surgery
how hypnotherapy can help
Although, in the past, it was fairly common to use hypnosis as the only anaesthetic during an operation, it is less so today. Indeed, chemical anaesthesia has become so reliable and easy to administer that, in most cases, it makes sense to just use it. Hypnotherapy can, however, still significantly benefit a person about to undergoing surgery. Here are some of the ways:
- Hypnosis can decrease a patient’s fear and anxiety ahead of an operation, replacing it with positive feelings of calm, confidence and empowerment. (See Emotional Issues.)
- Hypnotic analgesia can reduce or eliminate pain from both the illness or injury itself and from an invasive medical procedure. (See Pain Management.)
- Hypnosis can reduce unhelpful bleeding and so assist medical practitioners in their treatment.
- Hypnosis can facilitate the healing process and reduce the recovery time after surgery.
- In transplant surgery, hypnosis can reduce the chance of organ rejection.
preparation
Although ideally I’d like to start working with you about 5 weeks before your operation, I know it’s not always possible to do so. However, shorter periods of pre-surgery preparation can also be beneficial. The work we’ll do together could include the following:
- Helping you to manage your emotions: Although it is quite understandable to feel stressed and afraid ahead of an operation, such emotions are seldom of any real benefit. Maintaining a positive attitude is however helpful. Chronic stress and feelings of helplessness adversely affect treatment, while positive expectations and the right attitude increase one’s immune system’s ability to fight off infection and bolster the recovery and healing process.
- Pain control or pain management.
- Programming to remain confident, secure and relaxed while under chemical anaesthetic.
- Programming for a speedy recovery after the operation.
during surgery
If allowed to do so, I will work with your surgeon before the operation to encourage him to only say things that are helpful to you during the procedure. There is strong evidence to suggest that, at least on an unconscious level, we hear and remember everything that happens to us while we are under general anaesthetic. It therefore makes sense to use this state to encourage both a positive attitude and the healing process. Interestingly, we’re also sometimes able to respond to some instructions while we are under.
I am able to first prepare you and then offer your medical practitioner guidance to utilise this phenomenon. Positive comments and suggestions of healing made by the medical team while you are under can play a significant role in your recovery, and your surgeon may also find it useful to be able to instructing you to relax your muscles or reduce the bleeding in a certain part of your body while you are on the operating table.
after care
Post operative work is in essence a continuation and a reinforcement of the process began before the operation. It will typically have the following components:
- Assistance to quickly recover from the after effects of the anaesthetic.
- Reinforcing positive expectations and a positive attitude.
- Support in the event that you need to adjust to a new reality after your operation.
- Continued pain control and pain management.
- Imagery to help the body heal quickly and effectively.
help
Hypnosis and NLP are excellent tools to focus a person’s mental resources, to help manage discomfort more easily and to enhance the recovery or healing process. If you are facing an operation, please either make a time to see me, or contact me with any questions you may have.
