A Brief History
For decades, hypnosis has been a powerfully effective tool for behavior modification. Hypnosis is used for stopping simple bad habits like nail biting and more complex habits like theft or extreme social phobia.

Who benefits from Hypnosis?
Hypnosis appeals to people from all walks of life as it is a drug free method of altering negative behaviors. In the case of Chronic Back Pain, hypnosis has proven highly effective after a limited number of sessions.

Is it Medically sound?
Doctors recommend hypnosis, as an alternative to medication or surgery, for Chronic Back Pain patients. Instead of taking potentially harmful drugs or undergoing a major medical procedure, hypnotherapy patients are put into a suggestive state where they are encouraged to view their pain as less severe. Successful sessions have promoted feelings of reduced pain in just one session. Hypnosis sessions that can be called moderately successful see positive results in three or more sessions.

Scientists aren’t positive why hypnosis seems to work more effectively for some than others, but researchers tend to agree that hypnosis as a Chronic Back Pain therapy works best for those subjects who maintain an open mind and fully accept being put into a highly suggestible state. Those patients who are unable to put aside their doubts at least for a brief period of time are the least susceptible to hypnosis.

Inside a Hypnosis Session
A typical hypnosis session begins with the subject of hypnosis being put into a semi trance also know as the suggestive state. Once the subject is placed in to this state, the hypnotist attempts to plant several benign suggestions into the subject’s subconscious. In the case of Chronic Back Pain, effective suggestions seem to be; telling the patient that their pain is slowly decreasing over time, as well as suggesting to the subject that their pain is less severe than a short time ago.
Generally, the hypnotic suggestions are discussed by the hypnotist and subject before the therapy session begins. Hypnosis is not for everyone one but, for those who hypnosis is effective for results can be immediate. Some patients report immediate relief after the first hypnosis session.

While it may not be an effective treatment for everyone who needs to control their chronic pain, Hypnosis definitely works for some.