Hypnosis & Its Uses

Hypnosis has been found effective in the treatment of many different types of illnesses. For example, it is useful in helping cancer patients visualize themselves becoming healthy again. It is also useful in treating digestive problems and eating disorders. Hypnosis has also been found successful in behavior modification programs for stopping smoking (Rodin & Key, 1990, p. 544). One of the most practical areas for the use of hypnosis in medicine is that of pain management. In this regard, hypnosis has been found useful in helping burn patients control their own pain. It has also been used to reduce pain during the medical procedures involved in dental surgery or childbirth. There have been successful reports of hypnosis being used in the relief of chronic pain, as well. Because hypnosis is capable of reducing pain, it has

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ing resources, and providing experiences of mastery" (p. 85). Appel cites a case study in which a young wheelchair-bound patient was able to overcome a wide range of medical conditions after hypnosis helped her to experience herself "as masterful and competent" (p. 91). In learning to control their own physical and emotional processes, patients engaged in hypnosis therapy are able to dissociate themselves from their feelings of pain. Many researchers have pointed out that pain is not merely a physical sensation. In addition, there is an emotional side in the experience of pain. Because of this emotional aspect, each person experiences his or her own pain in a unique way. In the words of Fildes (1989): "The perception of pain is not just a matter of transmission of electrical signals to the cortex, but involves their filtration through a complex mesh of unconscious activity that labels, modifies and qualifies the signals according to the individual's frame of reference, needs and emotional activity" (p. 1493). Because the sensation is largely a subjective experience, each person can learn to have mastery or control over pain. There are various techniques for obtaining this sense of control. In many cases, the hypnotized
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According Appel, According Blankfield, Rodin Key, Gemperle Buchser, United Europe, Clinical Hypnosis, Europe United, Sigmund Freud, Cloquet France, Charles Poyen, healing process, hypnosis found, medical hypnosis, control own, gravitz 1988, blankfield 1991, fildes 1989, hypnosis effective, cochrane 1991, patient able, american journal clinical, rodin key 1990, journal clinical hypnosis, moret et al, key 1990 544,
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