In previous posts I have talked about the myths and realities of hypnosis: what it is and how it works and with what issues it works best so this is a bit of an update on that.
Definition of hypnosis: Hypnosis is a set of procedures where verbal suggestions are used to modulate awareness, perception, and cognition. So lets delve into what hypnosis can and can’t do for patients.
The effectiveness of hypnosis with pain management is well documented. The best evidence that hypnosis works comes from pain management research. Numerous studies have documented how hypnosis can reduce many different kinds of pain, including chronic and surgical pain. Researchers at the University of Hartford found that hypnosis is a very efficacious treatment for alleviating clinical pain. A separate study at Texas A&M concluded that “the efficacy of hypnosis in reducing pain was consistently confirmed for a variety of different chronic pain conditions including lower back pain and arthritis pain.”
The effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment for other medical and mental health conditions is less clear but might still be a treatment worth considering. Studies investigating whether hypnosis can help people quit smoking, lose weight, overcome stress, anxiety, insomnia, oar phobias or cope with post traumatic stress syndrome and other issues have not been as clear finding mixed or moderate results. A study at the University of California found that 20% of smokers who tried hypnosis were able to quit for at least 12 months versus 14% of smokers who received only behavioral counseling. That is a positive effect and comparable to other treatment approaches. Mixed results don’t mean that hypnosis is not worth trying. There is significant evidence that hypnosis treatments can be beneficial for many people. It’s not uncommon to encounter people who have tried many times to quit smoking but succeeded with hypnosis. And unlike many health care treatments, hypnosis has no side effects so it is worth trying.
In the next blog I will discuss other issues that are benefited by hypnosis and those that have not in addition to how it works. It is important to remember that hypnosis should not be advertised as a cure-all. Any hypnotist that advertises such should not be seen.
If you have any questions about hypnosis and whether it is a possible treatment for your condition, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 361.442.9590.