As a therapist, I have had the privilege of working with many cancer patients over the years including my life partner. Cancer can be a devastating diagnosis, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. Many patients feel helpless and overwhelmed by the disease and its treatment. However, one treatment that has shown promise in helping cancer patients cope with their diagnosis and treatment is hypnosis.
Hypnosis is a technique that involves inducing a trance-like state in a person to help them access their subconscious mind. During this state, a therapist can suggest positive and healing thoughts and behaviors to the patient. This can help the patient to manage pain, reduce anxiety, and improve their overall well-being.
Research has shown that hypnosis can be an effective complementary therapy for cancer patients. In one study, breast cancer patients who received hypnosis along with traditional medical treatment reported less pain, less fatigue, and less emotional distress than those who received only medical treatment. In another study, cancer patients who underwent hypnosis before surgery required less pain medication and had a shorter hospital stay than those who did not receive hypnosis.
From my own experience, I have seen many cancer patients benefit from hypnosis. One patient, in particular, stands out in my mind. She was a young woman in her thirties who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was understandably anxious and fearful about her diagnosis and treatment. We worked together over several weeks to help her learn self-hypnosis techniques to manage her anxiety and pain.
She reported that she was able to reduce her anxiety and pain significantly through hypnosis. This patient also felt more in control of her situation and had a more positive outlook on her treatment and recovery. She even reported feeling more energized and able to enjoy her life outside of her treatment.
The other one was my partner, whom I gave multiple energy healing sessions and hypnosis sessions to. The outcome for her was not on the physical body, and she did pass away, however, her understanding of life, the illness, and her shift in perceptions, grieving of her past, and accepting, with supporting her introspective growth was absolutely outstanding.
While hypnosis is not a cure for cancer, it has been known in certain cases for what people call “miracle recovery. However in most cases it can be a powerful tool for cancer patients to manage the physical and emotional symptoms of the disease and its treatment. It is also a safe and non-invasive therapy that can be used in conjunction with traditional medical treatment.
As therapists, we have a responsibility to explore all possible avenues of treatment to help our clients. Hypnosis is one such avenue that should be considered for cancer patients. It can help patients to feel more in control of their situation, reduce their pain and anxiety, and improve their overall quality of life.
In conclusion, hypnosis is a valuable complementary therapy for cancer patients. While more research is needed to fully understand its benefits, it is clear that it can be a powerful tool for cancer patients to manage the physical and emotional symptoms of the disease and its treatment.
As therapists, we should continue to explore the potential of hypnosis as a tool to help our clients cope with cancer and other illnesses, and through regular sessions, allow for the well-being of patients to be the key of our practice.
If you need support in your exploration of this life changing illness called cancer, you can book a session with me directly online.