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Changing Pain
By Daniel F. Cleary, C.Ht.
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Ten Percent Solution
In my experience, people come to a hypnotist for pain management only after several other modalities of treatment have failed. Drug therapy was either ineffective or left the clients feeling too drugged to maintain the life they desire. Physical therapy may have been too painful due to the pain (I have not only heard that one, I have said it!). The clients may simply choose not to be dependent on drugs for an indefinite period. They come because of the FAILURE of everything else they have tried. When I see clients for pain management I discuss the life adjustments that they have made and how they believe their life will change when they learn to eliminate their discomfort. I ask how they would feel about leaving the office totally free of pain. Everyone says how wonderful that would be and I tell him or her I am sorry, but I can't do that. I explain the difference between pain and discomfort and ask if fifty percent relief would have a positive impact on their life. Yes is the usual answer. Now, I ask. What if you could have twenty-five percent relief, fifteen, etc.? Help the client understand the improvement they can experience at a level they can undoubtedly achieve. Remember, these people have been to the doctors, they have had physical therapy, they probably know more about their condition than the doctors who FAILED to GIVE them relief. By stating with certainty that we can achieve ten to twenty percent improvement today and by having them be aware of the immediate positive impact that this will have in their life, we create a win-win situation. They can believe ten or twenty percent relief. They understand the immediate benefit. Relaxation and visualization will give them at least ten percent to twenty percent relief, any more than that is a bonus; exceeding expectation rather than failing an expectation of complete relief. With this success, they can believe what you tell them in the future. You become their hero. By turning that response around; reminding them that they are heroes, they did it for themselves, you have given them the one thing they need most-a sense of control in their lives.
Methods
Some hypnotists consider the somnambulistic state the most effective level of hypnosis to work with. Others feel that even in waking state we have the opportunity to assist great change. Utilize your skills and abilities as you encourage your clients to use theirs. Any theory we choose as a method of changing or eliminating a condition or situation, will work wonderfully some of the time and leave opportunity for vast improvement some of the time. The more complicated the theory, the more complicated the solution. Keep it simple. One very effective method, worthy of consideration: Ask the clients what THEY believe would allow them to improve. Whatever the presenting condition or issue, the client has the key to success within.
Direct Suggestions
This works in most cases although it may not address the cause of the discomfort. By addressing cause we may achieve longer-lasting improvement.
Relaxation
Relaxation lowers blood pressure and allows the entire body to heal more rapidly. Tension cannot exist together with relaxation. The cause of most dis-ease includes tension. Relaxation reminds us of the control we have within our bodies. Utilizing our ability to relax builds self-confidence, improves our immune system and energizes our entire being. Abdominal breathing oxygenates the blood causing the muscles to more easily relax. By instructing clients to breathe in this fashion, then suggesting that they notice how easily they relax, we utilize physical reaction as a convincer of powerful hypnosis.
Visualization
For the purpose of this presentation, the term visualization refers to any method of perception: sight, sound, taste, smell, feel, however you understand or perceive is exactly correct . . . for you.
Safe Place
Listen to the clients during the pre-talk and ask questions that will assist in creating a wonderful place filled with all the resources the clients will ever want or need. Remind them that everything in their safe place is there with their permission and by their willing choice. By establishing a safe place as a point from which to pursue other work, the clients always have an option of retreat, if for any reason they become uncomfortable during more intense aspects of a session. Through doorways and paths from the safe place, we proceed to regression, or parts work, etc. The following excerpts are to be considered solely as guides. That these or similar scripts have been so effective, for so many, is the result of listening to the client and together crafting the success.
Protective Shield
". . . You may feel this profound relaxation in every muscle, fiber and cell of your body . . . you may begin to notice a glowing healing sensation . . . As you begin to experience this sensation you may notice that you feel this sensation in one area more than another . . . Focus your attention on the area in which you notice this wonderful healing, glowing sensation. It may seem like sunlight, or radiance within you. As you focus upon it realize that it spreads to every muscle, fiber, and cell of your body . . . The more aware you are of the wonderful, glowing, healing radiance within, the more rapidly it begins to flow, easily, naturally, to all the muscles, to every cell and fiber of your being. Now let yourself, allow yourself, to be aware of this glowing, healing energy as it spreads beyond the physical limits of your being and radiates from you, protecting you, and drawing toward you, all the health and joy which is yours and which you so richly deserve."
Discomfort as an Object
". . . See in your mind or imagine, that this discomfort has a size and perhaps a shape. You may see it with a particular color. Perhaps this discomfort has a sound. . . as you begin to see, hear or imagine the discomfort, allow yourself to begin to change the shape. . . As you focus upon the shape and size, notice that it begins to shrink . . . as it shrinks so does the effect that it has had in your life in the past. "By changing the aspects of the object, the client changes the perception of the discomfort. Utilize as many of the senses as comfortable; breathing coolness into it may perhaps cool the burning, fiery pain. In the following examples, using a series of controls to gradually effect the change keeps the concept believable. Remind them to reduce the discomfort
until they have improvement, knowing that as they utilize their abilities the improvement increases.
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For several years I would have to lie in the doctor's office for two or more hours trying to relax and calm myself to lower my blood pressure so I could pass my flight physical. Today I was able to have my pressure taken just once and it was perfectly normal. I passed with flying colors!
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