Clinical Hypnosis

[HerMajesty]

I did try it but I didn't give it a "fair shake", that is I went for one session and while the single session didn't work I could tell what aspects needed to be "fine tuned", and I think I might have gotten results if i stuck with it. The problem was I was attempting to get approved for surgery and had to put my time and money elsewhere to get that accomplished, so I never went back. I do have a thread about it that you will find if you search the term "hypnosis", I think some other people on the board commented that they had some success with it. I have certainly been successfully hypnotized before and believe that there is potential benefit. The problem is that it is rarely covered by insurance and so it is probably another one of those "multiple session" out-of-pocket expenses.

[helenlegs 11]

If you do give it a go sunil, let us know how it works for you. I do think it is a worthwhile idea. take a look at this http://www.pelvicpainrehab.com/blog/201 ... lvic-pain/
Take care,
Helen

[Violet M]

I never understood how hypnosis could work -- wouldn't you have to stay in a perpetual state of hypnosis? Seems to me that once you came out of it the pain would just return.

Violet

[HerMajesty]

Violet,
Hypnosis puts you into a relaxed state in which your mind is highly open to suggestion. While I was in that relaxed state and not feeling my symptoms, the hypnotist touched my forehead and associated the touching of the forehead with various symptom free imagery. Then she added the suggestion that if I were struggling with symptoms, I could touch my forehead and get back to that place in my mind. If I had gone back for more sessions, I think we could have fine tuned that concept: It didn't work outright because instead I found myself touching my forehead and then immediately assessing myself for symptoms to see if it worked, which of course magnified what I was supposed to be minimizing. But, the goal of multiple hypnosis sessions is in fact to learn a kind of mini self hypnosis - that is, how to get yourself into a relaxed state without having the hypnotist present. I have learned from experiences with a couple of different hypnotists that I definitely am very susceptible to changing state of mind and sensation under the direct control of a hypnotist; so if I had multiple sessions the hope would be that I would learn to do the same thing to myself. As you know pain creates a feedback loop where the autonomic nervous system is agitated by the peripheral pain signals, and this causes even more pain. I think clinical hypnosis probably helps reduce pain by breaking that cycle, because in a very relaxed state obviously your autonomic nervous system is taking a break.

[Violet M]

Thanks for the explanation HM. I must not be very susceptible to changing states of mind because I had a neuro-chiropractor try to "talk down" my autonomic nervous system which accomplished absolutely nothing -- which rather surprised him.

Violet

[HerMajesty]

Or just a bad practitioner, Violet. Not just anybody can change my state of mind. For my 1st baby, the midwifery practice I was going to required patient attendance at an awful natural childbirth class. The instructor tried to "talk down" the moms into a meditative state...Only change in me was a lot of eye-rolling and suppressed laughter, because it was the cheesiest thing ever. I have respect for the real skill of hypnosis, but the fake stuff is downright embarassing

[helenlegs 11]

Suppressed sniggering is such good medicine HM. It can work wonders

[HerMajesty]

Suppressed sniggering is such good medicine HM. It can work wonders

Good medicine in some circumstances...It didn't do me a bit of good when giving birth with undiagnosed cases of SIJD and PFD...kind of a shocker experience after the crazy childbirth teacher told us that labor contractions feel like "a strong hug"

[Violet M]

.kind of a shocker experience after the crazy childbirth teacher told us that labor contractions feel like "a strong hug"

You've got to be kidding -- makes you wonder if she ever went through labor. Wonder what she would compare PNE to???

[helenlegs 11]

Heavens, wouldn't want any hug from her, strong or not
H x