Pain can be described as an annoying sensation that can range from slight, localized aching to misery. This sensation includes both physiological and emotional components. This experience often results in a lack of zest and energy. Such persons report feeling exhausted and psychologically miserable. The pain response can impair professional, private, and social ties.



When a person is injured, his or her body discharges hormones that tell the brain that something is wrong. The brain understands this alarm as injury, and advises the person of the injury. The person then responds to this message, and attempts to resolve it. Sometimes, however, the body sends a warning of pain when no injury has occurred. This can occur when the signal has a psychological, rather than a physical, cause.

One method of relieving painful feelings is by using medications. Non-narcotic medicines, such as Tylenol or Aspirin, prevent body tissues from releasing chemicals used to notify the brain of injury. Narcotic drugs, however, signal neurons in the brain and advise them that the issue has been completely resolved. Narcotics, like Demerol and Dilaudid, may often be very addictive and cause dependency in those persons who rely on them for long periods as pain management strategies.

The body also releases chemicals called endorphins. These are Nature’s painkillers, released by the brain's cells to make the body believe that it does not hurt. Athletes, for instance, release endorphins after strenuous exercise; this is where the “runner’s high" sometimes referred to originates. Individuals who enjoy taking part in strenuous sports report a similar endorphin release. Often, sports enthusiasts are able to run or play in spite of pain as a result of the presence of these endorphins in their bodies.

Another way to treat painful experiences is through the use of diversion, or coached visualization. Clients are taught to focus on an image or to imagine a secure and relaxing scene that offers relief 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 ongoing lower back pain.

People sometimes experience a reprieve by using hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programming approaches. These natural pain relief techniques can allow people to receive relief from many long-term problems, including migraines and other chronic, debilitating headaches or throbbing neck pain. Most people can significantly decrease, or totally end their use of drugs as a result of these strategies.

Traditional hypnotherapy pain relief methods work best for those who respond to post-hypnotic suggestions. A skilled hypnotist helps the individual to go into a very relaxed state. During this time, the client is very aware of the suggestions being offered by the professional.

The hypnotherapist may suggest that the client concentrate on other activities or tasks, and that distraction will diminish any sense of discomfort. Actually, just the use of the word discomfort in the middle of a hypnotic session rather than the use of the word pain can greatly reduce any feeling of pain. The majority of clients have astonishing results, and they can be helped to practice to gain personal control of their situations.

More analytical persons generally require either Erickson-based hypnosis or NLP to overcome their conscious resistance to suggestion.

The hypnosis strategy for pain treatment can also be employed to teach the brain to give off endorphins that can induce a state of light anesthesia, also referred to as analgesia. This state is sometimes used to assist ladies to give birth without using drugs that may endanger the baby. It also helps to offer natural .

Hypnosis is also able to be used to induce total anesthesia in some people. Medical researchers call this hypnoanesthesia. Long before general anesthesia became popularly available to patients, many doctors performed major surgery under hypnoanesthesia.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) can be used to assist people who tend to think critically or analytically. Professionals assist clients to master a very beneficial technique employed by NLP, called the 'Flash'. This technique assists people to train their unconscious minds to automatically avoid a painful sensation, and to concentrate on thoughts that will offer relaxation and comfort. People who have learned this approach find that they are no longer capable of focusing on their pain, because their thoughts instantly substitute it for thoughts that produce comfort.

Both NLP and hypnotherapy are new strategies that teach totally natural strategies for relieving pain. They allow people to  or limit their need to use these medicines. Both those who are very open to suggestion and clients who are analytical thinkers can benefit from these program formats. Additionally, both have demonstrated high levels of effectiveness in assisting people to get a reprieve from their pain.

At present, many ways exist to receive this type of treatment. Trained Hypnotherapists typically charge from $150.00 to $200.00 for one hour. Anyone who has sought out this type of therapy can verify that the expense required was certainly worth paying. A less expensive course of treatment, however may be purchasing one of the high quality hypnotherapy CD programs that are offered for sale.

Summary: People experience both physical and emotional pain. Multiple therapies are available; such as narcotic and non-narcotic drugs, as well as guided visualization and diversion techniques. The most useful methods of relieving pain, however, are NLP and hypnosis.