What can hypnosis be used for?

I'm often asked by potential clients what hypnosis can be used to help with. This is actually quite a dififcult question to answer as there are so MANY situations in which hypnosis can be a wonderful form of therapy. There are of course, some situations where hypnosis may not be the most useful or effective way to deal with something, but in this blog I wanted to try to set out some kind of list of things where hypnosis is very likely to be at the very least, helpful and best case, perhaps help overcome completely.

Hypnosis is used in a variety of settings - from emergency rooms to dental offices. But what is the evidence in favour of using it? Clinical studies suggest that hypnosis may improve immune function, increase relaxation, decrease stress, and ease pain and feelings of anxiety. Hypnotherapy can also reduce the fear and anxiety that some people feel before medical or dental procedures. For example, studies show that dental patients who underwent hypnosis had a significantly higher threshold for pain than those who were not using hypnosis. Hypnosis may also improve recovery time and reduce anxiety and pain following surgery. Clinical trials on burn patients suggest that hypnosis decreases pain (enough to even replace pain medication in some cases) and speeds healing. Generally, clinical studies show that using hypnosis may reduce your need for medication, improve your mental and physical condition before an operation, and reduce the time it takes to recover

Visiting a hypnotherapist can also help you learn self regulation skills. For instance, someone with arthritis may learn to turn down pain like the volume on a radio. Hypnotherapy can also be used to help manage chronic illness as it can be used to enhance a sense of control, which is often lacking when someone has a chronic illness.

I promised you a list, so here are a few other problems or conditions that may respond to hypnotherapy:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Tension headaches
• Alopecia areata
• Asthma
• Phobias
• Insomnia
• Addictions
• Bedwetting
• Fibromyalgia
• Phobias
• Pregnancy anxiety, labour pain and birth
• Skin disorders (such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema)
• Stress
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Cancer related pain
• Weight loss
• Eating disorders
• High blood pressure
• Indigestion (dyspepsia) 

Aside from these medical conditions, hypnotherapy is also hugely beneficial for people who are suffering from anxiety about giving presentations / public speaking, driving test nerves, to stop smoking and one area I particularly specialise in, enhancing sports performance.

If you would like to find out more about how hypnotherapy could help you, please contact Christy for a free telephone consultation on 01252 334377 or email: Christy@christyhypnotherapy.com.

(This blog was inspired by and uses information presented in an article appearing in the Hypnotherapy Training International publication.)