Despite advances in cancer treatment, a diagnosis is a huge shock to the individual involved and their loved ones. A diagnosis is often very stressful, coupled with physical pain and uncertainty about treatments and the future. Hypnotherapy can work alongside conventional medical treatments to improve quality of life. Hypnosis is related to a state of consciousness where the mind is deeply relaxed, with increased suggestibility and narrowed focus. Hypnotherapy is when hypnosis is used therapeutically.
Mind Body Connection
The mind and body are intertwined, so that we cannot separate our physical health from our emotional health, we often experience physical sensations when we feel nervous about something, such as stomach churning and pounding heartbeat. There is evidence that stressful emotions can affect our immunity by altering cell function, which can reduce white blood cells response to cancerous cells. Hypnotherapy can improve the mind body connection assisting the body’s ability to maintain wellbeing.
Stress
Stress is a necessary part of life, however too much stress can be detrimental to our health, including difficulty in sleeping. Cancer patients are often suffering with high stress levels, frequently resulting in sleeplessness. Hypnotherapy can help cancer patients manage their stress better, firstly by getting people into a hypnotic trance which in itself is very relaxing. Secondly, using a method such as the calm technique, which initially focuses on breathing, then saying the word calm several times and allowing the word to drift around the mind to reduce stress levels.
Pain Management
Many people living with cancer will also experience physical pain. This is generally caused by a tumour pressing on a part of the nervous system. There are research studies that support hypnotherapy being effective in helping people manage their pain. A hypnotherapist may make a suggestion that the mind has a control panel which means that a pain can be dialled down, or suggest that the painful area is getting numb. Related to pain management is hypnohealing. This involves focussing the mind on healing the body, for example, visualising a cancerous tumour getting smaller.
Surgery
Surgery is a major part of treatment for many cancers and involves removing tissue from the body, surgery is not only used to treat cancer, but can be used to diagnose and also but also to diagnose cancer and to reduce the risk of getting certain types of cancer if you are at high risk. Understandably, many people are anxious about having surgery. Hypnotherapy can help with surgery by not only reducing anxiety levels before surgery, but also reduce pain before, during and after surgery. Hypnotherapy can also help reduce some of the side effects of the anaesthetic and aid healing after the surgery.
Hypnotherapy for cancer care is available with an Edinburgh Hypnotherapist, Get in contact to arrange a session.
