How Does Hypnosis Help Pain?
Relaxation of the mind reduces the anticipation of the pain and relaxation of the body raises the pain threshold. Putting our attention on pain makes it worse. The reverse is true also. We can distract our mind away from pain. Have you ever been so busy that you didn’t feel a bruise or a toothache until things quieted down? Hypnosis can help the anxiety and depression that often accompany pain, making it easier to bear and less likely to interfere with life. Self-relaxation is a way of relaxing every muscle. When we are in pain, we tense, not consciously, but as a coping reflex against pain. But muscle tension magnifies pain. So the secret of pain relief is total relaxation, a warm comfortable feeling, a stretch of time that can last as long as you wish and be almost pain free. Many dentists now use hypnosis to reduce fear and the need for anesthesia.
