Fibromyalgia Pain
Question
I HAVE FIBROMYALGIA--A PAINFUL, CHRONIC DISEASE. I WAS WONDERING IF HYPNOSIS HAS BEEN TRIED FOR CHRONIC PAIN YET, AND WHAT THE RESULTS WERE.
Answer
The questions from readers this month deal with hypnosis and pain management. But before I answer specific questions about this subject, I feel it is important to remind my readers that pain is a natural and necessary method the body uses to let us know something is wrong. So, first of all, it is important to have any pain checked by a doctor before using hypnosis. This is to rule out any physical problem, or to inform the client of some issue or condition they might be unaware of. There are many hypnotherapists, by the way, who actually specialize in pain management. You may find one in your own geographical area. If not, check my FavLinks. There are several directories of qualified hypnotherapists across the country. The mind is amazingly more powerful than we are usually aware of. Hypnosis has been used to help manage pain for many decades. It has even proven to be so powerful that surgery has been done without anesthetic. Fibromyalgia, which has to do with pain in the fibrous connective tissues (that is, the ligaments, tendons, and connective sheaths between and surrounding the muscles) can definitely be eased with hypnosis. Because the unconscious mind handles the automatic body functions, the use of hypnosis can encourage those systems to operate at their best. It can help you control the amount of pain you have, and it's intensity. A good hypnotherapist can motivate you do the simple stretching and other exercises needed to keep flexibility and movement when more active exercising seems impossible. Hypnosis can support the nutrition and eating habits that supplies what the body needs for better defense. It can help you function for longer periods of time without the discomfort you've experienced in the past. There are other things that can help a person in this condition. You might be surprised to find that there are hypnotherapists who have this condition themselves or specialize in it. Ask around.