Hypnosis for Pain Management

Can Hypnotherapy help with pain management?

There are resources available to help you manage these challenges and improve your overall well-being, one of them being Hypnotherapy. The use of Hypnotherapy in pain management is one of the best documented and evidenced uses of hypnosis because changes in pain perception and experience can be reported and measured. Before embarking on any Hypnotherapy for pain management it is important to see your Dr to make sure that you are receiving any treatment needed for the source of the pain such as medication of physical therapy. Any good Hypnotherapist will want to make sure you are under a Dr’s care before working on pain relief with you. They should also be willing to work in collaboration with your Dr and have experience in working with clients for pain management.

Some ways hypnosis can be used for pain management

• Reducing awareness of pain intensity: hypnosis can help to reduce the focus on intense pain by redirecting attention away from the painful sensations and towards more helpful and comfortable thoughts, feelings and physical sensations
• Improving coping skills: a good Hypnotherapist can teach healthy coping skills that people can use to manage pain on their own, such as Self Hypnosis
• Reducing anxiety and stress: anxiety and stress can worsen pain perception. Hypnosis can help to reduce anxiety and stress, which can indirectly lead to pain relief
• Improving sleep: pain can interfere with sleep, and poor sleep can make pain worse. Hypnosis can help to improve sleep quality, which can lead to better pain management

Pain, particularly chronic pain, is a significant issue in Scotland, impacting individuals, healthcare systems and the economy. Here are some key statistics

Prevalence

• Over one-third (38%) of adults in Scotland reported experiencing chronic pain (lasting 3 months or more) in 2022 (Source: Scottish Health Survey 2022)
• Women (43%) are more likely to experience chronic pain than men (33%) (Source: Scottish Health Survey 2022)
• Chronic pain prevalence increases with age, with 18% of 16-24 year olds and 55% of those aged 75 and above reporting it (Source: Scottish Health Survey 2022)
• Around 6% of children also experience chronic pain, with a higher prevalence among 8-15 year olds compared to younger children (Source: Scottish Health Survey 2022)

Impact

• Pain is a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life in Scotland
• It can lead to depression, anxiety and sleep problems
• The economic cost of pain in Scotland is estimated to be in the billions of pounds per year

Healthcare Utilisation

• Referrals to chronic pain clinics are now back to pre-pandemic levels, with over 4,900 patients referred in the quarter ending June 2023 (Source: Public Health Scotland, Chronic Pain Waiting Times)
• However, waiting times for consultant-led clinics remain longer than before the pandemic, with over 20% of patients waiting over 25 weeks for their first appointment (Source: Public Health Scotland, Chronic Pain Waiting Times)

If you are experiencing pain, in sessions, I will guide you through the process of how to manage it better so you can move from coping to thriving.

Sessions are available in person and online.