Epidemic Halted With Hypnosis!

We have a problem America. Nurses everywhere can help. A waterfall starts off as a single drop of water. When that drop is joined by others, the power of one becomes the power of millions. Not long ago, the Secretary of Health and Human Services reported narcotic pain medication prescriptions written exceeded the population of the United States! More than one script written for every adult. Fifty people die everyday as a result of prescription pain pill overdose.

The numbers are staggering when it comes to the epidemic of prescription pain pill abuse in America. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and drug companies propagate a problem that just keeps growing. You can help, but you don't.

It seems to me as licensed pill pushers, complacency has overtaken our resolve to overlook the degradation of humanity for the sake of "pain control".

Before you react to what I write, read a bit more. I understand analgesia. Analgesia revolutionized the medical world by making it possible to perform procedures that saved lives. Analgesia still has its place in medicine. It always will. At what cost? At what sacrifice? At whose benefit? Pharmaceuticals are a multibillion dollar industry. The almighty dollar RULES. I can accept the reality that I cannot beat big business.

I don't have to support it either. The status quo is meant to be challenged. If it wasn't, the United Kingdom flag would be flying and waving over America today.

Now, I ask you, fellow health care providers of America, are you prepared to question the status quo?

It is so much easier to acquiesce, it seems to do so will lessen the pressure on our already weakened backbone.

What has become of free will? Has absolutism replaced common sense to the point that quality of life can be sacrificed? I would like to believe this is not the case.

There exist a partial solution to the current epidemic of which I have been writing about. It's cost effective, easily learned, and will benefit everyone! Except pharmaceutical companies. That's the gut wrencher. The poor drug companies will lose revenue. Is this an outcome America can survive? I think we can. I think we should. I thonk there is still time to have an impact on this epidemic. An impact we can be proud of and look back on and say, "We did it"!

In 1958 the American Medical Association approved a paper on the medical uses of hypnosis. Two years later the American Psychological Association included hypnosis as a branch of psychology. During the civil war hypnosurgery was widely used due to the lack of anesthesia product availability. Today, hypnobirthing as been widely accepted as beneficial not only for the mother but fir the newborn as well. Faster delivery, less stress on the neonate, less bleeding, and less discomfort. Winners all the way around.

Are you feeling me colleagues? Will you join the cause? For your patients, for your community, for humanity? Contributing to the epidemic is not humane. It is in fact counterproductive.

Where do we start? I think the answer is clear. We start with US.

As health care providers, licenced professionals, we learn about the dangerous side effects of medications. Hypnosis is a completely normal and natural tool available to us for use on rhose we care for. Those we look out for. Those we advocate for.

Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAMs), or Integrative Medicine had has made itself known in the medical community, tet resistance persists by the old guard that must have scientific proof of the efficacy of something new. Budget restrictions, training facilities, and other factors must be addressed. Progress is slow. CAMs are making such an impact, the need for Certified Hypnotists is expected to rise every year in the next decade.

So I present this idea. Learn to utilize this complementary medicine in your practice. I have, and the results have been phenomenal. Hypnosis works. It's not a magic wand and it's not for everyone. It is an option worth investigating.

Just imagine your patients being less stressed during recovery. Less opiod analgesics means more alert patients. Increased active participation in rehabilitation. OIC (opiod induced constipation ) reduced. Paralytic ileus problems eliminated. Central nervous system, cardiovascular, and respiratory failures avoided.

Drug abuse and addiction potential reduced.

That's my partial solution. I think it's a start. I think it's a viable option. I think we all win.

I leave it to you for consideration and discussion in your forums. Change is never simple, acceptance even more difficult. We have to start somewhere or we'll have no ending.

Google. It's the only link you'll need. It's all there. Promise. Thank you for asking.

No. I'm not the one making the claim that I should let the surgeon/s do their work while I hold the propofol, sevoflurane and fentanyl (or some other mix) and substitute it for hypnosis. If you want me to accept your claim that "hypnosurgery" is a viable alternative to what I do, you need to present the evidence.

Actually, the title of this thread makes a very big statemtent. You're proposing that you can halt an entire epidemic ( a very complex problem by the way), with one single intervention.

The onus is upon you to prove your statement/claim.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

I think a treatment method should be scientifically sound. Hypnosis has been proven to be effective. I think part of the reluctance to be a little more open to my article lies in the definition of CAMs.

The words complementary and alternative are used together. This suggest they are the same. They are not. In fact, they have very different meanings. Complementary works along side accepted treatment modalities. Hypnosis complements other treatments. Alternative medicine rejects accepted treatments and implements other therapies. As in laetril.

Thank you all for your comments and insights. I see real progress in the discussions.

Specializes in ED, psych.

Joe, here's the thing: as a nursing student, a mother, a wife, and overall great gal I just don't have the time to sift through Google to check out any evidence-based research on your claim.

If you want to make a point, I suggest you provide the links yourself to help us out here. It would be a lot more helpful.

Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

Don't hold anything. Do what you do, I have no question you do it well. I don't mean to suggest hypnosis will solve the epidemic I refer to. I merely suggest it is a starting point. The larger problem is decades from resolution.

Hypnosurgery is not what I propose. Your job is safe. My point is that pain management was addressed 150 years ago with hypnosis and it worked. It still works. Not a magic wand and its not for everyone. Please keep the comments coming. I'm pumped. Thank you.

Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

Ok pixierose. I'll work on that today. Looking forward to your comments tonight.

Links forth coming. Links for everyone! Real bangers!

Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.
Instead of "putting the word out", couldn't you please provide links to the well documented research?

My apologies to any and all that I may have offended with my general statement about ignorance. It was ignorant of me. Thank you for bringing this unfortunate incident to my attention. Sincerely, Joe a.

Then why, did you feel compelled to include the statement "ignorance is truly bliss" in the first place? To me it really sounded like you had someone or a group in mind.

My apologis to any and all for my ignorance. Sincerely, Joe a.

Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

I think my point is made clear in my article. I don't suggest hypnosurgery is in anyway a solution or that my idea can in anyway solve the epidemic I refer to. I clearly write we need a starting point. Please keep comments to the content of the article. I want to focus on the medical benefits of hypnosis and the positive impact hypnosis can have on managing dangerous side effects of analgesics. I don't suggest we need to stop using pain meds. I propose it is possible we can use less and by doing so we increase patient involvement in thier healing. Mentally more alert they accept their rehab or illness. Hypnosis does make a difference in how they feel. Links to my claims forthcoming. Again, I express my gratitude to each contrubutor to this very exciting topic. My hope is we all learn something. I have. I've learned this is a pretty special sight that approaches issues with straightforward and compelling input. Thank you. Sincerely, Joe a.

As someone who uses hypnotherapy for personal pain control, may I say, that while it is an innovative method, it will not work for everyone. Hypnosis is only usable by people who are susceptible to the suggestions, and in an acute situation less than reliable for the uninitiated.

Chronic pain sufferers may have better results after several months or years of instruction.

While CAM therapy can be a useful part of therapy for some, it should not be generalized. Medicine should not be a brush that paints everyone with a single color.

Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

Thank you graduategalen. You are absolutely right. Hypnosis is not a magic wand. It appears that you have had some success and I applaud your willingness to share your insights here in this forum. The fact remains that complementary medicines can be effective. My hope is the nursing community will open up to hypnosis as the The American Medical Association and American Psychological Association did some 60 years ago. May your path be full and I pray you find comfort in your endeavors. Joe a.

Hypnoanalgesia is very powerful, I had a teacher in college who worked along with dentists and she would hypnotize patients that needed a painful treatment, like a tooth extraction but were allergic to the anesthetic. It's also a very broad branch of hypnosis and if properly trained, most people can perform it.

It's great because it doesn't generate any type of dependance, it can be used to treat a lot of things; anywhere from phobias, to pain management and patients can learn how to perform on their own. The greatest thing about hypnosis is that it's only contraindicated in very few scenarios, for example on patients experiencing a psychotic episode.

Overall, it's a wonderful tool and I think that the only reason why it isn't more known or utilized by healthcare professionals here is because it's not a super profitable product that will generate millions as pills do and we all know that's not what the powerful pharmaceutical industry wants.

I was born and raised in a foreign country and I can say that the painkiller addiction and the pill popping problem simply doesn't occur in other countries, or at least not at the same scale it exists here in the US. I firmly believe this happens because the healthcare structure system is different in each place and therefor it supports different priorities.

Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I think hypnosis can be used as an adjunct therapy, but I'm not sure I would use it in place of traditional analgesia during surgery or severe pain control. I was trained to use evidence based practices in my practice and I would love to read some studies on hypnosis.

I think saying that hypnosis can cure the opioid crisis is a bit of a stretch. But if it can help someone reduce their need for pain killers, then that would be great. I'd just like to see some studies on the subject.