Hypnosis for Chronic Back Pain
Many people take chronic back pain as a common symptom of adulting. I disagree. I believe there are methods to manage chronic back pain and live a healthy, fulfilling life.
If you’ve ever experienced chronic back pain, you know how it can take over your life. It can be a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing sensation. Chronic back pain can impact everything in your life—from your daily mood to your activity level.
Yes, thankfully there are countless treatments out there. However many people are turning their heads away from medical interventions to holistic approaches. This is where the power of hypnosis becomes crucial as a natural, and effective way to manage and reduce chronic back pain.
What is hypnosis, really?
Let’s start with the most important part: knowing what hypnosis really is.
Hypnosis isn’t about swinging pendulums or losing control of your mind. On the contrary, it’s a state that is familiar to all of us. It’s a focused state of relaxation, and mental calmness that helps tap into your subconscious mind. In this state, you’re more open to suggestions that can change your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.
For chronic pain, hypnosis works by changing the way your brain perceives pain signals. Think of it as turning down the volume on a noisy radio. In some cases, pain disappears or in some, the pain is still there, but it doesn’t affect the life quality in the same distructive way.
Another perspective on back pain
Far from medical reasons, there can be spiritual and psychosomatic reasons behind back pain as well. Emotionally, our back represents responsibilities and the past.
For example, it’s common for men to have back pain when they are the main providers for the home. Other examples can be responsibilities of kids, home care, elderly care, money-related responsibilities, emotional responsibilities, and expectations.
We also tend to hold the past on our backs. Negative past experiences, and difficult emotions such as guilt, intense worry, shame, or disappointment could be stored in the back.
Subconscious techniques like hypnosis can be especially helpful for chronic back pain caused by emotions or psychosomatic reasons.
The science behind hypnosis for chronic back pain
If you love a good scientific explanation, you’ll be happy to know that there’s solid research backing up the use of hypnosis for pain management.
A study published in the Journal of Pain found that participants who underwent hypnosis experienced a significant reduction in chronic pain intensity. In the study, out of 100 participants, one group received pain education and the other group received both pain education and clinical hypnosis. At the end of the study, participants who received pain education and clinical hypnosis reported having the least pain intensity.
Other research has shown that hypnosis can decrease the need for pain medications and improve the overall quality of life for those dealing with persistent pain conditions. The study also concluded that hypnosis can be taken as an alternative to pharmaceutical interventions for pain management.
Hypnotherapy can help with managing chronic back pain or releasing it.
How hypnosis helps with chronic back pain
The way we all perceive pain is different from each other. About 80% of the pain we experience is the sensation of pain that is subjective to the person. With hypnosis, we can modify this perceived sensation subconsciously.
So, how exactly does hypnosis reduce chronic back pain? Here are a few key ways:
1. Rewiring Pain Pathways
Chronic pain isn’t just about a physical injury. Over time, the brain creates pathways that reinforce the experience of pain, even if the original cause has healed. Hypnosis can help rewire these pathways, changing the brain’s automatic conditioned pain response.
2. Reducing Stress and Tension
Pain and stress are closely linked. The more stressed we are, the more we tense up, which can make pain much worse. When the muscles are clenched, the pain becomes more pronounced.
Just the state of hypnosis itself is very relaxing and calming. It helps with relaxing deeply, reducing tension in the muscles, and calming the nervous system. Additionally, when stressors are released during hypnosis, the calming effects of relief become even more powerful.
3. Shifting Emotional Responses to Pain
Pain isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, too. Chronic pain can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and even depression. Losing our natural abilities, losing confidence, and not being able to do certain things with ease can increase the disappointment and frustration further.
Hypnosis helps change your emotional response to pain, making it feel less overwhelming and more manageable. When the pain is less, one can feel more empowered, confident, and able, which also opens a path for getting back to normal activities.
4. Finding the root cause
Sometimes the cause of chronic back pain may not be medical but can be emotional. The subconscious mind holds these repressed emotions and memories. Hypnosis allows us to discover the part of your mind that is holding on to pain so tightly so we can help release it.
5. Mind body connection
The subconscious mind controls the body’s functions inherently. Have you ever imagined somewhere snowy and felt cold? Or have you ever looked at a picture of a tropical warm vacation spot and felt warm and fuzzy? Your body responds to your mind’s commands constantly.
Hypnosis allows us to modify the mind’s signals to the body. So instead of initiating pain, we can work on creating harmony and comfort.
Is Hypnosis Right for You?
Hypnosis is a powerful tool, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It works best as part of a holistic approach to pain management, along with other things like medical support, reframing thoughts, different lifestyle choices, and physical therapy.
If you’re open to exploring new ways to manage your chronic back pain, hypnosis might just be the missing piece of the puzzle. It has no side effects, it’s simple and it uses your mind power.