei, !"#"$% &'()"!% )*%
+,-!*('(% $".*$/'!0(% 1+'&"% /$'#'!02% *-"$3)'!0% +"3#,% 43.+'!"$,2% *$% /*'!0%
3!,)+'!0%"&("%)+3)%$"56'$"(%,*6$%76&&%3))"!)'*!8%Alwavs piacrice lvpnosis
in a sae, comoiralle serring wleie vou can ocus.
Myth 4: Hypnosis Is Sleep
ren arei mv slows, people rell me rlev rlink rle volunreeis
on srage weie sleeping ouiing rle rimes rlar rleii eves weie closeo
ano rleii looies weie ielaxeo. Tlougl ielaxarion is oren pair o
lvpnoric inoucrion, lvpnosis is nor sleep. !n acr, lvpnosis ooes nor
even ieouiie ielaxarionin one univeisirv sruov menrioneo in clap-
rei 1, suliecrs weie lvpnorizeo wlile iioing srarionaiv likes.
9
n rle conriaiv, people unoei lvpnosis aie awake ano aleir.
!!C (elecrioenceplalogiam) sruoies lave inoicareo rlar ouiing
lvpnosis, rle liain expeiiences ligl levels o alpla acrivirv, liain
parreins rlar aie consisrenr wirl oui aleir, waking srare lur incon-
sisrenr wirl sleep.
1O
Myths and Misconceptions 17
Myth 5: Most People Cant Be Hypnotized
Almosr anvone wlo can ocus ano ollow oiiecrions can leain
lvpnosis ano aclieve a lvpnoric srare.
11
(Tle exceprion: some peo-
ple wirl menral oisaliliries wlo lave oihculrv concenriaring mav
nor le alle ro expeiience lvpnosis.)
! vou aie cuiious alour measuiing voui lvpnorizalilirv, vou can
le resreo using rle Sranoio !vpnoric Susceprililirv Scale. Cieareo
in rle 195Os, rle Sranoio Scales, as rlev aie somerimes calleo, aie
consioeieo lv manv ro le rle vaiosrick oi measuiing people`s alil-
irv ro enrei a lvpnoric srare. Arei unoeigoing lvpnoric inoucrion,
suliecrs aie askeo ro complere a seiies o acriviries, sucl as pull-
ing apair rleii inreilockeo hngeis oi lallucinaring a noise. Baseo
on rleii iesponses, rlev aie scoieo in a iange iom O ro 12. Mosr
people scoie in rle mioole o rlis iange, ano 95 peicenr o rlose
wlo`ve leen resreo lave leen capalle o enreiing a lvpnoric srare.
12

!oi a 2OO5 airicle, six wiireis on rle 4DJFOUJD"NFSJDBO.JOEmaga-
zine sra weie resreo: ro rleii suipiise, none was alle ro pieoicr lis
oi lei susceprililirv, ano all six lecame lvpnorizeo ano rook sug-
gesrions. ne wiirei scoieo a 12, inoicarive o a veiv oeep level o
lvpnosis, ano expeiienceo posrlvpnoric amnesia (meaning le oio
nor iememlei oerails o rle session arei ir enoeo).
13
People oo vaiv in rle level o lvpnosis rlar rlevìe alle ro
aclieve. !n ceirain siruarions, leing alle ro aclieve a oeepei level
can liing alour lerrei clinical iesulrs. !oi manv conoirions, low-
evei, one`s level o lvpnorizalilirv ooesn`r seem ro le as impoiranr.
Accoioing ro i. Maik Jensen, a iespecreo ieseaiclei iom rle
!niveisirv o \aslingron Meoical Cenrei, 'veiall, rle scienrihc
evioence inoicares rlar lvpnorizalilirv plavs, ar mosr, a small iole in
rle ourcome o lvpnoric riearmenr."
1+
!e goes on ro sav rlar people
wlo scoie low on rle Sranoio Scales can srill lenehr iom lvpnosis,
ano rlev sloulo nor ler rlemselves le oissuaoeo iom riearmenr.
!owevei, i vou wisl ro impiove voui alilirv ro aclieve a oeepei
srare o lvpnosis, vou mav le alle ro riain vouisel ro oo so.
15
Aie vou lvpnorizalle? ! vou hno vouisel easilv alsoileo in
a gooo look, music, oi oavoieams ano i vou lave evei leen so
involveo in a rask rlar vou losr riack o rime, vou aie likelv ro le
a gooo canoioare oi lvpnosis.
16
!n acr, rake a momenr ro norice
all rle siglrs ano sounos in voui cuiienr enviionmenr. ! vou weie
unawaie o some o rlese wlile vou weie ieaoing rlis look, clances
aie vou weie in a lvpnoric srare.
31
C H A P T E R 4
Finding a Good
Hypnotist
!"# $%&# '(!)*# '(+'# seeing a lvpnorisr mav le a gooo oprion oi
vou, voui nexr srep is ro hno a local piacririonei wlom vou can riusr.
People lave manv ouesrions alour low ro hno a lvpnorisras manv
as rlev woulo lave riving ro hno a new oenrisr oi piimaiv caie plv-
sician. Tle gooo news is, selecring a skilleo ano cieoenrialeo lvpno-
risr is easiei rlan vou rlink.
How to Find a Good Hypnotist
! vou use rle ollowing guioelines, vou sloulo lave no piollem
hnoing a compassionare, skilleo, ano expeiienceo pioessional close
ro wleie vou live:
!"#$%&'($)&*+&("Youi hisr srep in hnoing someone wlo can
lelp vou is ro ask voui cuiienr plvsician oi a ieeiial. Manv
nuises ano menral lealrl pioessionals, sucl as counselois,
psvclologisrs, ano psvcliariisrs, aie riaineo in lvpnosis ano
use ir as pair o rleii rleiapv. Manv lealrlcaie specialisrs use
lvpnosis as well, incluoing gasrioenreiologisrs, anesrlesi-
ologisrs, ano cliiopiacrois. Ask voui lealrlcaie piovioeis i
rlev can lelp vou oi ieei vou ro someone wirl rle necessaiv
riaining ano expeiience.
!"#$ %&'()*"$ +)*$ %+,'-.You mav le suipiiseo ro leain rlar
someone in voui lie las visireo a lvpnorisr ro riear a lealrl
piollem oi ruin a lao lalir aiouno. !ino our i rle lvpno-
rleiapisr impiesseo lim oi lei.
/(0$+$&(%(&&+-$%&1,$+$)+0'1)+-$1&$')0(&)+0'1)+-$2.3)1"'"$1&4+)'5+6
0'1)! vou can`r olrain oiiecr ieeiials iom voui oocrois,
iienos, oi amilv, consulr one o rle ollowing wioelv iec-
ognizeo oiganizarions rlar riain lealrlcaie pioessionals in
lvpnosis oi use in a clinical ano rleiapeuric serring. All o
rlese oiganizarions lave welsires rlar vou can seaicl ro hno
a piacririonei neai vou.
72($!,(&'8+)$918'(0.$1%$:-')'8+-$;.3)1"'"$2+"$<(()$')$(='"0()8($
"')8($02($>?@A"nlv licenseo lealrlcaie woikeis wirl a
masrei`s oegiee oi alove mav ioin rle oiganizarion ano
iegisrei ro le ceiriheo in rle piacrice o lvpnosis. ASC!
woikslops aie ullv accieoireo lv rle Accieoirarion
Council oi Conrinuing Meoical !oucarion, rle Ameiican
Psvclological Associarion, rle Acaoemv o Ceneial
enrisriv, rle arional Associarion o Social \oikeis,
ano rle Calioinia Boaio o Belavioial Sciences. Since
irs ounoing lv pioneei i. Milron !iickson in 1957,
ASC! las riaineo rlousanos o pioessionals in rle use
o lvpnosis in a clinical serring. Tooav, ovei 2,OOO meoi-
cal pioessionals acioss rle !nireo Srares aie memleis.
ASC! aovances ieseaicl ano pullisles looks ano a peei-
ievieweo scienrihc iouinal, rle !,(&'8+)$B1C&)+-$1%$:-')'8+-$
;.3)1"'". Tle welsire`s 'Memlei Reeiial Seaicl" page
allows vou ro seaicl oi a oualiheo, ceiriheo lvpnorisr lv
geogiaplical locarion, oegiee level, ano specialrv.
1
72($918'(0.$%1&$:-')'8+-$+)*$D=3(&',()0+-$;.3)1"'", ounoeo
in 19+9, is an inreinarional oiganizarion o meoical, men-
ral lealrl, ano rleiapeuric pioessionals wlo piomore
Finding a Good Hypnotist 33
scienrihc ieseaicl ano rle 'conscienrious applicarion" o
clinical lvpnosis. Tle oiganizarion piioes irsel on inves-
rigaring ano answeiing ieal-woilo ouesrions iaiseo lv rle
people wlo oeal oiiecrlv wirl parienrs. SC!! piovioes
ceirihcarion ano conrinuing eoucarion ano riaining ro irs
memleis ano pullisles a peei-ievieweo meoical iouinal,
!"#$%"&#'("&)*+(,%"&)*-(%*.)'"'/&)*&"0*123$%'4$"#&)*563"(7'78
!rs welsire can piovioe a lisr o piacricing SC!! mem-
leis in voui aiea.
2
9:$*;4$%'/&"*;/&0$46*(-*<$0'/&)*563"(&"&)67#7 is a small
gioup ounoeo lv meoical oocrois in 197+. Tooav irs
memleis incluoe a vaiierv o clinical pioessionals iang-
ing iom social woikeis ro oenrisrs. Memleis musr
lave aovanceo oegiees ano woik in a rleiapeuric oi
meoical serring. Some memleis, like me, piacrice srage
lvpnorism in aooirion ro woiking in a clinical serring.
AAM! piovioes posrgiaouare clinical riaining in lvp-
nosis ano pullisles a peei-ievieweo iouinal, <$0'/&)*
563"(&"&)67'7.
3
9:$* 6$))(=* 3&>$7* ?&"0* #:$* @$AB aoveirise manv iepuralle
lav lvpnosis piacririoneis as well as piacricing, ceiriheo
lealrlcaie specialisrs wirl aovanceo oegiees. Cleck oi
a 'lvpnorleiapisr/lvpnorleiapv" secrion. You can also
consulr oiiecroiies o menral lealrl pioessionals (sucl
as psvclologisrs) ano see i lvpnosis is an oprion oeieo.
Tooav, ir`s easv ro cleck iepurarions via rle !nreiner.
on`r iule our Coogle as a souice o cioss-ieeiencing
a name. You can also riv sires sucl as !ealrlgiaoes.com
ano Bookooocrois.com, wleie parienrs iare rleii lealrl
pioessionals.
Tlougl voui pieeience as a hisr-rimei mav le ro look oi a
meoicallv cieoenrialeo lvpnorleiapisr, rleie aie plenrv o gooo,
piacricing lav lvpnorisrs wlo lave nor lao a lor o oimal riaining.
\lar rlev mav lave insreao is exrensive ieal-woilo expeiience ano
skill (ano resrimonials). Some mav even lave lerrei reclnioue rlan
lealrlcaie pioessionals.
!r is nor pairiculailv iiskv ro consulr lav lvpnorisrs oi ceirain
common piollemsi vou know wlar vou aie looking oi. !av lvp-
norisrs can le lelpul oi a numlei o common lelavioial conoi-
rions sucl as smoking cessarion, weiglr loss, ano geneial sriess ielie.
!owevei, i vouìe looking oi an inirial consulr ro riear a moie
seiious menral lealrl piollem like panic arracks, an earing oisoioei,
clinical oepiession, oi riauma (incluoing PTS), hisr ralk wirl voui
iegulai oocroi. ne oangei in using lav lvpnorisrs oi rlese moie
complex conoirions is rlar rlev mav le inexpeiienceo in piacricing
riaoirional rleiapv. You`ll wanr ro avoio a siruarion wleie a piacri-
rionei opens a Panooia`s lox o emorional oi psvclological issues le
oi sle ooesn`r know low ro riear. Tle orlei oangei in using lav lvp-
norisrs is rlar rlev mav nor alwavs iecognize meoical conoirions rlar
neeo meoical riearmenr, like sleep apnea oi suspicious leaoacles. !n
mv own lvpnosis piacrice, ! somerimes eel ir`s nor wirlin mv scope
ro riear inoiviouals wirl ceirain conoirions. !n rlese siruarions, ! will
ieei parienrs ro a menral lealrl pioessional oi meoical oocroi wlo
can oeal wirl rleii issues. You sloulo make suie anv lvpnorisr vou
speak wirl las rle same level o inregiirv.
How to Know If a Hypnotist Is Trustworthy
\len seaicling oi a lvpnosis piacririonei, le suie ro oo voui
lomewoik. Tlougl vou mav ger anrasric iesulrs iom a lvpnorlei-
apisr wlo is nor a lealrlcaie pioessional, vou srill neeo ro exeicise
some caurion wlen cloosing a piacririonei. !vpnosis las leen useo
in meoical serrings woilowioe oi hrv veais oi moie: lowevei, rle
helo is srill ielarivelv voung ano uniegulareo, wlicl means vou musr
le caieul wlen scieening lv cieoenrials alone.
'ocroi o lvpnosis" oi 'oocroiare in clinical lvpnorleiapv"
aie misleaoing reims, ano some lvpnorisrs will exploir rlis conu-
sion, making ir souno as i rlev`ve arrenoeo a oui-veai insrirurion
oi a giaouare piogiam. Tle riurl is, rleie is no iecognizeo, accieo-
ireo lacleloi`s, masrei`s, oi oocroial oegiee in lvpnosis. ! someone
rells vou le is a oocroi o lvpnorleiapv, clances aie le mav lave
arrenoeo an online couise oi one-oav seminai.
Tlougl ! oo nor wisl ro oisciiminare againsr lav lvpnorisrs,
manv o wlom aie ralenreo, iesponsille, ano ligllv expeiienceo, !
musr sriess rlar BOZPOFDBOUBLFBPOFEBZPSPOFXFFLFOEDFSUJDBUJPO
!"#$$%& '(& )*+$,(& ,+& ,(& -.*& /(-*+(*-%& #(0& !#""& .'1$*"2& #& 3.4)(,-.*+#)'$-56
To piorecr vouisel, vou musr le aimeo wirl rle knowleoge ano
iesouices ro lelp vou selecr someone wirl rle iiglr riaining, expeii-
ence, ano knowleoge ro make voui expeiience sae ano piooucrive.
Checklist: Questions to Ask
\len vou ieseaicl lvpnorisrs in voui aiea, wlar ouesrions
sloulo vou ask ro oereimine wlerlei a piacririonei is iiglr oi vou?
!eie`s a clecklisr:
! "#$%!&'!#()*+'&',!
!ven rlougl vou`ve ieao rlis look, vou sloulo srill ask voui
lvpnorisr rlis ouesrion ano lisren oi lis iesponse. You wanr
lim ro inoim vou rlar lvpnosis is a naruiallv occuiiing srare
ano rlar vou aie in conriol o voui session. !isren oi rle
mvrls oiscusseo in claprei 2. Make suie rle lvpnorleiapisr
is nor osreiing anv incoiiecr norions alour wlar lvpnosis is,
low ir woiks, oi wlar lis iole is in rle piocess. !e sloulo
openlv answei anv ouesrions vou lave.
! "&--!(+.!/+!$!)01'2011*&*3,!
An expeiienceo lvpnorleiapisr will usuallv meer wirl vou
(oi speak wirl vou ovei rle plone) leoie voui hisr lvpnosis
session ro ralk wirl vou alour voui svmproms, lealrl lisroiv,
ano anv pieexisring conoirions. All rlese issues neeo ro le
raken inro accounr leoie voui lvpnorisr can oecioe low ro
riear vou ouiing voui session.
! "&--!(+.!012+0/!+.0!'1''&+*!$*/!%1$2#!41!'1-56#()*+'&',!
Manv gooo lvpnorleiapisrs will allow vou rle oprion o
iecoioing voui sessions so vou can lisren ro rlem ar lome
oi ieinoicemenr. Ask rle lvpnorisr i sle will reacl vou
sel-lvpnosis ano make availalle supplemenral auoio iecoio-
ings oi vou ro use ar lome. Ar-lome piacrice can somerimes
make rle oieience lerween success ano ailuie. !r can also
save vou lunoieos oi even rlousanos o oollais. (!oi moie
on sel-lvpnosis ano guioeo sel-lvpnosis, see claprei 5.)
What to Avoid
!eie aie some ieo ags ro warcl our oi:
! "#$!%$#%$&&'()!*+$%,-./
Avoio using a lvpnosis piacririonei wlo wisles ro 'ruin lack
rle clock" oi vou VOMFTTUIJTQFSTPOJTBRVBMJFENFOUBMIFBMUI
!"#$%&&'#()*+&,-.+)&+)+!&/-.')0"'&0+#"+!&/-.#*#1'&0. Age iegiession
can le oangeious. !n rle wiong lanos, a well-meaning lur
unskilleo lvpnorisr mav accioenrallv cieare a alse memoiv.
Age iegiession mav souno exciring, lur ir`s an aiea vou
sloulo oehnirelv exploie onlv wirl a oualiheo menral lealrl
pioessional.
! 0)&1--(%*$2!3'%,45$!45,'3&/!
Bewaie o anv lvpnorleiapisr (oi anv lealrlcaie pioessional
in anv helo, oi rlar marrei) wlo claims le can cuie cancei
oi eliminare oisease. !vpnosis ooes lave a riack iecoio o
'2!"#3'(1 some oisease svmproms, lur anvone wlo claims
orleiwise is engaging in alse aoveirising. o marrei low
mucl vou mav wisl oi a cuie, oon`r pur voui airl in rlese
piomises.
! 6%$&4%'-*'()!3$2'4,*'()!,27'4$/
4%3%" oisconrinue voui meoicarions, oi legin raking new
ones, on rle aovice o a lvpnorleiapisr wirlour consulring
voui plvsician hisr (unless, o couise, voui lvpnorleiapisr is
also a meoical oocroi).
! "#$%&'(!&)*#!+,**)&*#$&-!
Some lvpnorleiapv clinics encouiage clienrs ro commir ro
rwenrv oi moie sessions ro aclieve iesulrs wirl weiglr loss
oi smoking cessarionar a cosr o rlousanos o oollais.
\lile sucl lengrlv riearmenr mav le lenehcial, ir`s piol-
allv unnecessaiv. is. !eileir ano avio Spiegel oevelopeo
a single-session riearmenr oi smoking cessarion rlar las
leen veiv eecrive oi a numlei o people.
+
\irl ceirain
cliloien`s conoirions in pairiculai (like leowerring, see pair
3), lvpnosis mav le alle ro piovioe iesulrs wirlin one oi rwo
sessions.
!n mv own piacrice, ! lave leen alle ro lelp manv people
lose weiglr, ouir smoking, ano accomplisl manv orlei goals
wirl onlv a ew sessions. Manv piacririoneis mav neeo ro see
rleii clienrs oi parienrs onlv a ew rimes ano rlen seno rlem
lome wirl riaining in sel-lvpnosis ano auoio iecoioings oi
ieinoicemenr.
epenoing on low vou iespono ano low oren vou use
auoio iecoioings ano piacrice sel-lvpnosis, vou mav make
piogiess veiv ouicklv. Ar voui hisr meering, i a lvpnorisr
riies ro make vou commir ro a laige numlei o sessions, con-
sioei compaiison slopping.
! .)/#!#00#+&1-!
!vpnosis is veiv sae ano iaielv involves sioe eecrsrlougl
rlev can lappen.
5
! vou expeiience unexpecreo, suooen, oi
new svmproms o oiowsiness, oizziness, sriness, leaoacles,
nausea, panic, oi anxierv arei voui hisr session, ler voui lvp-
norisr know. You sloulo eel sarisheo wirl voui piacririonei`s
iesponse in aooiessing anv o voui conceins.
The Bottom Line
An impoiranr pair o a clienr-lvpnorisr ielarionslip is rlar vou
riusr voui piacririonei. ! vou oon`r lelieve rle peison sirring oppo-
sire vou can lelp vou, vouìe ar a oisaovanrage immeoiarelv, lur i
vou ollow rle guioelines in rlis claprei, vou will le alle ro pie-
TDSFFO DBOEJEBUFT NPSF FGGFDUJWFMZsFOBCMJOH ZPV UP OE UIF SJHIU
marcl asrei.
Rememlei: i vou oon`r eel comoiralle wirl voui lvpnosis
piacririonei arei voui inirial visir !"#$%&'$#(%)"&, vouìe nor olligareo
ro conrinue. Sav gooolve ano move on. Rememlei rlar wirl lvpno-
sis, voui expeiience ano voui success aie in voui lanos.
39
C H A P T E R 5
Guided Self-Hypnosis and
Self-Hypnosis
!"#$%&#'(!)*(+#,*#claprei +, manv gooo lvpnorisrs will give vou
UIFPQUJPOPGMJTUFOJOHUPSFDPSEFEBVEJPPGZPVSJOPGDFTFTTJPOT
ano mav also oei vou speciallv oesigneo ano cusromizeo auoio
piogiams ro lelp ieinoice voui goals ano enlance voui success.
Tlese auoio piogiams aie oesigneo oi vou ro lisren ro ar lome oi in
anorlei place wleie vou eel comoiralle ano ielaxeo, eirlei ar voui
convenience oi ar inreivals iecommenoeo lv voui lvpnorisr. !oi
example, i vou aie riving ro lose weiglr, vou miglr lisren ro voui
auoio piogiam upon awakening eacl moining oi iusr leoie a meal.
ren, parienrs will ask me alour rle oieience lerween lisrening ro
a lvpnosis auoio piogiam ano piacricing sel-lvpnosis. \lile some
piacririoneis make no oisrincrion, ! ieei ro mv auoio piogiams as
'guioeo sel-lvpnosis." \len vou lisren ro rlese piogiams, vou aie
leing guioeo rliougl lvpnosis lv a piacririonei`s voice as opposeo
ro voui own.
(VJEFE TFMGIZQOPTJT QSPHSBNT DBO CF SFDPSEJOHT PG JOPGDF
sessions, oi rlev can le commeiciallv pioouceo Cs, vioeos, oi
oownloaos maoe availalle oi a vaiierv o oieienr conoirions. Since
rle commeicial guioeo sel-lvpnosis sessions aien`r cusromizeo oi
vou like rle iecoioings iom an in-ohce session woulo le, a gooo
piacririonei will incluoe a numlei o oieienr suggesrions rlar will
appeal ro a lioao iange o people oi a specihc conoirion.
!nlike guioeo sel-lvpnosis, sel-lvpnosis is a piocess iniri-
areo lv rle parienrusuallv using a ser o reclnioues rle parienr
las leaineo iom a lvpnorisr, look, oi vioeo, oi iom a guioeo sel-
lvpnosis auoio piogiam as a posrlvpnoric suggesrion. Mosr people
leain sel-lvpnosis iom a lvpnosis piacririonei in an ohce ses-
sion. Tlese parienrs rlen ieruin lome ano piacrice wlar rlev lave
leaineo complerelv on rleii own.
Sel-lvpnosis reclnioues vaiv giearlv. As an example, is.
!eileir ano avio Spiegel oevelopeo a populai sel-lvpnosis
appioacl rlar manv piacririoneis use. Tlev insriucr rleii parienrs
ro complere rliee sreps. Parienrs oo one rask on rle hisr srep, rwo
rasks on rle secono srep, ano rliee rasks on rle rliio srep.
1
!oi
example, oi srep 1, rlev miglr lave parienrs look upwaio. !oi srep
2, rlev lave rlem close rleii eves ano rake a oeep liearl in. !oi srep
3, rlev lave rlem exlale, ielax rleii eves, ano expeiience a eeling
o oaring. As parienrs expeiience rlis oaring sensarion, rlev aie
insriucreo ro concenriare on specihc conceprs rlar ieinoice eailiei
riaining rlev ieceiveo in rle piacririonei`s ohce.
The Relaxation Cue
vei rle veais ! lave oevelopeo a similai sel-lvpnosis recl-
nioue oi mv parienrsa ielialle sriess-ieoucrion rool rlar rlev can
use ouicklv wlenevei rlev neeo ir. ! oevelopeo rlis rool lecause
sriess is a common componenr o so manv lealrl conoirions. (!n
acr, one o rle ieasons lvpnosis is so eecrive is rlar ir can oimin-
isl rle sriess ano anxierv rlar ieouenrlv uel rlese conoirions.) As
vou ieao rliougl rle case lisroiies in pair 2, vou`ll norice rlar !
ieei ro esrallisling a Relaxarion Cue wirl mv parienrs. ! oo rlis oi
eveivone ! woik wirl, wlerlei oi nor rle parienr las a sriess-ielareo
conoirion. ! also incluoe rlis reclnioue in mv guioeo sel-lvpnosis
piogiams. (! lave nevei mer anvloov wlo coulon`r lenehr iom
Guided Self-Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis 41
expeiiencing less sriess.) Tle Relaxarion Cue is an easv rool mv
parienrs can use ro piacrice sel-lvpnosis arei oui sessions rogerlei.
\lile ! can guioe parienrs rliougl rle piocess o serring up a
Relaxarion Cue oursioe o lvpnosis, ! pieei ro esrallisl ir ouiing
rle inirial lvpnosis session, wlen parienrs can le alsoileo in rle
senses involveo: visual, auoiroiv, kinesrleric, ano olacroiv. Arei rle
inoucrion, ! lave rle parienrs picruie a serringieal oi imagineo
rlar rlev hno ielaxing. Tlis can le a leauriul leacl rlev`ve leen
ro, a lusl meaoow, an imagineo alpine serring, oi even a cozv claii
neai rle hieplace ar lome.
!oi ceirain conoirions like geneial sriess ielie, ! mav srav ar rlis
level o ielaxarion. !owevei, oren ! will go levono rlis hisr level
ano ask mv parienrs ro incoipoiare specihc imageiv rlar can lelp
wirl rleii riearmenr (a piocess ! call 'Sriaregic Relaxarion"). !oi
example, oi migiaine leaoacles, colo is useul in aioing vasocon-
sriicrion o rle llooo vessels in rle leao, so ! mav ask a migiaine
parienr ro imagine ielaxing in a cool place like a mounrain village.
Conveiselv, lecause sensarions o waimrl aie lelpul oi riearing
iiiiralle lowel svnoiome, ! mav ask an !BS parienr ro imagine leing
somewleie waim, like a leacl in Mexico.
nce rle parienrs lave ioenriheo a place o ielaxarion, ! lave
rlem expeiience all rle oieienr sensarions associareo wirl rlis
place. !oi example, i a parienr las closen a leacl in !iii, ! rell lim
ro look aiouno ano eniov all rle leaurv: rle coloi o rle sano, rle
claiirv o rle warei, ano so on. ! miglr ask ouesrions: !"#$%&'(')%*+%
$",% +-./% 01% $",),% #),% #2.% &('34+5% 4'% $",.% #))#26,% $",7+,(8,+% *2% #% &,)$#*2%
9#$$,)2/%0+%$",%+32%+,$$*26%'2%$", "')*:'2/%! also ocus on sounos (;'$*&,%
$",%+'324+%$"#$%6),,$%.'3)%,#)+.%!"#$%4'%.'3%",#)/%<),%.'3%+3))'324,4%=.%
2#$3),%#24%$",%)3+$(*26%'1%>*24%$")'36"%(,#8,+%#24%6)#++/), smells, ano
anv orlei peiceprions alour rle oerails o rle space. (?,,(% $",% +#24%
+*2-*26%6,2$(.%=,2,#$"%.'3)%1,,$@%A,(#B%#+%.'3)%(*7=+%#),%+3+9,24,4%*2%$",%
+'1$%,7=)#&,%'1%#%"#77'&-.C
nce rle parienrs lave lecome alsoileo in rleii place o ielax-
arion, expeiiencing all rle sensarions, ! lave rlem esrallisl wlar`s
leen reimeo an 'ancloi." Tle concepr o an ancloi is laseo upon
rle woik o i. Milron !iickson. !r las leen pioposeo rlar piac-
ricing a plvsical gesruie (sucl as roucling voui rluml ano hngei
rogerlei oi closing voui lano inro a hsr) wlile expeiiencing an emo-
rional srare (sucl as peaceulness oi conhoence) can cieare a link
lerween rle plvsical gesruie ano rle emorional srare. Bv roucl-
ing voui hngei ano rluml rogerlei wlile vou aie eeling calm, oi
example, vou woulo le !"#$%&'"( calmness ro rlar plvsical gesruie.
2
Anclois oon`r lave ro le plvsical gesruies. Peilaps Jouinev`s
'on`r Srop Believin`" was rle rleme o voui ligl sclool piom.
!veiv rime vou leai rlar song, vou mav le ieminoeo o rle eelings
vou lao ouiing rlar piom niglr, wlen vou weie oancing wirl some-
loov special. Tle song is an ancloi oi rle eelings vou expeiienceo
in rlar momenr.
\lile rleie lasn`r leen a lor o scienrihc ieseaicl ro esrallisl
rle valioirv o rlis reclnioue, mucl clinical evioence slows ir woiks.
is. !lviia !ang, a !aivaio ieseaiclei ano pioneei o reclnioues
oi using lvpnosis oi suigeiv, ano !leanoi !asei menrion rle con-
cepr o ancloiing in rleii look, )!*'+"*,-+.!*'%",/'*$%0*,1+.'#!*'%"2
Aurlois ano ieseaicleis is. Sreven Jav !vnn, Juoirl Rlue, ano
!iving Kiiscl also oiscuss ancloiing in rleii look 3$+,4!".5%%6,%7,
89'"'#!9,4:;"%<'< ano oei rlis oehnirion: 'Clienrs can le rauglr #0+=,
#%"*&%99+.,&+9!>!*'%",oi !"#$%&'"(, as ir is somerimes calleo, wleielv
rlev paii an image oi veilal cue wirl a well-piacriceo oi conoi-
rioneo iesponse ro ielaxarion oi orlei suggesreo expeiiences."
3
!`ve ouno rlar manv o mv parienrs like ro use rle simple gesruie
o roucling rleii rluml ano inoex hngei rogerlei ro esrallisl an
ancloi. !owevei, ! rell rlem rlev can use anv plvsical gesruie rlev
likeoi example, closing one o rleii lanos inro a hsr oi roucling
an acupiessuie poinr on rle wiisr.
exr, ! like ro sriengrlen rle plvsical ancloi wirl a secono,
veilal ancloi, so ! usuallv lave parienrs cloose a cue woio oi woios
rlev can associare wirl rleii place o ielaxarion. !n rle case o rle
!iii example, rle cue woio oi pliase miglr le '!iii" oi 'wlire
sano"anvrling rlar las meaning ro rle parienr.
nce parienrs lave maoe rleii cloice, ! lave rlem piacrice rleii
Relaxarion Cue lv peioiming rle plvsical gesruie ano saving rle
cue woio oi pliase wlile imagining leing ar rle place o ielaxarion.
uiing oui session (oi on mv guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio iecoio-
ing), ! piovioe parienrs rle posrlvpnoric suggesrion rlar rle moie
rlev use rleii Relaxarion Cue, rle moie poweiul ir lecomes as a
rool. vei rle veais, ! lave ouno rlis reclnioue ro le exriemelv
lenehcial ro mv parienrs. Manv rell me low eecrive rlis simple
rool las leen oi rlem on a oav-ro-oav lasis as a ieinoicemenr o
wlar rlev`ve leaineo ano as a rool oi ieoucing rleii sriess ouicklv
ano giving rlem a sense o conriol ovei rleii pairiculai conoirion.
Benets of Guided Self-Hypnosis
Sel-lvpnosis can le exriemelv eecrive. !n acr, ! piovioe all mv
parienrs wirl sel-lvpnosis riaining along wirl auoio iecoioings o
rleii ohce sessions oi rleii own piacrice. !owevei, some parienrs
like ro use mv pioessionallv pioouceo guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio
sessions as well. !oi manv people, a guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio pio-
giam oesigneo lv a lvpnorisr can ieinoice rle lenehrs o lvpnosis
riaining rlev`ve alieaov ieceiveo. !oi orleis, rlese piogiams aie an
easv inriooucrion ro lvpnosis. You oon`r even lave ro visir a lvpno-
risr: vou simplv lisren ro a pieiecoioeo auoio piogiam rlar piovioes
vou wirl lvpnoric suggesrions oesigneo ro lelp vou oveicome voui
svmproms oi rackle voui piollem. (Cooo guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio
piogiams also piovioe a sel-lvpnosis exeicise rlar can le oone as a
posrlvpnoric suggesrion.)
ne o rle lenehrs o using a guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio pio-
giam is rlar ir is convenienr ano cosr-eecrive, nor iusr lecause ir
can spaie vou rle cosr o in-ohce sessions wirl a lvpnorisr, lur also
lecause ir can save vou a signihcanr amounr o monev in lealrlcaie
cosrs causeo lv voui lealrl conoirion oi svmproms. Accoioing ro
sruoies, cliloien ano aoulrs wlo leain ano piacrice sel-lvpnosis ano
guioeo sel-lvpnosis reclnioues aie alle ro ieouce rleii lealrlcaie
cosrs, pievenr svmprom ielapses, rake ewei meoicarions, ano make
ewei emeigencv ioom visirsclanges rlar can iepiesenr savings o
rlousanos o oollais.
+
!n aooirion ro rlis sulsranrial hnancial upsioe, ielaxing ano
ocusing in rle piivacv o voui own lome oi some orlei ouier place
mav le easiei rlan ooing so in a piacririonei`s ohce. Cuioeo sel-
lvpnosis auoio is also iepearalle, meaning rlar vou can ieinoice
voui suggesrions iegulailv, incieasing rle likelilooo rlar vou`ll
aclieve iesulrs.
ne o rle liggesr aovanrages o using a guioeo sel-lvpnosis
auoio piogiam is rlar ir is a low-iisk, comoiralle, ano inexpensive
wav ro riv lvpnosis wirlour going ro an ohce ro see a lvpnorisr
oi commirring ro a ull couise o riearmenr. ! vou aie neivous oi
skeprical alour rle piocess o lvpnosis oi irs lenehrs, using an
auoio piogiam can give vou a clance ro ger comoiralle wirl rle
lasic piinciples ano piocess o using lvpnosis. !n aooirion, manv
people, even skeprics, hno guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio piogiams ro
le ielaxing ano posirive aooirions ro rleii lecric liesrvles. (\len
! lecruie ar coipoiarions, ! piovioe all rle pairicipanrs wirl guioeo
sel- lvpnosis piogiams oi ieinoicemenr.)
! vou lave a gooo expeiience arei riving guioeo sel-lvpnosis
auoio piogiams ano eel vou woulo lenehr iom an in-ohce session
wirl a lvpnorisr, vou can ollow up lv scleouling an appoinrmenr.
(!oi oeraileo aovice on low ro hno a pioessional clinical lvpnorisr
neai vou, see claprei +.)
! ieouenrlv encouiage new parienrs ro use mv guioeo sel-
lvpnosis piogiams leoie calling ro scleoule a session wirl me.
!n manv cases, rle auoio piogiams alone will woik oi rlem, sav-
ing rlem rime ano monev. !owevei, i rlev eel rlev coulo lenehr
iom aooirional lelp arei lisrening ro rle auoio piogiam, rlev can
scleoule an appoinrmenr. \e can rlen woik rogerlei ro cusromize
a piogiam oi rleii neeos, railoiing mv lvpnoric suggesrions ro rleii
peisonal lisroiies ano morivarions so ! can lelp rlem oveicome anv
laiiieis oi llocks rlev aie laving in ieacling rleii goals.
Sel-lvpnosis ano guioeo sel-lvpnosis woik. As vou ieao
rlis look, vou will come acioss manv ieseaicl sruoies in wlicl
sel-lvpnosis reclnioues ano guioeo sel-lvpnosis aie cireo as
pioven, eecrive inreivenrions oi a vaiierv o meoical conoirions
oi lorl aoulrs ano cliloien. Sel-lvpnosis ano guioeo sel-lvpnosis
lave leen cieoireo wirl a vaiierv o iesulrs, ianging iom ieoucing
rle neeo oi meoicarion ano anesrleric ouiing meoical pioceouies
ano suigeiv ro eliminaring pain, leaoacles, ano even asrlma svmp-
roms.
5
!n manv cases, parienrs saw lerrei iesulrs wlen rleii lvpno-
sis sessions weie complemenreo lv guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio pio-
giams. (Ano in some sruoies, parienrs useo !"#$ guioeo sel-lvpnosis
auoio piogiams.) !isrening ro a guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio piogiam
ieinoices rle lvpnoric suggesrions vou ieceive iom voui lvpno-
risr, lur even on irs own, wirlour seeing a lvpnorleiapisr in peison,
a guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio piogiam can make a lig oieience in
voui iesulrs.
77
C H A P T E R 9
Chronic Pain
!"# $%&# '()# ()'*!+,# rlis claprei, vou aie likelv amiliai wirl rle
iusriaring umliella o conoirions known collecrivelv as clionic
pain. Clionic pain is rvpicallv oehneo as anv plvsical, unielieveo
pain rlar peisisrs oi ar leasr rliee ro six monrls. Sucl oiscomoir
can incluoe neck ano lack pain, leaoacles, ano muscle ano ioinr
pain. sreoairliiris (A), hliomvalgia (!M), rempoiomanoilulai
oisoioei (TM), ano cancei all cause pain, ano we will look ar all
oui in oerail in rlis claprei.
1
(!oi orlei clionic conoirions, see
clapreis 11, 12, 1+, ano 15.)
Tiearmenr o clionic pain can le complicareo lv rle acr rlar
rle conoirion is oren associareo wirl oepiession, anxierv, ano inac-
rivirv. Anorlei acroi complicaring clionic pain is rlar irs piecise
oiigins can le oihculr ro pinpoinr. !oi some sueieis, no oiigi-
nal rissue oamage appeais ro cause rleii oiscomoir. !oi orleis, an
oiiginal iniuiv miglr le ro llame. Tlougl rle iniuiv las lealeo, rle
pain peisisrs lecause o orlei issues, sucl as emorional oisriess ano
anxierv, peisisrenr negarive rlouglrs alour rle pain (carasriopliz-
ing), muscle arioplv oue ro ieouceo acrivirv, ano rioulle sleeping.
2
!"#$%&'()*+,+*-rle impiinring o clionic pain onro rle liain
iom a pasr iniuivis anorlei possille conriiluroi ro ongoing pain.
Accoioing ro i. avio Parreison ar rle !niveisirv o \aslingron
78 How Hypnosis Can Improve Your Health
Sclool o Meoicine, i voui pain is associareo wirl a pairiculai acriv-
irv (oi example, iumping ro make a slor wlile plaving laskerlall),
iusr rle rlouglr o iepearing rlar acrivirv coulo le enougl ro ieacri-
vare rle pain in voui loov.
3
As Parreison explains ir, '!xpeiiencing
pain in rle alsence o nociceprion cause] can le no oieienr iom
salivaring ar rle smell o lieao laking in an oven. !oi a parienr wirl
clionic lack pain, rle ioea o picking up a leavv lox mav le suhcienr
ro iecieare rle expeiience o pain. !uirlei, even asking parienrs wirl
clionic pain alour low rlev aie eeling can le a suhcienr srimulus
ro geneiare inreinal sueiing."
+
!n essence, rliougl rle meclanism
o neuioplasricirv, voui liain iememleis pain vou`ve expeiienceo in
rle pasr. You conrinue ro expeiience rlis pain even in rle alsence o
rle oiiginal causarive acrois.
As a cliiopiacroi, ! see rlis oren. Manv o mv parienrs wlo`ve
expeiienceo lowei lack pain oi monrls oi veais aie in consranr
pain, even wlen rle oiiginal iniuiv rlar causeo rleii pain is veais
in rle pasr. Alrlougl rlev make special eoirs ro avoio anv acriv-
irv rlar miglr cause rlem oiscomoir, rlev suei. Accoioing ro i.
Maik Jensen, '!r is as i rle liain leains ro eel pain moie easilv, so
rlar ovei rime ir rakes less ano less srimularion iom rle loov ro
acrivare rle liain aieas rlar cieare pain."
5
o anv o rlese siruarions souno amiliai? ! vou oi someone
vou caie alour sueis iom rlis kino o clionic pain, vouìe nor
alonesruoies slow rlar anvwleie iom 11 ro +5 peicenr o rle
!S popularion sueis iom clionic lack pain, rle mosr common
oim o clionic pain (see claprei 15). Clionic pain in geneial, in all
irs oims, is one o rle mosr common ieasons people seek meoical
caie.
6
Yer iusriaringlv, ir is also one o rle mosr oihculr conoirions
ro riear.
!n mv piacrices as a cliiopiacroi ano as a lvpnosis piacririonei,
!`ve rieareo a lor o parienrs oi clionic pain conoirions sucl as A
ano !M. Tlese can le oihculr conoirions lecause lealrlcaie piac-
ririoneis oon`r lave a lor o rools ro give people rle level o ielie
rlev oesiie. Pain meoicarions ano plvsical rleiapv, wlile wioelv
accepreo ano iespecreo, somerimes oon`r woik ovei rle long reim.
Chronic Pain 79
(umeious sruoies piove rlar clionic pain peisisrs even wirl rlese
rvpes o riearmenrs.)
! pain meoicarions ano riaoirional rleiapies oon`r woik on voui
clionic pain, ir coulo le lecause rlevìe nor aoeouarelv aooiessing
a ciucial menral componenr o voui pain.
For Children
'PSTQFDJDDPOEJUJPOTUIBUDPOUSJCVUFUPDISPOJDQBJOJODIJM-
oien ano low lvpnosis mav le alle ro lelp, see clapreis 11, 12, ano
1+ ano pair 3.
How Hypnosis Can Help
Reseaicl las slown rlar using lvpnosis ro clange oi ieouce
acrivirv in ceirain iegions o rle liain can acruallv alrei voui expeii-
ence o pain, clanging irs inrensirv, rle meaning vou give ro ir, ano
voui peiceprions o voui own sueiing. !vpnosis mav even le alle
ro lelp i vou suei iom rle eecrs o neuioplasricirv. Accoioing ro
i. avio Parreison, '!vpnosis iepiesenrs one o rle mosr piomis-
ing appioacles ro aooiess some o rle clallenges rlar aie piesenreo
lv neuioplasricirv o pain in parienrs."
7
Pain is a complex issue rlar involves nor iusr rissue oamage ano
plvsical sensarion lur also peiceprion, mino-ser, mooo, lelavioi,
liesrvle, neuiological issues, ano a vaiierv o orlei inpurs. Because
clionic pain is wioelv iecognizeo ro le ar leasr pairlv psvclological as
well, manv meoical pioessionals rooav aovocare using moie rlan one
appioacl rowaio riearing ir.
8
Plvsical rleiapies ano meoicarions lave
a place in rlis appioacl, lur so oo mino-loov rleiapies like cognirive
lelavioial rleiapv, ielaxarion riaining, ano lvpnosis ano sel-lvpnosis.
Alrlougl manv lealrl conoirions mav ieouiie onlv a ew lvp-
nosis sessions, clionic pain, lecause o irs complexirv, mav ieouiie
moie. !n mv expeiience, mulriple lvpnosis sessions, comlineo wirl
guioeo sel-lvpnosis auoio piogiams ano iegulai sel-lvpnosis piac-
rice, can make a luge oieience in a parienr`s expeiience o pain.
Eight Ways Hypnosis Can Help with Chronic Pain
Tliougl mv ieseaicl ano in mv peisonal expeiience as a lvp-
nosis piacririonei, !`ve leaineo rlar lvpnosis aooiesses clionic pain
in a numlei o wavs, some o wlicl vou miglr nor expecr. Below
aie eiglr wavs lvpnosis can lelp vou impiove ano gain conriol ovei
voui svmproms.
Hypnosis Can Override Pain Signals
\len vou expeiience rissue oamage oi looilv laim, pain sig-
nals pass iom rle aecreo aiea inro rle spinal coio, wleie rlev aie
senr ro rle liain ano peiceiveo as pain.
!n rle lare 196Os, ieseaicleis Ronalo Melzack ano Pariick \all
oiscoveieo somerling veiv inreiesring alour rlese pain signals ano
low rlev aie inreipiereo lv rle liain. Tlev ouno rlar once rlese
signals ieacleo rle spinal coio on rleii wav ro rle liain, rlev coulo
le mooulareo (incieaseo oi oecieaseo) lv wlar rlev calleo rle 'pain
gare," wlicl was locareo in rle spinal coio. !n a lanomaik sruov,
rlev pioveo rlar rlis pain gare coulo le moie 'open," meaning rlar
moie pain signals weie alloweo ro ieacl rle liain ano moie pain was
elr, oi rle gare coulo le moie 'closeo," wleielv ewei pain signals
ieacleo rle liain ano less pain was elr.
9
Sruoies slow rlar wlen weìe oisriacreo ano nor ocusing on oui
pain, rle pain gare renos ro slur. Tle iesulr is rlar we eel less pain.
You mav lave seen rlis meclanism in acrion wlen warcling arl-
lerespeilaps vou iememlei gvmnasr Keiii Sriug`s spiaineo ankle
ar rle summei lvmpics oi Cuir Sclilling`s llooov sock on rle Reo
Sox pirclei`s mouno ouiing rle \oilo Seiies.
!owevei, i vouìe ocuseo on voui pain ano eel anxious alour
ir, rle pain gare sravs open, allowing moie signals ro ger rliougl.
Tle moie pain signals rlar riavel upwaio ro voui liain ano rliougl
rle pain gare, rle moie inrense voui pain renos ro lecome.
"T +FOTFO TUBUFT o4PNFUJNFT QFPQMF XJUI DISPOJD QBJO OE
rlar rlev aie in a vicious cvcle, wleie rlev lecome woiiieo alour
pain ano rle liain iesponos lv opening rle pain gare ano allowing
moie pain messages ro le elr, wlicl rlen incieases pain uirlei ano
Chronic Pain 81
makes rle peison moie woiiieo, wlicl can rlen open rle pain gare
uirlei, erc."
1O
\leie lvpnosis can le lelpul is in irs alilirv ro clange rle wav
vou rlink alour clionic painspecihcallv, rle arrenrion ano impoi-
rance vou give ro ir. Bv engaging voui ocus awav iom voui pain
ano rowaio acriviries vou eniov ano posirive rlouglrs ano inreiac-
rions, lvpnosis mav lelp inuence rle oecisions leing maoe ar rle
pain gare so rlar ewei pain signals ieacl rle liain ano less pain is
peiceiveo.
Hypnosis Changes Pain Perception
Scienrisrs know iom sruoving liain acrivirv rlar pain`s inren-
sirv ano unpleasanrness aie piocesseo in rwo oieienr iegions: rle
somarosensoiv coirex ano rle anreiioi cingulare coirex. Tle loca-
rion o rle pain ano irs claiacreiisrics (oi example, wlerlei ir`s a oull
acle oi a slaip, sralling pain) aie piocesseo in rle somarosensoiv
coirex. ui emorional iesponse ro rle pain (oi example, wlerlei
rle pain is oisriessing oi oeliliraring oi iusr a lirrle annoving) is pio-
cesseo in rle ACC. Biain imaging sruoies (MR! ano P!T scans)
lave slown rlar rle ACC lecomes moie acrive wlen weìe upser oi
vigilanr alour pain ano less acrive wlen rle pain is less woiiisome.
11

Tlese resrs lave also alloweo ieseaicleis ro look ar wlar lappens in
rle liain ouiing lvpnosis, pairiculailv ouiing lvpnoric suggesrions
oi pain ieoucrion. \lar rlev`ve ouno is rlar raigereo lvpnosis
suggesrions can aecr coiiesponoing pairs o rle liain. Suggesrions
oi pain ro le less unpleasanr lao rle eecr o oecieasing acrivirv in
rle ACC. Suggesrions oi less inrense pain oecieaseo liain acrivirv
in rle somarosensoiv coirex.
12
Tlis evioence is encouiaging lecause ir slows rlar specihc lvp-
nosis reclnioues mav le alle ro clange voui unioue expeiience o
pain.
13
Bv using lvpnoric suggesrions rlar raiger rle somarosensoiv
coirex ro alrei rle sire o pain (oi example, moving ir iom rle neck
ro a hngeirip), rle inrensirv o pain (lv sliinking ir), rle oualirv o
pain (lv sulsriruring a oieienr plvsical eeling, sucl as numlness,
piessuie, oi waimrl), oi rle emorional aspecr o pain as goveineo lv
rle ACC (lv ruining voui rlouglrs ro somerling else ano acknowl-
eoging rlar rle pain is meielv a sign rlar voui loov is lealing), vou
mav le alle ro clange voui expeiience. Youi pain mav srill exisr,
lur voui arrenrion ro ir ano voui eelings alour ir mav clange oi
rle lerrei. Reseaicleis lelieve rlis peiceprual slir mav explain rle
plenomenon o !"#$%&'()*$*+,-.'*, siruarions wleiein lvpnosis acrs
as a painkillei.
1+
Hypnosis Reduces Catastrophizing
Parienrs wirl clionic pain ieouenrlv hno rlemselves (*&*/
.&0%#!'1'$,leing occupieo lv ielenrless negarive rlouglrs alour
rleii oiscomoir (oi example, 'Tlis pain will nevei leave me").
Accoioing ro ieseaicleis, parienrs wlo carasrioplize reno ro iepoir
moie clionic pain piollems ano ielareo issuesincluoing oepies-
sion ano oisalilirvrlan rlose wlo oon`r.
15
Tlese acrs suppoir
wlar !`ve alieaov slaieo wirl vou, rlar !%2 we rlink alour pain (ano
low oren) seems ro inuence rle seveiirv o pain. Peisisrenr nega-
rive rlouglrs rlar conriilure ro voui anxierv mav, in acr, make voui
pain woise.
!owevei, rle gooo news is rlar parienrs wlo leain low ro inrei-
iupr oi srop carasrioplic rlinking oren iepoir ieoucrions in rleii
pain inrensirv ano psvclological impiovemenrs, as welloren leao-
ing ro rle alilirv ro le moie acrive.
16
Tliougl lvpnosis ano sel-
lvpnosis, vou can riain vouisel ro ioenriv ano ieplace ingiaineo
carasrioplic rlouglrs wirl moie ieassuiing ones like '! can oeal
wirl rlis," 'Mv pain mav come ano go, lur ! can conriol low ! eel
alour ir," ano '! can conrinue ro live mv lie ano pairicipare in acrivi-
ries ! eniov."
Hypnosis Increases Alpha Activity
Tlanks ro !!C resrs, wlicl measuie elecriical acrivirv in rle
liain, we know rlar people wlo eel ielaxeo hie rleii neuions ar a
slowei pace rlan rlose wlo aie neivous, agirareo, oi acrivelv solving
a piollem. Tle slowei, ielaxeo lanowirl lelavioi is calleo 'alpla
ilvrlm" ano rle asrei lanowirl lelavioi is calleo 'lera ilvrlm."
17

People wirl pain reno ro expeiience moie lera acrivirv ano less alpla
Chronic Pain 83
acrivirv rlan rlose wirlour pain. Tle ieveise is also riue.
18
!!C
sruoies slow rlar wlen people in pain eel ielie, rleii lera acrivirv
oecieases wlile rleii alpla acrivirv incieases. !n orlei woios, rleii
liains lecome calmei.
19
!vpnosis suggesrions oi pain ielie lave
leen sruoieo wirl rlese resrs as well. !nreiesringlv, pairicipanrs lis-
rening ro suggesrions oi pain ielie saw an inciease in alpla acrivirv
ano a oeciease in lera acrivirv. !vpnosis seemeo ro cieare rle liain
conoirions scienrisrs see in pain-iee inoiviouals.
2O
Hypnosis Decreases Stress and Muscle Tension
Sriess-ielareo muscle rension ano spasms oren accompanv
clionic pain ano usuallv make ir woise. Reseaicl las slown rlar
lvpnoric suggesrions oi oeep ielaxarion ano comoir can lieak
rlis rension-pain cvcle lv ielaxing voui muscles, rleielv iemoving
one o rle cvcle`s maioi elemenrs. !vpnosis can also woik oiiecrlv
on voui sriess.
21
Sriess ieouenrlv makes clionic pain parienrs eel
lelpless, wlicl in ruin makes rlem less eecrive ar managing rleii
pain. ! vou lave a lor o sriess in voui lie, lvpnosis mav lelp vou
lv allowing vou ro iecognize sriessul siruarions wlen rlevìe lap-
pening. !n rle momenr, vou can use sel-lvpnosis sriaregies ro man-
age, ieouce, ano conriol voui anxierv level. Tle conhoence vou gain
iom rlis eeling o conriol can lelp vou eel lerrei alour voui alil-
irv ro manage pain as well.
Hypnosis Improves Sleep
!ieouenrlv, people wirl clionic pain suei iom oisruileo
sleep. Tleii pain leaos ro sleep oepiivarion, ano rleii sleep oepiiva-
rion leaos ro a ieouceo alilirv ro cope wirl pain, serring up a vicious
cvcle. !vpnoric suggesrions oesigneo ro ieouce sleep oisruilances
mav lelp lieak rlis cvcle. Bv gerring moie iesr, vou mav eel moie
ielaxeo, less sriesseo, ano lerrei alle ro cope. !n some cases, impiov-
ing sleep mav even iesolve voui pain alrogerlei. A iecenr sruov in
!"#$%&'()(*+ sloweo rlar iesroiarive sleep is oren a pieoicroi o
impiovemenrs in wioespieao, clionic pain.
22
(! vou lave ongoing
sleep oisruilances along wirl clionic pain, le suie ro see voui plv-
sician ro iule our maioi sleep oisoioeis sucl as sleep apnea.)
Hypnosis Encourages Activity, Exercise, and Adaptive Coping
Manv clionic pain parienrs srop exeicising oi ooing anv plvsi-
cal acrivirv oi eai rlar movemenr will woisen rleii pain. Tlese
parienrs mav nor iealize rlar sucl inacrivirv can conriilure ro giearei
sueiing in rle long iun lv ciearing muscle arioplv, conoirions oi
spasricirv, ano even peimanenr oisalilirv. \irl irs alilirv ro ocus
arrenrion ano aecr lelavioi, lvpnosis can osrei ano encouiage a
posirive arriruoe alour acrivirv ano exeicise, liinging an eno ro rlis
cvcle o !"#"$"%&'()* +,%'-.managing pain lv avoioing acriviries
rlouglr ro inciease ir. ! lave ouno lvpnoric suggesrions oi eniov-
ing exeicise, mainraining ano engaging in valueo lie acriviries in
spire o pain, ano inregiaring exeicise as a coping iesponse ro pain
ro le veiv eecrive in lelping parienrs manage svmproms ano eel
moie in conriol o rleii lives.
Hypnosis Improves Condence
!n mv moie rlan rwenrv-hve veais as a lvpnosis piacririonei, !
lave ouno rlar one o rle mosr impoiranr wavs in wlicl lvpnosis
can lelp parienrs wirl clionic pain is lv giving rlem conhoence
rlar rlev can conriol rle seveiirv o rleii svmproms. Manv o mv
parienrs lave iepoireo rlar rlev eel empoweieo lv rle knowleoge
rlar rlev can aecr rleii pain. Tlev mav acruallv eel lerrei roo:
sruoies slow rlar parienrs wlo lelieve rlevìe in conriol o rleii
pain iepoir lowei levels o pain ano ewei incioences o oepiession.
23

As a lonus, lv gaining a oegiee o masreiv ovei rleii pain, rlevìe
alle ro see rleii oocrois lessgerring rleii lives lack ano saving
rime ano monev.
Please nore rlar wlile lvpnosis can le veiv eecrive in ieoucing
oi managing voui pain, ir sloulo nor alwavs le useo as a srano-alone
rleiapv. !veiv parienr is oieienr. ! lave seen siruarions wleie
lvpnosis is mosr eecrivelv emploveo as an enlancemenr ro orlei
riearmenrs.
!vpnosis las leen slown ro le exriemelv eecrive as an aoiuncr
ro orlei merloos o meoical ano psvclological caie, pairiculailv as
Chronic Pain 85
a supplemenr ro cognirive lelavioial rleiapv ano anesrlesia (see
clapreis 13 ano 1619). Pain ano clionic pain aie peiecr examples
o siruarions in wlicl lvpnosis woiks well as a supplemenral rool
rlar mav loosr rle eecriveness o meoicarions oi rleiapies oi even
ieouce rle amounr o meoicarion ieouiieo.
2+
(You will leain moie
alour rlis eecr in rle hliomvalgia secrion o rlis claprei.)
Tle lorrom line: lvpnosis can lelp. ! lave seen hisrlano rle
eecrs ir can lave on ieoucing pain iom osreoairliiris, cancei,
hliomvalgia, ano TM in pairiculaioui common ano incieas-
inglv pievalenr conoirions. (!owevei, iememlei rlar i vou lave
peisisrenr pain, voui hisr srep leoie seeing a lvpnorisr sloulo le ro
conracr voui piimaiv caie plvsician.)
Osteoarthritis Pain
sreoairliiris is a veiv common ioinr oisease rlar renos ro
aecr people as rlev age. Accoioing ro rle Airliiris !ounoarion,
A aecrs appioximarelv 27 million Ameiicans in rle !nireo Srares
alone, mosr o rlem ovei rle age o 55.
25
vei rime, rle lieakoown
o cairilage causes lones ro iul againsr one anorlei, leaoing ro sri-
ness, acles, ano occasionallv oamage ro suiiounoing rissue. \len
A gers ieallv lao, parienrs can lave oihculrv caiiving our oimeilv
easv acriviries sucl as rvping, knirring, ano walking.
!noirunarelv, wirl osreoairliiris, lealrlcaie pioessionals oo
nor lave a lor o oprions oi riearing pain. Somerimes plvsical rlei-
apv can lelp, lur oi oloei parienrs wirl molilirv oi orlei lealrl
issues, exeicise can le a clallenge. iug rleiapies aie oren riickv
oue ro sioe eecrs. Joinr ieplacemenr suigeiv, in exrieme cases, mav
lelp ielieve sueiing, lur rlese suigeiies can le oangeious oi can-
oioares, wlo reno ro le oloei ano moie vulneialle ro rle iisks o
geneial anesrlesia.
vei rle veais, manv parienrs lave come inro mv ohce com-
plaining o airliiris pain. !aceo wirl limireo aliliries ro lelp rlem
as a cliiopiacroi, ! lecame inriigueo lv rle norion o appioacl-
ing rleii pain oieienrlv, lv riearing irs psvclological componenr.
!vpnosis piovioeo me an easv, low-iisk wav ro lelp alleviare rleii
oiscomoir. ! ieallv like using lvpnosis oi airliiris pain lecause
ir`s ioeal oi oloei parienrs wlo lave iesriicreo iange o morion oi
acrivirv. Aooirionallv, ir`s ielarivelv inexpensive ano complerelv poi-
ralleparienrs can piacrice ar lome, in a lospice oi nuising lome,
oi even in a lospiral ioom.
Mosr impoiranr, rlougl, is rle eecriveness o lvpnosis in
riearing pain. !n one !"#$%&'()*$"#('+)$,)-'.( sruov, airliiris parienrs
unoei lvpnosis weie rauglr ro ocus on posirive imageiv, incluoing
specihc memoiies o ull molilirv iom wlen rlev weie cliloien. Ar
rle conclusion o rle sruov, rle oara inoicareo rlar rle oui weeks o
rliirv-minure lvpnosis riaining sessions ieouceo pain lv moie rlan
5O peicenriesulrs rlar lasreo six monrls oi longei. Tle ieseaicl-
eis concluoeo rlar lvpnosis was moie ehcienr (asrei) rlan simple
ielaxarion reclnioues. !n aooirion, arei iusr rwo monrls o riaining
in lvpnosis, parienrs weie alle ro ieouce rle amounr o pain meoica-
rion rlev ieouiieo. Tlis is a poinr woirl sriessing: a ieouceo neeo
oi meoicarion means less casl ourlav oi parienrs, manv o wlom
aie ieriieo ano living on a hxeo income.
26
!r`s impoiranr ro menrion rlar rle ieseaicleis in rlis sruov
measuieo rle alilirv o lvpnosis ro aecr %&#/&.0&1 pain. Resulrs
weie laseo on parienrs` iepoirs, nor on oocrois` oliecrive hnoings.
Parienrs saio rlev elr lerrei, even rlougl rle acrual pain levels in
rleii looies mav nor lave clangeo. Tlis peiceprion o incieaseo
comoir is a common plenomenon iepoireo on in rlis look (see
claprei 1+ oi moie inoimarion) ano pioo rlar rleie is a ciirical
2&(3'+ aspecr o pain rlar can le aecreo wirl lvpnosis riaining.
Pain is alour mucl moie rlan wlar`s lappening in oui muscles ano
ioinrs.
A iecuiiing rleme rliouglour rlis look is rlar lvpnosis opei-
ares on a level levono muscle ielaxarion, oren ourpeioiming
sranoaio ielaxarion rleiapies. Airliiris ieseaicl oocumenrs rlis.
Accoioing ro rle eailiei cireo sruov iom rle !"#$%&'( *$"#('+ $,
-'.(, 'oara suggesr rlar lvpnosis is eecrive in signihcanrlv ieouc-
ing peiceiveo A pain ano meoicarion use: ielaxarion seems ro le
less iapiolv eecrive. Tlis oieience lerween rle lvpnosis ano
Chronic Pain 87
ielaxarion conoirions suggesrs rlar rle acrive componenr o rle lvp-
nosis riearmenr cannor le ieouceo ro a placelo eecr oi ro a meie
eecr o muscle ielaxarion." Tle ieseaicleis expiesseo a lelie rlar
rleii parienrs miglr lave olraineo even lerrei iesulrs i rlev lao
leen given sel-lvpnosis exeicises ro use ar lome.
27
Cancer Pain
! losr mv morlei, Revina, ro mulriple mveloma, a cancei o rle
llooo. Arei warcling lei suei, ! lave a giear oeal o emparlv oi
people living wirl rle pain o cancei. Sueiing iom lorl rle ill-
ness irsel ano rle iavaging riearmenrs o clemorleiapv ano iaoia-
rion can le lorl plvsicallv ano emorionallv exciuciaring, leaoing
ro anxierv ano oepiession. Mosr people wlo lave seen a loveo one
suei iom canceiano piolallv mosr oocrois ano nuiseswoulo
agiee rlar anv riearmenr rlar coulo alleviare rlis sueiing ano loosr
parienr moiale woulo le woirl puisuing.
Accoioing ro rle arional !nsrirures o !ealrl, lvpnosis is one
sucl riearmenr. !n a amous ano oren-cireo 1996 iepoir, an !!
panel ouno 'sriong evioence oi rle use o lvpnosis in alleviaring
pain associareo wirl cancei."
28
umeious sruoies lack up rle !!`s
conclusion. !n rle 198Os, in a seiies o weeklv ourparienr gioup
meerings, ieseaicleis iom Sranoio !niveisirv ano rle !niveisirv
o Calioinia, Beikelev, rauglr women wirl merasraric lieasr can-
cei lvpnosis ano sel-lvpnosis reclnioues. Tlese reclnioues weie
oesigneo ro alrei rleii expeiience o pain lv laving rlem imag-
ine a compering sensarion in rle aecreo pairs o rleii looiesoi
example, an icv, colo numlness oi a waim, ringling sensarion. !n
rlis wav, rlev weie rauglr ro ieiame rleii expeiience lv ocus-
ing on a sensarion orlei rlan sueiing. Tle parienrs rlen piacrices
rlese reclnioues on rleii own. uiing ollow-up, rle ieseaicleis
iealizeo rlar rle women wloò leen riaineo in lvpnosisin iusr
WF UP UFO NJOVUFT QFS XFFLsXFSF CFUUFS BCMF UIBO UIF DPOUSPM
gioup ro manage rleii pain levels as rleii canceis piogiesseo ano
UIFZ oTIPXFE TJHOJDBOUMZ MFTT QBJO BOE TVGGFSJOH PWFS UIF DPVSTF
o rle veai." Tlese women also iepoireo posirive clanges in rleii
mooo ano in rleii anxierv ano oepiession levels.
29
!n a moie iecenr 2OO+ sruov pullisleo in rle !"#$%&'(")(*&%+,$(
-%.,/$&.01,( 2,30+0%,, parienrs sueiing iom aovanceo-srage lone
cancei weie piovioeo lvpnosis suggesrions ocuseo on ielaxarion,
oisassociarion iom pain, ano pain conriol. !oui weeklv lvpnosis
sessions, plus auoiorapes oi piacricing ar lome, maoe a oieience.
Ar rle conclusion o rle sruov, rle parienrs iepoireo an oveiall
oeciease in rleii pain.
3O
Alrlougl an alilirv ro conriol rle pain o cancei ooes nor cuie
rle oisease, ieoucing sueiing can le a valualle rleiapeuric rool.
\irl less pain, parienrs can ocus on lealing ano connecring ro lie
aiouno rlem. !oi parienrs wlo aie reiminal, lvpnosis mav lelp rlem
expeiience a lerrei oualirv o lie in rleii lasr oavs. Aimeo wirl rle
knowleoge rlar lvpnosis can ieouce pain, ! can rlink o no ieason
oi cancei parienrs nor ro leain ir. !r`s an easv rleiapv ro implemenr,
ano sel-lvpnosis can le piacriceo anvwleie ar anv rime, making ir a
useul ano veisarile rool oi lorl lealing ano palliarive caie.
Fibromyalgia Pain
!iliomvalgia is a musculoskeleral oisoioei rlar can involve
wioespieao, inrense, ano somerimes seveie pain in rle muscles ano
renoons, as well as ielareo svmproms like sriness, arigue, anxierv,
oepiession, rioulle sleeping, leaoacles, ano iiiiralle lowel svn-
oiome.
31
!suallv, !M is claiacreiizeo lv pain wlen him piessuie is
applieo ro specihc aieas o rle loov, calleo renoei poinrs. Tlese ren-
oei poinr locarions incluoe rle lack o rle leao, rle aiea lerween
rle slouloei llaoes, rle rops o rle slouloeis, rle ionr sioes o rle
neck, rle uppei clesr, rle ourei ellows, rle uppei lips, rle sioes o
rle lips, ano rle innei knees.
32
Tlougl !M aicrs alour 2 peicenr o rle geneial popularion
o rle !nireo Srares ano \esrein !uiope, mosr o rlem women,
oiagnosis ano riearmenr aie somerimes complicareo lv rle acr rlar
inoiviouals vaiv in rleii iesponse ano sensirivirv ro pain.
33
\lar mav
Chronic Pain 89
le a oisriacring lackgiouno acle ro one parienr mav le a oelilirar-
ing souice o sueiing oi anorlei.
3+
! lave seen a numlei o hliomvalgia parienrs in mv lvpnosis
piacrice. !suallv, rlev lave riieo a vaiierv o riearmenrs rlar lave
aileo ro woik oi rlem, incluoing pain meoicarions, plvsical rlei-
apv, ano anrioepiessanrs. Tlese parienrs aie oren exriemelv ius-
riareo ano ieouenrlv oepiesseo. Manv lave gone iom oocroi ro
oocroi wirlour anv signihcanr ielie. Some lave leen accuseo o
oveiieacring ano o leing oveiemorional. Because rle meoical pio-
ession aomirs rleie is a psvclological componenr ro rlis oim o
clionic pain, some o mv parienrs lave leen rolo lv rleii plvsicians
rlar rle oisease is 'all in voui mino."
Acruallv, rlar lasr pair is pairiallv riue. A 2OO9 sruov pullisleo
in rle !"#$%&'()*$"#('+)$,)-'.( claimeo rlar hliomvalgia ano orlei
uncrional pain oisoioeis miglr le causeo lv alnoimal acrivarions
o rle liain`s pain nerwoik. ocrois in rlis sruov lookeo ar hliomv-
algia parienrs` liains via MR! resrs ro see wlar lappens in rle liain
wlen parienrs leai lvpnoric suggesrions ro oeciease pain. Tle sruov
iesulrs sloweo rlar rle iegions o rle liain involveo in pain weie
inoeeo aecreo wlen rle suggesrions weie piovioeo. Parienrs veii-
heo, roo, rlar a clange lao occuiieo: arei rle sruov, rlev claimeo
rlev elr less pain ano moie conriol ovei rleii svmproms wlen
unoei lvpnosis.
35
!n anorlei sruov iun ar rle Spain !niveisirv !ospiral Pain Clinic
in 2OO9, oirv-seven parienrs wirl !M ieceiveo sranoaio caie (pain
meoicarion, anrioepiessanrs, seoarives, oi muscle ielaxanrs), cogni-
rive lelavioial gioup rleiapv wirl ielaxarion riaining, oi CBT wirl
lvpnosis. Ar rle conclusion o rle sruov, rle parienrs wlo ieceiveo
CBT-plus-ielaxarion riearmenr sloweo moie lenehr rlan rle sran-
oaio-caie gioup. !owevei, rle CBT-plus-lvpnosis gioup sloweo
rle mosr lenehr o all, iesulrs rlar piove rlar lvpnosis is supeiioi ro
ielaxarion ano rlar unoeiline low aovanrageous lvpnosis can le in
enlancing rle posirive eecrs o CBT.
36
!n anorlei sruov, ieseaicleis piovioeo !M sueieis wlo lao
leen uniesponsive ro riaoirional riearmenrs wirl eiglr one-loui
sessions o lvpnorleiapv, plus a sel-lvpnosis ar-lome piacrice
auoiorape. Arei rliee monrls, rle parienrs wloò ieceiveo lvpnosis
riaining sloweo maikeo impiovemenr in measuies o muscle pain,
arigue, sleep oisruilance, ano oisriessourpeioiming parienrs in
rle conriol gioup, wlo ieceiveo plvsical rleiapv (one ro rwo louis
a week o massage ano muscle-ielaxarion riaining oi a peiioo o
rliee monrls). Tle posirive sriioes maoe lv rle lvpnosis gioup
weie mainraineo oi ar leasr six monrls. Tle aveiage oeciease in
pain among rle lvpnosis parienrs was 35 peicenr, compaieo ro
2 peicenr in rle plvsical rleiapv gioup.
37
Tlese iesulrs, ianklv, aie asrounoing ro me, lorl as a lvpno-
risr ano as a cliiopiacroi. Plvsical rleiapv is a well-iespecreo, oren
eecrive rleiapv. !vpnosis ourpeioimeo ir lv a luge maigin, piov-
ing rlar lvpnoric suggesrions woik. Being guioeo rliougl mera-
ploiical imageiv ro 'ruin oown rle oial" on pain can acruallv make
pain moie leaialle. !iliomvalgia ieseaicl lelps oemonsriare rlar
alrlougl lvpnosis is consioeieo a psvclological appioacl, ir evokes
plvsiological iesponses.
38
As we saw eailiei in rlis claprei, lvpnosis is oren useo as a
loosrei oi aooirive ro make orlei riearmenrs moie eecrive.
39

Sucl was rle case in a well-known 2OO8 sruov pullisleo in !"#$
"%&'%()&*+(+,-($ ./&)01+0&. Reseaicleis supplemenreo riaoirional
CSPNZBMHJB UIFSBQJFTsQIZTJDBM UIFSBQZ DIJSPQSBDUJD UIFSBQZ
anrioepiessanrs, ano pain meoicarionswirl ren lal-loui sessions
o lvpnosis, plus an ar-lome piacrice lvpnosis auoiorape. Piioi ro
rle sruov, all pairicipanrs lao expeiienceo clionic wioespieao pain
PSCSPNZBMHJBGPSBUMFBTUUISFFNPOUITBOETPNFBTMPOHBTWF
veais. Arei rle sruov, 233$ 4+0'+5,$ )6$ ,7+$ 4-,/+5,&$ 7-1$ /840)9+1, ano
all mainraineo rleii impiovemenrs oi ar leasr one veai. All useo
rleii ar-lome auoio piogiams ar leasr once weeklv ano some almosr
oailv.
+O
Temporomandibular Pain
!n lorl o mv clinical piacrices, ! oren see parienrs wirl rem-
poiomanoilulai oisoioei (TM). People sueiing iom TM can
Chronic Pain 91
lave pain in rle iaw muscles, lur rlev also oren expeiience limira-
rions in iaw movemenrs, ioinr noises, leaoacles, acial pain, eaiacles,
ano pain rlar can iaoiare ro rle neck ano slouloeisconoirions rlev
naruiallv seek a cliiopiacroi ro riear. As wirl airliiris, rleie aie
limirs ro wlar lealrlcaie pioessionals can accomplisl wirl plvsical
rleiapv, manipularion, ano meoicarion piesciiprions. !n rle case o
TM-ielareo pain, oui lanos aie oren rieo lecause rle conoirion
is somerimes moie complex rlan ir hisr appeais ro le.
An esrimareo 5 ro 15 peicenr o rle geneial popularion sueis
iom TM, wirl rle maioiirv leing women.
+1
Tle exacr causes
lave leen a souice o oelare oi veais. Tooav, rle painul conoirion
is oren vieweo as a liopsvclosocial piollempairlv plvsical, pairlv
psvclological, ano piolallv sriess ielareo.
+2
Tiaoirional meoical
appioacles lave incluoeo rle use o oial splinrs, anri-inammaroiv
oiugs, muscle ielaxanrs, ano anrioepiessanrs. !owevei, rle iesulrs
aie nor convincing: accoioing ro one sruov, appioximarelv 23 pei-
cenr o parienrs oon`r iespono ro splinrs, plvsical rleiapv, ano anri-
inammaroiv oiugs ar all.
+3
!vpnosis las an aovanrage ovei rle usual merloos. \irl iegu-
lai piacrice in ohce sessions ano ar lome, parienrs aie oren alle
ro reacl rlemselves ro ieouce oi srop auromaric, ieexive lelav-
iois rlar make rleii svmproms woiseeven lelaviois rlev rlink
rlev can`r lelp oi rlev oo in rleii sleep, like giinoing oi muscle
conriacrion.
++
Reseaicl las pioven low well lvpnosis can woik oi clanging
rle lelaviois rlar leao ro TM pain. !n one well-known sruov pul-
lisleo in !"#$%&'"()"*+%!"#$%,)-./.0)+%!"#$%1#234$4(*, !"#$%5#-.4$4(*+%
#0-% 60-4-402./7, parienrs unoei lvpnosis ieceiveo suggesrions oi
pain ieoucrion, along wirl examples o low rle mino conriols
evenrs in rle loov. All sruov suliecrs lao no pievious success wirl
orlei riearmenr merloos. Tlev leaineo rliougl lvpnosis ano sel-
lvpnosis auoiorapes ro view muscle conriacrions in rleii iaws as cues
ro ielax rleii acial muscles. Tle ieseaicleis elr rlar lv using posr-
lvpnoric suggesrion, rlev coulo reacl parienrs ro iecognize muscle
rension ano pain as cues ro auromaricallv ielease rleii renseo iaw ano
neck muscles, even wlen asleep. Tle ieseaicleis useo lvpnosis ro
cieare wlar rlev calleo an 'auromaric plvsiologic iesponse" in rle
loova new wav ro iespono ro muscle rension insreao o clencling
ano giinoing.
Ar rle eno o rle sruov peiioo, 71 peicenr o rle parienrs
iepoireo impiovemenr in oailv uncrioning ano a maikeo oeciease
in pain ieouencv, ouiarion, ano inrensirv. Ar rle six-monrl ollow
up, ovei 8O peicenr iepoireo impiovemenr in oailv uncrioning ano
even uirlei impiovemenr in rle ieouencv o rleii pain. Sevenreen
o rle rwenrv-rliee parienrs iepoireo making ewei visirs ro rleii
oocrois, saving rlem appioximarelv $7OO.
Plvsical evioence exisreo, roo, ro slow rlar rlev weie giino-
ing less in rleii sleep. Manv parienrs iepoireo less visille weai on
rleii splinrs. (!n acr, one sruov o TM pain sloweo rlar lvpnosis
oren ourpeioims plvsical oevices like mourl guaios ano splinrs.)
+5

!n rleii hnal iepoir, rle ieseaicleis srareo rlar rlese iesulrs weie
pairiculailv impiessive lecause piioi ro rle aooirion o lvpnosis ro
rleii iegimen, all rle parienrs lao expeiienceo riearmenr ailuies in
alleviaring rleii svmproms.
+6
Sucl iesulrs aie nor uncommon, ano rlevìe oren aclieveo
ouire iapiolv. !n a 2OO9 sruov pullisleo in rle !"#$%&'( ")( *$&'(
+,-&./'/0&0/"%, arei onlv oui in-ohce lvpnosis sessions ano iegulai
ar-lome piacrice wirl lvpnosis auoio iecoioings, ovei 5O peicenr o
pairiciparing TM parienrs using lvpnosis expeiienceo an oveiall
ieoucrion in sel-iepoireo pain compaieo ro a O.7 peicenr inciease
in rle conriol gioup. All rle sruov pairicipanrs lao pieviouslv su-
eieo iom TM pain oi ovei nine veais, ano 77 peicenr o rlem
lao seen rliee oi moie specialisrs. Jusr ovei lal rle people in rle
lvpnosis gioup iepoireo ieoucing rleii pain lv 5O peicenr oi moie.
vei a ouairei o rle parienrs in rle lvpnosis gioup ieouceo rleii
pain lv 75 peicenr oi moie.
+7
Tlese iesulrs aie iemaikalle lecause rle conriol gioup was
ieceiving ielaxarion ano visualizarion riaining. Manv conriol gioups
in expeiimenrs like rlis ieceive aovice ano eoucarion oi some-
one ro lisren ro rleii complainrs iarlei rlan ieceiving an acrive
Chronic Pain 93
inreivenrion. !ven rlougl rlis pairiculai conriol gioup ieceiveo
moie acrive, ielaxarion-laseo caie, rle lvpnosis gioup aclieveo ler-
rei iesulrs. Tlis sruov piovioes ver anorlei example rlar lvpnosis
is nor meielv anorlei oim o ielaxarion rleiapv ano rlar, in acr, ir
oren ourpeioims ielaxarion.
Case Study
Patricia, fty-eight, had suered from bromyalgia for several years.
She had tried medications, physical therapy, chiropractic, and a variety
of other treatments, all without success. Upon her rst visit for hypno-
sis, I questioned her about her pain. She told me it was always with her,
that shed resolved it was never going to go away, and that she would
never be able to enjoy the things I once used to do. Patricia was inac-
tive because she feared exercise would only make her pain worse. She
suered from mild depression and was under the care of a psycholo-
gist, who was helping her. (Chronic pain patients have a high incidence
of depressionan estimated rate of 33 percent or more.)
+8
Because
numerous research studies have shown that treating depression is
helpful in pain control, I refer patients to mental health professionals
when necessary. As Patricia was already under the care of a psycholo-
gist, I felt comfortable working with her and condent that I could oer
her tools for dealing with her pain, as well as complementing the work
she was already doing in therapy.
For example, one psychological aspect of chronic pain often
addressed with cognitive behavioral therapy is catastrophizing, men-
tioned earlier. Patients who catastrophize have a constant and often
exaggerated negative attitude. FM suerers like Patricia often feel that
their pain is intolerable, that it will never get better or go away, and that
their condition is hopeless. Hypnosis, in conjunction with CBT, can be
helpful in overcoming these catastrophic thoughts by suggesting ways
to alter the way patients look at their pain.
After I told Patricia that I could help her, I said I had good news.
Fibromyalgia is a real medical condition, not one made up by overly
emotional individuals. As is the case with so many FM suerers,
Patricias medical tests had all been negative for medical pathology,
leading some of her doctors to tell her that her pain was only in her
head. I assured Patricia that her FM was in fact real and caused by a dif-
ference in the way her brain processed pain signals. Addressing these
pain signals was something we could work on together during her
hypnosis session.
Pain-control experts have stressed the importance of identify-
ing meaningful life values that patients can choose to focus on rather
than dwelling on their suering. To help Patricia establish an eective
Relaxation Cue, I asked her to describe something personally meaning-
ful in her life that gave her pleasure and that was also relaxing. She said
she relished the time she spent with her three-year-old niece, Cathy,
especially when Cathy would sit on her lap and fall asleep watching
television.
Because deep relaxation is helpful for pain patients, I dedicated
our rst session to relaxing Patricia, beginning with a simple progres-
sive relaxation technique to help relax her muscles and calm her mind.
When she conrmed that she felt at ease, I established her Relaxation
Cue. Envision that you are sitting on the couch with your niece, Cathy,
asleep on your lap. Youre watching television together. I encouraged
Patricia to add in any details of her own to make the scene as calming
and as vivid as possible. I then had her touch her thumb and index
nger together to anchor the imagery to a physical gesture she could
repeat anytime, and I asked her to select a cue word or phrase she could
repeat to help reinforce this anchor (television with Cathy). Finally, I
oered her additional suggestions for comfort and then emerged her
from the session. I sent Patricia home with a CD recording of our ses-
sion and instructed her to listen to it at least once a day (though more
often would be better), as well as to practice her Relaxation Cue several
times a day.
In our next session, Patricia told me she had been using her
Relaxation Cue and feeling better. I decided to introduce her to a num-
ber of dierent techniques and tools to further establish her sense of
self-mastery and to decrease her catastrophizing. You have already
had success in inducing a state of relaxation for yourself, I told her. This
Chronic Pain 95
accomplishment means youre ready to direct your thoughts to things that
have value and meaning in your life instead of focusing on feelings of dis-
comfort or pessimism for the future. To further tame Patricias worried
thoughts, I used future-oriented hypnotic imagery by having her imag-
ine herself in the future doing all the activities she enjoyed, such as
going to Disneyland with Cathy or out to dinner and a movie with a
friend, completely pain-free.
Next, I gave Patricia suggestions to increase her regular physical
activity, which I felt would be helpful for her condition and her mood.
She had told me she used to enjoy swimming (a wonderful exercise
for chronic pain patients), but like many chronic pain patients, she was
fearful that physical activity might make her pain worse or cause her
harm. Instead of having her immediately imagine herself swimming, I
asked her to rst visualize wading in the pool and enjoying the refresh-
ing water. On subsequent sessions, I had her imagine increasing her
activity in the poolalways feeling safe and condent in her ability to
take care of her body and enjoying the feeling of being active.
At this point, I introduced a technique reported in the European
Journal of Pain that had been very successful in helping bromyalgia
patients. I had Patricia imagine a liquid or blue analgesicstreamthat
would go throughout her body and soothe the pain in the most
aected areas, eliminate the tension and create feelings of well-being.
I added a posthypnotic suggestion that anytime Patricia felt pain, she
could use her Relaxation Cue and visualize the color blue enveloping
those areas of pain, as well as the comfort of having Cathy on her lap.
Patricia progressed very well with our in-oce sessions and lis-
tened regularly to the audio recordings I made for her. She contin-
ued to practice her Relaxation Cue several times a day. After working
together over a two-month period, she said she felt about 70 percent
better. She had been using the local pool and gradually building up
her level of physical activity. Six months later, she reported feeling 80
percent improved. She had even enjoyed a ve-and-a-half-hour day at
Disneyland with her niece.
Advantages of Using Hypnosis
As vou can see iom ieaoing rlis claprei, rle aovanrages o using
lvpnosis oi clionic pain aie numeious. Parienrs wlo leain ro use
lvpnosis iepoir enlanceo eelings o sel-conriol ovei rleii pain,
wlicl in ruin can loosr rleii conhoence ano sel-esreem. Parienrs
using sel-lvpnosis ano guioeo sel-lvpnosis piogiams as a supple-
menr ro orlei pain riearmenrs consisrenrlv iepoir giearei lenehrs
ano longei-lasring iesulrs.
+9
!oi some, lvpnosis is even moie eec-
rive ar managing ano ieoucing clionic pain rlan rle leaoing riaoi-
rional rleiapies sucl as plvsical rleiapv oi meoicarion.
5O
!n aooirion, lecause lvpnosis is a plvsicallv unoemanoing acriv-
irv, ir can le an ioeal iemeov oi pain sueieis o anv age, even rlose
wirl ioinr oisoioeis like airliiris.
51
!r ieouiies no specializeo eouip-
menr ano can le conoucreo in a vaiierv o clinical serrings. !suallv,
all rlar is ieouiieo is a ouier space ano a willing pairicipanr.
Arei ieviewing rle scienrihc lireiaruie, ! lelieve rlar rle lig-
gesr aovanrage lvpnosis las ovei orlei, moie riaoirional clionic
pain riearmenrs is rlar ir woiks on pain lv oiiecrlv aecring rle wav
rle liain piocesses pain. !ven rlougl acrual pain levels mav le rle
same, rliougl lvpnosis, rle peiceprion o pain is clangeo.
!asrlv, lvpnosis oeis veiv oesiialle sioe lenehrs. ! liing rlis
up ovei ano ovei lecause ir`s sucl a wonoeiul suipiise ro so manv
people. ! vou see a lvpnorisr oi one svmprom rlar`s lorleiing vou,
vou mav soon hno orlei issues iesolving rlemselves. !`ve seen rlis
lappen wirl manv clionic pain parienrs. !oi example, someone will
come in rle oooi seeking ielie oi a veiv specihc kino o pain: weeks
oi monrls larei, le`ll call ro iepoir rlar le`s also expeiiencing less
sriess ano anxierv, lerrei sleep, ano an oveiall impioveo oualirv o
lie.
52
Can vou rlink o anv lerrei incenrive ro give rle lvpnosis
oprion a riv?
263
About the Author
!"#$$% &'()!*% +"*% )!% a cliiopiacroi ano clinical lvpnorleiapisr
wlo las oevoreo ovei rwenrv-hve veais ro eoucaring people alour
lvpnosis ano using lvpnosis ro lelp parienrs. i. !ewis lecruies ro
rlousanos o people eacl veai ano las appeaieo on numeious rele-
vision ano iaoio piogiams rliouglour rle woilo. !e woiks wirl
coipoiarions, lelping rleii emplovees srop smoking, lose weiglr,
ieouce sriess, ano aclieve lerrei lealrl rliougl lvpnosis ano sel-
lvpnosis reclnioues. i. !ewis is also an accomplisleo peioimei,
laving leaolineo in lis own lvpnosis slow ar rle Rivieia !orel in
!as Vegas oi ovei nine veais. !e peioims rliouglour rle woilo,
using lis slows ro oemonsriare rle poweiul eecrs lvpnosis las oi
conhoence, ielaxarion, ano ciearivirv.
i. !ewis can le ieacleo via lis welsire, www.iScorr!ewis
.com, wleie vou can hno inoimarion on rle laresr lvpnosis ieseaicl
ano hnoings. You can also sulsciile ro i. !ewis`s llog ro leain
alour low lvpnosis lelps wirl common lealrl piollems ano con-
oirions, as well as orlei applicarions sucl as incieasing lusiness ano
sales morivarion, eliminaring piociasrinarion, leiglrening cieariv-
irv, ano moie.

The Hypnosis Treatment Option: Proven Solutions For Pain, Insomnia, Stress, Obesity, and Other Common Health Problems

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Hypnosis Treatment Option: Proven Solutions For Pain, Insomnia, Stress, Obesity, and Other Common Health Problems

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dr.

Scott Lewis is a licensed chiropractic physician, clinical hypnotherapist, and

LEARN WHAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS KNOWN

You might also like