In 1838, the first recorded instance of painless hypnosis surgery took place. Dr. Elliotson seized the opportunity to demonstrate hypnosis (then referred to as mesmerism) to the public at London University College Hospital. By 1845, James Esdaile had successfully performed over 2,000 operations, including amputations, on hypnotised patients who reported feeling no pain during the procedures.
In 1955, hypnosis received official approval from the British Medical Association. This endorsement followed its successful use during World War II to treat soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress and even to carry out surgeries in situations where medical resources were limited.
While the exact mechanism behind hypnosis for pain control remains unclear, research suggests it may be based on a ‘dissociation model’, similar to what is observed in patients with Multiple Personality Disorder. Dissociation can effectively eliminate pain by placing it in a kind of psychological storage area, away from the patient’s conscious awareness. Throughout history, there are numerous accounts of hypnosis being used as an alternative to anaesthetics.
This dissociation model is often called the “hidden observer” model of cognition.
Hypnotherapy, combined with modern techniques such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), can offer powerful results for those managing chronic discomfort. These methods are available through therapy sessions in North London, Hertfordshire, St Albans, and Hemel Hempstead, or conveniently online via Zoom 💻🧠.
NLP can also be an effective method for reducing pain. By identifying the submodalities associated with their pain, essentially the mental coding linked to the experience, individuals can adjust these submodalities to see how it affects their perception of pain. For example, they can focus on the submodalities of a pain-free area of the body or recall a time when they were free from pain to create a contrast. This allows them to adjust the submodalities of their pain to match those of a pain-free state. For instance, if someone describes their pain as a red, throbbing ball, they might experiment with reimagining it as a pink, wobbly blob to see if that changes their experience of discomfort.
This type of therapy, especially when combined with Hypnotherapy and NLP, is a gentle, drug-free alternative to managing certain types of pain. Practitioners in St Albans, Hertfordshire, or online on Zoom can guide you through this process to help you shift your perspective and, in turn, your physical experience.
It’s important to remember that pain is your body’s way of signalling that something is wrong. Before using these techniques to manage or override pain, you must seek approval from your doctor.
“I had tried many other options. I had nothing to lose and an open mind. Gemma made me feel extremely comfortable.” 😊
By Gemma Bailey