Hypnosis for pain management: what it is and how it works

In everyday life, and without realizing it, we experience a very concrete natural process of the mind; for example, when we are absorbed in watching a movie or reading a book, or when we are driving thinking about our things without being aware of the journey we are taking.

These states have a lot to do with hypnosis. This is in turn a technique that is increasingly used in clinical psychology to treat different problems or pathologies. In this article we will know hypnosis for pain treatment.

• Related article: "Hypnosis, that great unknown"

Hypnosis as a psychological tool

The state of hypnosis that we discussed at the beginning of the article occurs spontaneously, but it can also be induced through psychological strategies.

The American Psychological Association (APA) in 1996 defined hypnosis as a procedure during which changes in sensations, thoughts, feelings and behavior arise.

Hypnosis is currently considered a scientific tool that is used by doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists... Through it, we can work with those deeper and more automatic aspects of the mind, thus producing changes that help improve the health of patients and develop their potential.

Almost any aspect that involves the mind can be treated by hypnosis.

Hypnosis for pain management

Pain is a mechanism in our body that warns us or indicates that something is not working well. But there are times when pain becomes pathological and dysfunctional, and that happens when it becomes chronic, and loses its warning or adaptation function. Chronic pain is considered to be pain that persists for more than three months (Merskey and Bogduk, 1994).

The classification of chronic pain includes various pathologies such as: low back pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and headaches. In these, current psychology is working to determine the psychological factors involved in its development, maintenance, chronification, treatment and / or recovery (especially the psychology of salut).

In these cases, to the pain is added psychological and physical suffering, as well as tension, which in turn feed back that same pain, producing a vicious cycle.

This tool allows you to work in different ways, with the aim of reducing or eliminating chronic pain. In addition, it also allows working with acute pain in those cases in which said pain does not present any use for the body (it is not functional).

Hypnosis for pain management is based on the idea that pain is a biopsychosocial phenomenon where emotions, behaviors and thoughts play a key role. Thus, hypnosis can be used to promote changes on these factors and consequently reduce pain.

How is it used to relieve discomfort?

Hypnosis, just like relaxation, can be applied as an isolated technique or as an integral part of other therapies. When it is included within other techniques, the results tend to improve.

Hypnosis for the treatment of pain can help reduce anxiety, and thus indirectly act on pain.

On the other hand, hypnosis may constitute a mechanism with the that the patient concentrates on some stimulus and leaves the painful sensation in the unconscious part. On some occasions, even the belief that hypnosis will work can change the patient's beliefs and a “placebo effect” may appear that reduces pain (Moix, 2002).

• You may be interested: "Chronic pain: what it is and how it is treated from Psychology"

Autohypnosis

An element that should also be considered when applying hypnosis in therapy (and, specifically, in the hypnosis to treat pain), essential for its development, is the practice of self-hypnosis when patient.

The goal is for the patient to train and learn to apply hypnosis to to be able to alleviate your pain where and when you want it, regardless of the consultation situation.

Scientific evidence

Various scientific studies have shown the usefulness of hypnosis for the treatment of pain and for other types of problems or pathologies, together with potentiating or therapeutic options. Even in many countries this tool is included in public health.

The Mayo Clinic in New York carried out a meta-study on hypnosis in 2005, which highlighted 19 pathologies where hypnosis was favorable and indicated. It is also supported by various studies published in prestigious medical journals such as Nature, Science or Oncology.

On the other hand, hypnosis in the medical field is used in many hospitals and clinics around the world. It is also a technique that is studied in most medical universities in the Saxon field. It is also used in Europe, in cities such as Belgium and France, and if the patient wishes, as psychic anesthesia or as an adjunct to chemical anesthesia.

In the clinical field, in Spain hypnosis is currently used for pain, in the Unit of the Pain from l’Hospital Universitari de Tarragona, in patients with fibromyalgia and through l’auto-hypnosis. It is also used in the Sleep Unit of the Rubber Clinic in Madrid and in the Hospital la pau in Madrid, in Oncology (by a group of volunteers).

Myths and misunderstandings

There are a number of myths about hypnosis that we must demystify. Here we will talk about three:

1. Aggravation of physical or mental illness

Hypnosis itself does not aggravate or worsen physical or mental illnesses, but a malpractice of therapy in a hypnotic process on the part of the professional, it could be harmful.

2. The hypnotist can do what he wants with the hypnotized

This is not like this; All hypnosis is actually self-hypnosis, and therefore the hypnotized person (or the patient) agrees to let things happen. If the hypnotist gave any instruction against her morals or will, the patient may simply not obey such a suggestion, as well as getting out of the hypnotic process whenever you want.

3. Hypnosis does not require effort on the part of the patient

Although in the hypnosis session the mental work may be experienced as automatic and pleasant, the person remains in an active state that requires effort. In addition, your involvement and good predisposition are necessary for it to be effective.

Bibliographic references:

• Merskey, H. and Bogduk, N. (1994). Description of chronic pain syndromes and definitions of pain terms. In: Classification of Chronic Pain, 2nd ed. Seattle, WA: IASP press
• Moix, J. (2002). Hypnosis in the treatment of pain. Journal of the Spanish Pain Society, 9,525-532
• Jensen, M. and Patterson, D. R. (2006). Hypnotic treatment of chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29, 95-124.
• Moix, J. and Casado, M.I. (2011). Psychological Therapies for the Treatment of Chronic Pain. Official College of Psychologists of Madrid: Clínica y Salud, 22 (1), 41-50.