Releasing chronic pain (how hypnotherapy can help)

Living with pain day in and day out is taxing, both physically and mentally. There are many different approaches sufferers can try, one of which is hypnotherapy.

With five broken discs in her neck and lumbar region, hypnotherapist Carol Hickson has experienced chronic pain personally and now describes herself as pain-free. Here she explains how she uses hypnotherapy with clients who suffer from chronic pain.

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Having worked extensively with clients suffering from chronic pain I continue to be in awe of the improvements that can be achieved either by reducing the pain or, in many cases, removing it. Under hypnosis, I address the problem from an emotional level, through the unconscious mind.

According to research, trauma and negative experience remain ‘stuck’ in our bodies at a cellular level. Our body holds the somatic imprint of what the trauma ‘felt’ like at the time that it happened and the emotions that were present.  

The word trauma is often misunderstood. People who associate it only with major disasters often hold the belief that their personal ‘trauma’ does not deserve to be labelled as ‘real’ trauma. But trauma does not have to be violent or physically injurious. In fact, any experience which deeply affects us, like divorce, hospitalisation and accidents (major or minor), can all result in residual trauma.

Generally, when we have an injury, our body’s capabilities mean that we heal. There may be lasting damage, but we are designed to find new routes and ways to deal with it.

I say ‘generally’ because some injuries are so extensive that full physical recovery is not possible. This article is concerned with those who have not received such catastrophic injuries but live with chronic pain which could be from a variety of causes including back pain, dental issues, osteoarthritis and so on.  

The trauma often persists in the subconscious mind and, so, it is at this level that we address the situation. Under hypnosis, we encourage the client to acknowledge that they have suffered damage at a physical level, but that does not mean that continued pain is inevitable.  

Acceptance can be difficult because people often misunderstand and believe that if they accept the pain then they resign themselves to it and this goes against their desire to live pain-free.  

But, acceptance is a vital part of therapy.

Whilst there is an internal battle between where the client currently is and where they want to be, there can be little progress.

From a place of acceptance, the client reconnects with his/her body. We do this through the body scan: the client becomes an observer of their body. Under hypnosis, the client learns how to reconnect and renew that relationship.

Once the client is comfortable being ‘in’ their body we can then track back to the origin of the initial injury.

From this place of safety, we consider the pain, often in metaphorical ways, asking the subconscious mind to direct us towards what is preventing the body from healing. We become observers of both our mind and body.

If we notice that the pain shifts or changes we can begin to challenge its validity and purpose. If we can change the pain under hypnosis, for example, its location or intensity, then we have reason to believe that it is being ‘propped up’ by emotional issues in our subconscious mind.

Under hypnosis, we consider whether there is any benefit in holding onto the pain. There is no judgement. It’s just a gentle exploration; understanding that the subconscious mind is habitual and tries to protect from perceived danger both emotional and physical. The results are often astounding. We should never underestimate the power of the brain to heal.

Hypnobirthing: What are the benefits?

Hypnobirthing has become somewhat of a buzzword recently, with celebrity mothers Giovanna Fletcher, Joe Wicks’ girlfriend Rosie Jones, as well as Harry Kane’s fiancée Katie Goodland opting for this form of pain management. But was is it and why is it beneficial for mums-to-be?

What is hypnobirthing?

At its core, hypnobirthing is a method of pain management, involving a mixture of visualisation, relaxation and deep breathing techniques to help women during labour and birth. Breathing exercises have long been part of antenatal classes, but hypnobirthing takes this and adds mindfulness techniques to help mums-to-be concentrate on their body and mind connection, in the lead up to, during and after the birth of their baby.

Why is it beneficial?

Many studies have shown that a positive birth experience can have a profound impact on maternal psychological and emotional well-being. This can enable women to embark on motherhood feeling confident, strong and capable.

“Hypnobirthing allowed me to let go of my preconceived ideas about childbirth and embrace a fearless, positive and calm approach. Surrounding yourself with positive affirmations, scents, sounds and people are key. The breathing techniques are essential to remaining calm and in control during childbirth,” says Jemma Hoare, who had a hypnobirthing experience with her first baby.

It’s all about empowering women and their birth partners to create positive birth experiences.

Are the techniques only useful for pregnancy and birth?

No – the tools you learn from hypnobirthing can help to support you not only in pregnancy and during birth, but far beyond that. And it’s not just beneficial for mums; the learnings can be really helpful for birth partners, too.

Does it mean you don’t need pain relief?

This is a contentious subject, with Harry Kane having hit the headlines recently for praising his fiancée for having a pain-free birth – all thanks to hypnobirthing.

Well, while hypnobirthing is thought to reduce the amount of pain a woman endures throughout labour, it doesn’t necessarily replace the need for pain relief. It can be used alongside anything the hospital might offer from gas and air to epidural.

“Hypnobirthing doesn’t guarantee you a complication-free childbirth, but it does give you the right techniques to help deal with whatever comes your way,” Jemma tells us. “It’s not just for mums who want intervention-free births – it’s for everyone, including those who will undergo Caesarean section or any other medical procedure.”

Remember, every woman is different, as is every birth. There is no right or wrong way to approach your birthing experience, it all comes down to personal choice.

Hypnobirthing is just one option that may help you to learn more about the physiology of birth and, as a result, release any fear you have around bringing your baby into the world.

One mum, Elle, tells us about her hypnobirthing experience.

I found out about hypnobirthing from watching a mum on Channel 4’s One Born Every Minute. She had the most amazing, calm birth and I immediately knew that’s what I wanted. I’ve always been scared of hospitals and needles, so I thought addressing birth in a more positive attitude would banish some of those nerves for me.

One breathing technique I learnt was to inhale for four and exhale for eight, which helps to control the pain during contractions. I still use the technique now, as it’s been amazing for easing any little bits of anxiety I get. When I went into labour, I used this breathing technique as well as listening to my hypnobirthing tracks, to remain calm whilst we travelled to the hospital.

When we arrived, following our midwife’s advice, I had an aromatherapy massage whilst my partner, Josh, said some positive affirmations for me – another hypnobirthing technique we learnt. He told me things like, “You’re strong and confident, you can do this.” This kept me motivated as we breathed through every contraction together. It’s definitely altered Josh’s mindset and he still says a lot of the positive affirmations whilst I’m breastfeeding, to keep me motivated when I find it tough.

During my labour, I was moved into a birth pool suite with hypnobirthing music in the background and battery powered tea lights lit our room. It happened quite quickly, so I had no time for room sprays, reading our birth preferences or even changing into my bikini; within 10 minutes I was in the pool.

The following contractions caused my waters to immediately break and I felt the urge to push. I panicked initially, but my midwife told me to calmly follow my body’s instructions. I struggled to focus on the down breathing but followed the midwife’s advice and, an hour later, our daughter was born.

The midwives kept talking about how perfect, calm and “textbook” our birth was, especially as a young, first-time mum. Josh and I felt so proud to bring our daughter into the world so positively.

Even though we expected to have more time to prepare for the birth, hypnobirthing taught us enough to have an incredibly calm delivery.

I never believed I could “breathe through” every contraction, but I did. I really believe that bringing our baby into the world in this positive way has made our relationship as a family much stronger and more loving.

Hypnotherapy for stress

We all experience different levels of stress throughout our lifetimes. It can be caused by our professional or personal lives, and each individual will cope with it differently. Some people are better at dealing with stress than others . Some of us really thrive off the pressure, whilst others can find it difficult to motivate themselves when stressed.

If we imagine the mind as a bucket that gets filled up throughout the day, this can help us to visualise what is happening to our stress levels. During sleep, the less impactful stressors, such as things that were bothering us during the day, leak out of the bucket. This/ is why we can sometimes wake up feeling less burdened by the things that happened the day before.

But, if the bucket is already overloaded, it never gets truly emptied – and this means it’s harder to cope with even the smallest of things.

Hypnotherapy can help address your stress and anxiety levels. Much like guided meditation, hypnotherapy leads you into a state of deep relaxation, blurring your conscious and subconscious minds.

Whilst in this state, hypnotherapists weave in various positive instructions – trying to instigate more positive thinking. All of this helps you empty your mind of all the things you are trying to process, which often cause you to feel stressed.

Why hypnotherapy? What about counselling?

Unlike counselling, which traditionally focuses on addressing the issues that are bringing you down so they don’t bring you down anymore, hypnotherapy is more ‘solution-focused’. Hypnotherapy focuses on how you want things to be by changing your mindset. So, your attitude changes towards the things that were causing you stress before.

Of course, everyone is different and counselling may be a preferred treatment option for you. Find out more about counselling for stress.

Scientific studies have shown that positive thinking can literally rewire the brain. This can make you less likely to dwell on things and more likely to brush things off, breaking the cycle of negative thinking.

How does hypnotherapy for stress work?

Hypnotherapy works by changing unwanted habits of thought. This is achieved by exercising the left prefrontal cortex of our brains. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision making and emotions; the left side is more active when positive, and the right side is more active when negative.

So, in order to be happier, we need to exercise the left part so it overrides the right. This is done by thinking about healthy, positive thoughts and avoiding unhealthy, negative thoughts. Sounds simple, right?

So, what are the methods of hypnotherapy for stress?

After uncovering the root of your stress, you will agree upon a goal with your hypnotherapist. This goal could be how you would like to feel, and what you would like to do in life without stress holding you back.

Your hypnotherapist will then work with you to achieve your goals using a variety of different techniques. Each therapist might use different techniques, but they all will work towards the same goal.

One strategy when negative thinking occurs, is to remind yourself of five things you are happy about in your life right now. Sometimes, you might find yourself battling to push something that’s upset you out of your mind.

One of the most effective methods to do this is to practise gratitude – focusing on the positive things in your life, not the aspects you don’t like.

Use our search tool to find a hypnotherapist in your local area to help you conquer stress.

Creating Light Bulb Moments!

Written by Sarah Stanley Have you ever felt anxious, fearful, lacking in confidence? Or low and depressed? If you have, you will understand how difficult it is to think clearly or to feel positive about anything. Here’s a message I received recently from a client who had an irrational fear of being alone at night: ... Read moreCreating Light Bulb Moments!