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Pain Relief

Say Goodbye to Pain Through Hypnosis | Delray Beach, FL

Chronic pain is an affliction many people struggle with every day, often for years without relief and no end in sight. While the right medications often can help, we have seen the use of opioids destroy individuals, and plague communities. The fact is that medication is not a stand-alone solution and I would encourage you to seek out alternatives. There is a range of care options to help you get pain relief. One of those options is hypnotherapy. For over 30 years, I have been using hypnosis for pain management to improve the lives of people suffering from chronic pain. 

Hypnosis is a technique that involves inducing a trance-like state in which a person becomes highly relaxed and focused, with an increased ability to concentrate and respond to suggestions effortlessly. Hypnosis is highly effective as a tool for facilitating pain relief for both acute and chronic pain. While the exact mechanisms behind how hypnosis relieves pain are still not fully understood, there are several theories that suggest how it may work.

One theory suggests that hypnosis can alter a person’s perception of pain by changing the way the brain processes and interprets pain signals. The brain has the ability to modulate pain signals, and hypnosis may help activate this mechanism. There are multiple ways to activate this pain modulation mechanism. 

1. One method is a distraction. During hypnosis, a person may be guided to imagine themselves in a pleasant or relaxing setting, which can help distract them from the pain they are experiencing. 

2. Another method is developing direct awareness. Hypnosis can help a person become more mindful and aware of their thoughts and emotions, which can help them develop a better coping strategy for managing pain.

3. A third method is learning how to distort the pain signal itself. Hypnosis can help a person transform their perception of pain.

There are additional hypnotic strategies that can work effectively but the key to their effectiveness is to thoroughly evaluate the patient’s personality and coping style and to match the methods to the patient. 

Another theory about how hypnosis works for creating pain relief suggests that hypnosis may help regulate the release of certain neurotransmitters and hormones in the body, such as endorphins and cortisol, which can help reduce pain and stress levels. Endorphins are natural painkillers that the body produces, and hypnosis may help stimulate the production of these chemicals. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can increase inflammation and pain, and hypnosis may help lower cortisol levels, which can lead to decreased pain.

Overall, while the exact mechanisms behind how hypnosis relieves pain are still not fully understood, there is solid evidence that hypnosis can be an effective complementary therapy for managing pain, especially when used in conjunction with other treatments. It is important to note that hypnosis should always be performed by a trained professional and should never be used as a substitute for medical treatment.

Please Note: Pain Control Hypnosis is NOT a substitute for appropriate medical evaluation, treatment, and care. Clinical Hypnosis can serve as a powerful supplement or complementary method to your ongoing medical care.

For over 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who suffered from persistent pain syndromes get pain relief and lead more fulfilling lives. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in West Pam Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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PTSD

PTSD and Its Link to Chronic Pain | Boca Raton, FL

One might not consider that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain can be directly correlated with one another. Yet, according to Psychiatric Times, “Many individuals with chronic pain suffer from PTSD due to the incidents that caused trauma-related distress, but chronic pain is also commonly found in individuals with PTSD as their primary disorder. Hence, a better understanding of this comorbidity may be important for the treatment of both disorders.”

According to the studies examined in the full Psychiatric Times article above, there are three potential explanations as to why the two may not only coexist but negatively enhance one another. Here is a breakdown of these potential explanations, and how hypnotherapy can work to alleviate both PTSD and chronic pain for individuals who experience one or both of these life-altering conditions.

One study found “that underlying predisposing factors or traits cause the development of both PTSD and chronic pain. In particular, anxiety sensitivity may amplify the intensity of the initial emotional response to a traumatic event, thereby increasing the risk of developing either condition.” This is referred to as shared vulnerabilities and is one of the potential reasons why PTSD and chronic pain may coexist for someone.

An individual’s sensitivity to pain can also be traced to PTSD as traumatic events may heighten or decrease one’s sensitivity to pain. According to the research, PTSD from combat-related incidents increases a person’s pain threshold, meaning these individuals develop a greater tolerance to sensations of pain. Yet, for those whose PTSD is not combat-related, disassociation can actually increase someone’s bias towards the sensation of pain resulting in a lower threshold for withstanding pain.

The third link, mutual maintenance, refers to the seven means by which PTSD and chronic pain work to negatively enhance one another. Essentially, the researchers uncovered seven different ways an individual may begin to experience “heightened expectations, overestimations, and selective and negative interpretations of both pain-evoking and fear-evoking stimuli… evoking fear and PTSD intrusion and hyperarousal… physical deconditioning, inactivity, disability… limited capacity to employ adaptive coping strategies.”

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

This is a lot for any individual to manage; either disorder is likely to shake one’s ability to move through life, and both may leave someone feeling hopeless. Thankfully, strategically formulated hypnotherapy can address and resolve the underlying conflicts that keep a person from functioning well and getting the most out of life. 

As a licensed clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and hypnotherapist, I can work with you to formulate an individualized program to address your pain and teach you how to tame it. I can help you to safely access your memories, examine and reprocess them, and better understand your feelings about the trauma you carry. 

Together, we can begin to reduce the negative impressions fixed in your subconscious by your traumatic experience and help you gain control over and reduce your pain. Relief is possible, and if you have tried other interventions without success, hypnotherapy may be the solution you have been looking for.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggle with PTSD and chronic pain overcome their symptoms and begin to live a life free of the symptoms they experience. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, and surrounding areas.

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Anxiety

Hypnotherapy to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Boca Raton, FL

Life during covid-19 pandemic. Portrait of stressed stylish woman in blue blouse with medical mask outdoors on the city street.

Persistent anxiety associated with pervasive worrying, apprehension, and nervousness is called generalized anxiety disorder. Symptoms of this disorder also include restlessness, feelings of panic or dread, rapid breathing, trembling or muscle twitching, difficulty focusing, and an obsession or preoccupation with the inability to prevent bad things from happening. 

Anyone can experience anxiety when external factors make us fearful, nervous, or tense, but it’s when we feel this way consistently that it starts to become a diagnosable issue. In fact, a generalized anxiety disorder can seriously impact our ability to work, be social, and wind down when it is appropriate to do so. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder remain wound up most of the time. This degrades a person’s quality of life and can lead to dependence or addiction to tranquilizers, sedatives, or pain pills.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about activities or events — even ordinary, routine issues. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, is difficult to control, and affects how you feel physically. It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression.” In fact, untreated generalized anxiety disorder often gives rise to clinical depression as persistent feelings of helplessness eventually turn into hopelessness. 

Hypnotherapy is a commonly overlooked solution to generalized anxiety. It is a powerful tool for treating the symptoms of anxiety and for finding the underlying causes and resolving them. However, as with any tool, hypnosis is effective if it is employed by a trained and experienced professional therapist. In the wrong hands, a tool can be ineffective or worse, cause damage. Therefore, in searching for a therapist to help you overcome generalized anxiety, it is important to do your homework. Your best bet is a licensed mental health professional with an appropriate graduate degree (e.g., Ph.D., Psy.D., MD, DO, LCSW, LMFT) who has the requisite education and experience. And you need to feel comfortable honestly confiding in this person for therapy to work!

In my practice, I employ an evidence-based approach that combines cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and clinical hypnosis techniques. When we work together, you will learn how to relax and reevaluate external triggers, as well as develop coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills that work for your anxiety. Over time, as we work together and you begin to apply these methods in your daily life, you will respond differently to the situations that used to trigger you. You will build your self-confidence and achieve freedom from debilitating anxiety.

If you have tried and exhausted multiple treatment options without finding relief, hypnotherapy may be the solution you have been seeking. 

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggle with generalized anxiety disorder overcome their symptoms, and begin to live a life free of anxiety. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Coral Springs, Hallandale, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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Pain Relief

Understanding Pain and Hypnosis | Boca Raton

To understand if hypnosis for pain is right for you, it’s important to first dissect the type of pain you feel, and if there are any other underlying feelings affecting your ability to cope. First and foremost, all pain is real and valid. The difference lies in whether what you are experiencing is acute or chronic pain.

Acute pain can be caused by injury, surgery, illness, trauma, or painful medical procedures or serve as a warning of disease or a threat to the body. It generally lasts for a short period of time and is typically alleviated when the underlying cause has been treated or has healed. Chronic pain on the other hand may be caused by a variety of factors but is characterized by persistent pain that lasts weeks to years. Depending on what is causing the pain, there are a variety of methods that can be explored to alleviate it.

Hypnosis for acute pain comes into play when there is no identifiable or treatable cause. In this case, we must address the patient’s anxiety. It has been said that the fear of pain is often worse than the pain, and in turn, fear can make the pain worse. For chronic pain, there is almost always old emotional baggage that needs to be released. Living with unrelenting chronic pain makes most people experience some level of depression, making the pain worse. Successful employment of hypnotic techniques involves altering pain sensations and distracting the client from their preoccupations with the pain.

If you are a health professional or hypnotherapist interested in learning more about the use of hypnotherapy for pain, I offer intensive one-day, two-day, and three-day fundamental and advanced Pain Control Hypnosis Practitioner courses. These courses are designed for professional practitioners who see patients with severe acute and chronic pain in their respective fields and are in a position to offer precise hypnotic pain relief. These courses will provide a fundamental understanding of the intersection of hypnosis and pain, as well as the skills necessary to implement this technique in your practice.

In short, a Pain Control Hypnosis Practitioner’s job is to help patients with pain build ego strength, self-confidence, and self-love, find faith, develop curiosity, and mobilize courage in order to be able to learn new pain coping skills.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who suffered from persistent pain get relief and lead more fulfilling lives. If you would like to learn more about this practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

I proudly serve patients in and around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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Pain Relief

Pain Control Hypnosis: A Guide | Boca Raton, FL

Hypnosis is an evidenced-based treatment tool for pain control. Unfortunately, it is underused because few clinical health practitioners know how to use it fluently. Pain relief can be a topic we tiptoe; with so many treatment options, many people find themselves at the beginning, or in the thick of, discovering relief solutions. If you are interested in pursuing hypnosis as a potential solution for your persistent or chronic pain, we have developed a guide to this option.

Background

For over 200 years, the practice of hypnosis for pain management has improved the lives of many people suffering from persistent or chronic pain. There are many ways to treat pain, but each comes with its own warning label, leaving individuals to explore their options. We typically consider the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen and Aspirin, but these can cause serious bleeding disorders and stomach damage. Opioids can be addictive and cause respiratory failure.

Medications are meant to suppress pain symptoms, rather than alleviate the underlying cause. The benefits are weighed against the potential side effects, resulting in a solution that will get you through the day, rather than living beyond your pain. One of the benefits of using hypnosis to control pain is that there is no risk of negative side effects.

How does it work?

There are a number of wonderful benefits to using hypnosis for pain control. It is a natural means of gaining pain relief with lasting results. Utilizing hypnosis will help you distract yourself from pain, channel it elsewhere, relieve suffering, and improve your body’s performance ultimately improving the quality of your life.

At home self-hypnosis

Pharmaceutical drugs, while effective at what they do, are an external agent. This means they are ingested or injected to modify biochemical and physiological processes. They may, for instance, block the receptors in your brain from receiving the pain signals. Self-hypnosis, or meditation, is an internal means of connecting with the unconscious or subconscious mind. These areas of our mind control our autonomic nervous system, which allows our basic life functions to operate and keep us alive.

Self-hypnosis meditation is an inner method of self-communication, it is safe; the unconscious mind will simply not accept suggestions that are consciously or subconsciously deemed harmful or unacceptable to you. It also means you can perform this method of pain relief at home as needed.

Please Note: Pain Control Hypnosis is NOT a substitute for appropriate medical evaluation, treatment, and care. Clinical Hypnosis can serve as a powerful supplement or complementary method to your ongoing medical care.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who suffered from persistent pain syndromes get pain relief and lead more fulfilling lives. If you would like to learn more about this practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in and around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.