More Mental Health Articles
Hypnosis for Seniors
Hypnosis has been extensively scientifically investigated over the past 100 years. As a result, there is wide agreement among both researchers and practitioners about what typically occurs when a person experiences the hypnotic state, and how the hypnotic state can be used to help people solve a variety of personal problems and lead healthier, happier lives.
Hypnosis is a fascinating phenomenon. It is definitely not sleep, and yet is not really a fully waking state either. It is best described as an intensified state of attention and concentration, and is most often characterized by deep, very comfortable relaxation. It is most easily induced by a hypnotherapist using specific verbal techniques, and yet it is entirely the result of the hypnotized person's own mental abilities. Therefore, in a sense, all hypnosis is really self-hypnosis.
Hypnosis has been found to be extraordinarily beneficial for older adults. It can be used for dealing with chronic pain, preparation for surgery and post-surgery recovery. Additionally, hypnosis is used to help people reduce the amount of medication being taken (with the approval of the prescribing physician), and for de-fusing disturbing memories such as grief.
Other issues that can be addressed with hypnosis include improving immune function, controlling many forms of acute pain, relief of gastrointestinal problems, stimulating weight loss, clearing up skin problems, and accelerating the healing of bone fractures, burns and surgical wounds. Also, hypnosis has been found effective in reducing the amount of analgesic medication needed to control arthritic pain and as an effective analgesic during dental procedures.
In one of hundreds of studies, C. Ashton, GC Whitworth, Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 1997, found that patients who were taught self-hypnosis before coronary artery bypass surgery (mean age was 64 years in the hypnosis group) needed less postoperative pain medication and had less postoperative anxiety and tension compared with a control group. Moreover, M.C. Gay, P. Philippot, O. Luminet, European Journal of Pain, 2002 reported that older adults using self-hypnosis were effective in reducing the amount of analgesic medication needed to control arthritic pain.
In previous articles, I've listed many additional benefits of hypnosis such as relieving the fear of flying, the fear of heights and driving over bridges, stopping smoking, stress management, and to extinguish undesirable habits to name a few. However, and most importantly, hypnosis can be an aid in developing a new and more positive outlook on life no matter what your age.
