Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is gaining robust research in terms of supporting patients with IBS symptoms (but also mental health concerns, hot flashes, & smoking cessation).
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a type psychological intervention that uses hypnosis, which is essentially an altered state of attention, and provides suggestions to improve health outcomes, change habits and help other therapies work better.
It has been shown to be helpful for supporting people with:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Depression
Anxiety
IBS
Headaches
Back pain
Insomnia
Eating Disorders
Pain
There is even research in hypnotherapy reducing symptoms in: childbirth, menopause, surgical procedures, cancer procedures, dental procedures.
I thought hypnosis was a magic trick?
While the history of hypnosis did branch off into stage performance, true hypnotherapy is nothing like this. You will never be out of control of your body or actions in hypnotherapy, and you are always able to not follow directions from the cues if you don't want to. The brain state of "altered attention" you enter during hypnotherapy is one that your brain consistently enters in and out of throughout the day.
Why does it work?
By entering the state of relaxation but also focused attention we help alter or fix the our brain connection. For IBS patients, this involves down-regulating the nervous system action in our gut. This leads to improved bowel movements, reduced pain and reduced bloating.
What does hypnotherapy treatment look like?
Typically a hypnotherapy treatment involves an "induction" phase, which is a deep relaxation to get you in that focused attentive state. This may involve imagery and picturing different peaceful or metaphorical situations based on your concerns. After this the suggestion phase takes place, where statements will be said aloud that are tailored to your case, and will be helpful for your symptoms. Finally, you will end the session with a return to your normal state.
Traditionally this has been done 1:1 with someone trained in hypnotherapy. While this can be costly, hard to find and time consuming, new technologies have brought us researched based app where we can partake in hypnotherapy on our own at home.
How long do I have to do it?
Most research indicates that at least 15 minutes per day (most days!) for 6 weeks can be beneficial in reducing and resolving up to 82% of digestive health concerns, and that this can last for months or years on end.
How can I access this?
We recommend accessing hypnotherapy or mindfulness approaches through app based programs or on youtube. These can range from free to paid services and is totally up to you which fits right.
Want to learn more about the various modalities that can support your health concerns? Book a complimentary meet and greet appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors to learn more.