Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Phantom Pain

Much of what goes on in our bodies is controlled by the subconscious mind. A simple example is the process of moving from a sitting to a standing position. Infants (and stroke survivors also, for example) have to think consciously of exactly what their muscles need to do while they are learning to stand up, but it soon becomes automatic. Thereafter, when we want to stand up, we simply do it -- from then on, it's a process that's controlled by the subconscious mind.

Having learned how to control the body, the subconscious mind is "conditioned" to experience certain sensations from arms and legs and to expect certain responses from them on "command." When arms or legs are no longer there, however, the subconscious mind continues to experience the old, learned sensations and to expect certain responses -- that is, until the subconscious mind is retrained to understand the new reality of the absent limb and have new expectations of sensation.

Stress is anything that makes you change, adjust or adapt. And it's cumulative. For example, if you have a tense or difficult discussion with a spouse or co-worker, and later spill coffee on your computer, the stress of spilling the coffee doesn't replace the stress of the discussion. It just adds another layer to your stress level that day. Physical and mental damage can result from too much stress, so it's important to learn and to use good coping skills to relax and relieve the pressure. Here are just a few:

Although we don't understand the subconscious completely, the literature is full of documentation of how the subconscious mind can control pain (which I prefer to call "discomfort" - a less emotional term), and even "cure" diseases, such as cancer. For example, the Institute for Noetic Sciences has documented over 3000 cases of such "cures."

Certainly, one can explain phantom sensation and even painful phantoms in neurological and physiological terms, but we know the subconscious plays an important part, also. Surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical clinicians are trained to concentrate on the neurological and physiological explanations in recommending therapies to abate the pain. Hypnotherapy, however, concentrates on the subconscious mind for answers, with an impressive degree of success, I might add.

Deep relaxation produces desirable physiological and biochemical responses that are exactly the opposite of those seen during stress. According to stress expert Dr. Edmund Jacobson: "An anxious mind cannot exist in a relaxed body".

Imagery and visualization are very important tools in hypnotherapy. When working with individuals who suffer chronic phantom pain, I would take them into a deeply relaxed state and ask them to visualize what is going on in their bodies. I might ask them to visualize their body as a blueprint of limbs and organs with the mind as a "control room." I might ask them to journey down through the body from the control room--down an imaginary elevator to an absent leg, for example -- to see what is going on there. I might ask the individual to visualize what is causing the discomfort and then visualize "switches" in the control room that might be able to shut off the pain. What is the residual limb or the phantom trying to say through the discomfort it's transmitting? What can the control room do to stop listening?

I might ask them to change their body blueprint to more accurately reflect the new situation, so there will be no conflict or confusion between what "was," and what "is." I might ask them to rate their discomfort on a scale of one to ten, for example, and then find the "volume control" with which they can "turn it down."

I might also ask the subconscious mind to "negotiate" with the absent part to find out why it's "misbehaving" and reach an "agreement" that will result in new, non-painful, patterns of sensation.

An encouraging thing about these kinds of techniques is that they can be effective in treating all kinds of discomfort. Thus, these methods can help relieve "real" discomfort in residual limbs as well as "phantom" discomfort in absent limbs.

In terms of therapy, I believe in using a feather instead of a hammer. For phantom pain sufferers, neuroma resection, neural blocks, and other surgical therapies are hammers. Hypnotherapy is a feather. But because the subconscious mind is so very powerful, the feather is powerful, too.

Richard Neves, PhD., can be contacted through Healthy Life Centers at (888) 865-1870 and http://www.iwanttoquitsmoking.com

---

The Macrobiotic Approach To Health And Wellness

It may be an ordinary dance studio during the week,... Read More

What Disorders Can Acupuncture Treat and How Does It Work?

How did acupuncture start?The story was met with widespread disbelief.During... Read More

Treat Cold, Flu, and Ear Infection the Natural Way

With or without medication, the cold or the flu can... Read More

Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Phantom Pain

Much of what goes on in our bodies is controlled... Read More

Secrets Of Aromatherapy Part I - Physical Remedies

Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of a... Read More

Sheepskin Underlays, For a Better Sleep

Sheepskin a better sleep If you want a better sleep,... Read More

Using Carrot Juice for Relieving Constipation

Carrot JuiceCarrot juices contain certain oils that work on the... Read More

More Vegetable Constipation Remedies

Here are more constipation remedies using vegetables. Use vegetables every... Read More

Constipation: the Fast, Easy Answer to Something No One Talks About

Everyone jokes about constipation, but it's no joke if you're... Read More

Title: Using Rhubarb for Constipation

Vegetables like fruits and their juices have healing properties because... Read More

Shamanic Healing & Soul Retrieval

Shamanic healing is one of the vast numbers of healing... Read More

How the Subconscious Reasons When It Communicates With You About Pain Relief

The subconscious is a strange creature. It doesn't know what... Read More

Hyaluronic Acid - The Natural Face Lift?

If So What Is It and What Does It Do?In... Read More

Aloe Vera - No Wonder They Call It The Miracle Plant

Aloe Vera is a member of the Lily family. It... Read More

Do-Sa-Do For Mindfulness

When I was 12, one of my best friends was... Read More

Tai Chi Breathing Reduces Residual Air in Ineffective Retention Space

Breathing is the source of life: if breathing stops, do... Read More

Reflexology Therapy

Reflexology therapy, (an ancient art practiced by early Egyptians), is... Read More

Healing the Body & Mind ? The Karma of Health

Within each one of us resides the divine healer. All... Read More

Dopamine Relieves Pain ? Try Encouraging Your Subconscious To Supply It

Dopamine has long been known to be linked to positive... Read More

Alternative Fibromyalgia Therapies

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disease that is effecting more and... Read More

Arthritis Relief and Your Diet

Arthritis affects more than 40 million Americans and is referred... Read More

Does A Compulsive Gambler Really Want To Stop Gambling?

This question most gamblers ask themselves when they begin to... Read More

Check Your Colon Transient Time

Many doctors and others in the health field may tell... Read More

Treatment Options for Hand and Foot Eczema

There are many kinds of eczema, and too few people... Read More

Fitness-related Benefits of Massage

Ask someone their reason for getting a massage and you're... Read More

Why Detoxify?

Have you been hearing about detoxification more often? That's because... Read More

Hypertension, An Alternative Approach

For many years high blood pressure has been defined based... Read More

Herbal and Home Remedies that Prevent Memory Loss

Even a single family member who is senile or afflicted... Read More

Tobacco Hypnosis: Cigarettes Are My Friend

Practicing hypnotherapists hear many peculiar statements from smokers who ask... Read More

A 100% Drug Free Hemorrhoids Solution!

Did you know every year 25 Million people in the... Read More

Reduce Asthma And Breathe Free

Asthma can be a serous and often frightening condition that... Read More

Being Rubbed Up ? The Right Way! - The Therapeutic Wonders of Massage

PROBABLY one of the most... Read More

Once You Discover and Act on This ?Secret? to Health and Energy, You May be Changed for the Better

I discovered something completely, 100% amazing about 5 years ago.... Read More