Pain can be described as an annoying feeling that can range from mild, localized discomfort to misery. This feeling consists of both physical and psychological aspects. It often is responsible for a lack of activity and liveliness. People describe themselves as exhausted and psychologically stressed. These sensations can impair work, private, and social relationships. 

When injury occurs, the body discharges hormones that advise the brain that there is a problem. The brain interprets this alarm as pain, and informs the person of the injury. The individual then responds to the painful signal, and acts to resolve it. Many times, however, the body sends a warning of pain when no injury has occurred. This problem can arise when the sensation has a psychological, instead of a real, origin. 

One method of relieving painful feelings is through the use of medicine. Non-narcotic medications, such as Tylenol or Aspirin, stop body tissues from releasing chemicals responsible for notifying the brain of bodily injury. Narcotic drugs, in comparison, signal neurons in the brain and advise them that the issue has already been resolved. Narcotics, such as Demerol and codeine, are sometimes very addictive and cause dependence problems in those people who rely on them for long periods as pain management tools.

The body also discharges chemicals called endorphins. These are natural painkillers, given off by the brain's cells to advise the body that it does not ache. Athletes, for instance, release endorphins while running long distances; this is where the "runner's high" sometimes referred to originates. People who like to participate in intense exercise experience a similar endorphin high. Sometimes, sports professionals can participate despite an injury as a result of the presence of these chemicals in their bodies. 

Painful experiences can also be treated by by using distraction, or coached visualization. Clients are taught to focus on a mental picture or to imagine a secure and relaxing place that offers freedom from the hurt they are experiencing. Alternatively, music or other activities can be used to provide this distraction. These approaches are often used with those who are who suffer from chronic lower back pain.

People may experience relief through the use of hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programming methods. These natural pain relief techniques often help people to obtain relief from various long-term conditions, such as migraines and other chronic, disabling headaches or throbbing neck pain. Most people can significantly limit, or totally eradicate using medicines through the use of these techniques. 

Traditional hypnotherapy pain relief methods work most effectively for people who respond to post-hypnotic suggestions. A skilled hypnotist aids the individual to enter a deep state of relaxation. During this time, the client is highly aware of the suggestions being made by the professional. 

The hypnotherapist might ask the client to concentrate on other activities or tasks, and that distraction will relieve any sense of discomfort. In fact, just the use of the word discomfort during a hypnotherapy session rather than the use of the word pain can greatly decrease any perception of pain. The majority of clients achieve excellent results, and they can be assisted to use self-hypnosis for pain relief to gain personal control of their situations.

More critical individuals usually require either Erickson-based hypnosis or NLP to bypass their conscious resistance to suggestion.

The hypnosis strategy for pain treatment can also be employed to train the brain to discharge endorphins which can result in light anesthesia, also described as analgesia. This state may be used to aid women to experience natural childbirth without using medicines that may harm the infant. It also helps to provide natural arthritis pain relief in chronic sufferers.

Hypnotherapy can also be used to induce total anesthesia in some people. This is explained in medical research as hypnoanesthesia. Long before general anesthesia became widely available to patients, many doctors used hypo anesthesia to perform major surgery. 

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) can be used to help persons who are analytical, critical thinkers. Professionals help clients to perfect a very helpful technique employed by NLP, called the 'Flash'. This technique allows clients to teach their subconscious minds to automatically move past a painful feeling, and to concentrate on things that will offer peace and calm. Individuals who have learned this strategy discover that they are no longer capable of focusing on the pain, because their minds immediately substitute it for comforting ideas.

Both Neuro-Linguistic programming and hypnotherapy are new strategies that offer completely natural methods to relieve pain. They encourage people to avoid taking pain medicine or decrease their dependence on these medicines. Both individuals who are very open to suggestion and those who think critically can benefit from these [program structures. Additionally, both have been found to be very useful in helping people to obtain relief from their pain.

Today, many ways exist to receive this type of assistance. Trained professionals typically charge an average of $150.00 to $200.00 hourly. Anyone who has sought out this type of healing approach can verify that the price spent was certainly worth paying. A less costly method of obtaining treatment, however may be investing in one of the highly reputable hypnotherapy CD programs that are available for purpose.

Summary: People experience both physical and psychological pain. Multiple therapies are available; including narcotic and non-narcotic pain medicines, as well as guided visualization and distraction techniques. The most beneficial strategies for relieving pain, however, are NLP and hypnosis.

Alan B. Densky, CH has been helping clients with self hypnosis pain management since 1978. A well-known authority in the hypnosis field, he offers headache and migraine hypnosis & NLP CDs and free self-hypnosis downloads on his hypnotherapy website.

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