What
is fibromyalgia?
The word
means "pain in the muscles and the fibrous connective
tissues, in other words, the ligaments and tendons."
It is often confusing and misunderstood because so many of
the symptoms may appear in other conditions. Fibromyalgia
causes pain and stiffness that can sometimes be quite severe.
The muscles can become very weary, especially those which
hold up the spine.
Fibromyalgia
affects about two percent of the US population, some five
million people. Many go through complicated and repeated evaluations
before they are diagnosed because the description of pain
is so general and often similar to other disorders.
What
are some common signs of fibromyalgia?
If you
have fibromyalgia, you may be experiencing pain throughout
your body that may change places and depend upon the time
of day or the weather. It may feel like a very persistent
flu or like being bruised all over. You probably have specific
tender points on your body, something that separates fibromyalgia
from other conditions. Some people report problems with sleep
or mood swings, or have trouble concentrating.
How
can hypnosis help the pain I experience?
Hypnosis
can help you learn to manage your pain. It can keep you motivated
to do the exercises needed for flexibility and movement. Hypnosis
can support the nutrition that supplies what the body needs
for better defense. It can help you function for longer periods
of time without the discomfort you have experienced in the
past. The unconscious mind handles the automatic body functions
and hypnosis can encourage those systems to operate at their
best.
I'm
exhausted without enough sleep. Can hypnosis help me to sleep
better?
Sleep
deprivation or interruption becomes a vicious cycle. Hypnosis
can help train your body to relax. You'll learn to breathe
more deeply. You can train your muscles, ligaments and tendons
to "let go" for awhile so you can go to sleep more
easily, and once asleep, sleep more soundly. Hypnosis can
also help you go back to sleep if you are awakened for any
reason.
Sometimes
I'm so discouraged I can't move. How can hypnosis help me?
A chronic
illness takes its toll not only on the body, but also on the
mind and spirit. Caring for the body is often such a major
task that the mind is overwhelmed. Anxiety, discouragement
and depression are common consequences of dealing with chronic
pain. Hypnosis can work to counteract the negativism and anxiety
that build up so easily. Working in a relaxed and receptive
state, the positive suggestions given in hypnosis can become
automatic in your thinking and doing.
Can
I use hypnosis and regular medical care together?
Yes.
Hypnotherapy does not take the place of qualified medical
care. Hypnotherapy can help alleviate painful symptoms and
help your body to work at its best. You can become more relaxed
through the day and thus be better able to focus and concentrate.
Your experience of life can be enhanced.
"Within
a month I was free from pain and felt an exuberance and excitement
about life." (Educator) |
