SErious illness * End of life

Serious illness and end-of-life choices and medical decisions have complex psychological and social components and consequences; these decisions are often stressful and have significant impact on suffering and the quality of living and dying. Hypnosis offers a way to move forward with less stress and with positive impact on the quality of recovery, living, and dying.

Serious illness hypnosis —  "There is robust evidence of the efficacy of medical hypnosis exists for reduction of pain and emotional stress, duration of interventions, drug consumption during medical interventions, and reduction of irritable bowel symptoms." ~ The Efficacy, Safety and Applications of Medical Hypnosis (Dr. Winfried Hauser, et al., 2016)

• Hypnosis techniques have long been used (and their efficacy assessed) in somatic medicine and learning techniques of self-hypnosis empowers patients to participate in their own treatment and grants them independence. 
• While not a cure for any disease or illness, it addresses the mind-body concerns in a non-medical and holistic manner.
• Hypnosis and/or self-hypnosis has been effective in facilitating physiological/biochemical healing processes.

End-of-life hypnosis offers an exceptionally focused, unique supportive care approach. It can be a powerful complementary therapy for individuals nearing end-of-life and while not a cure for any disease or illness, it addresses the mind-body concerns of the dying in a non-medical and holistic manner.

• Along with palliative care specialists, critical to end-of-life care, there’s a relatively new approach for supplementing integrative health care that deserves mentioning: end-of-life hypnosis which encompasses both holistic and clinical aspects.

How is hypnosis conducted?  

Hypnosis is performed by a trained practitioner who uses verbal cues to create mental images, whereby a state of calm and relaxation is induced to help the patient to cope better with anxiety or pain.

How does hypnosis help with serious illness or end-of-life issues or concerns?

• Not Dying Alone – Feeling more connected to others and to a bigger sense of spiritual presence is possible by exploring one’s inner peaceful aspirations.
• Reducing Pain or Discomfort – Complementing medications, hypnosis can help one become more comfortable by helping one hypnotically regulate how one feels about pain or other discomfort.
• Lowering Excess Anxiety or Improving Sleep – Learning the skill of self-hypnosis, more powerful and quicker than meditation with growing scientific support for this mind-body therapy (Globe and Mail, 2017) , it can help one better cope with changes in environment and treatment protocols.
• Finishing Personal Affairs – There are often outstanding past, present, and even future concerns like conflict, losses and disappointments which can be resolved intimately and privately in one’s own mind.
• Accepting Dependence on Others – By cultivating self-worth and self-care, one can gain a sense of control over thoughts, feelings and sensations.
• Embracing Acceptance and Peace of Mind – This approach allows for creating a safe space with a qualified practitioner to talk about fear, guilt and other emotions.
• Releasing Fear of the Unknown – It is possible to gently explore intimate thoughts and guide one through a death rehearsal to help alleviate fear.

Imagine the right combination of relaxation, meditation, visualization, hypnosis and self-hypnosis, allowing you to feel greater inner peace.

I have been supporting clients since 1988, actively involved in family and/or seniors-related activities (at a community church, as a community member on the board of a non-profit in long-term care specializing in dementia/Alzheimers, and formerly as executive director for a family-focused non-profit).