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. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Epidemic Halted With Hypnosis!

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.

0 Votes
joe a.

About joe a.

Born in Los Angeles until age 15, moved to San Joaquin Valley for 10 years. Certified Psychiatric Technician 81', attended Napa Valley College earning AS degree in nursing. After 23 years a licensed nurse I was forced into retirement as the result of a debilitating medical condition. Still having a desire to aid in the suffering of the human experience, I studied hypnosis at the Easy Key To Life institute and became a Certified Hypnotist in 2011. I settled in beautiful Sonoma County. Santa Rosa is where I call home. Five sisters, four brothers, countless nieces and nephews, two daughters and three granddaughters. I live alone with my three and a half year old min pin mix, Superfly. He is single and does not want children.

110 Posts

Share this post

Joe, i have to presume this is an April fools joke.

0 Votes
Specializes in Gastrointestinal Nursing.

I am not sure how to respond to this. There are many therapies that are currently being used to help people with pain, healing, etc. I seriously doubt hypnosis will replace pain management on the level you propose. I would have liked to seen some concrete examples in your article from studies to back up your proposal. Doctors prescribe pills often without mentioning other methods of pain control. You neglect to explain how exactly hypnosis is actually done, at what point, especially with surgery. You have too many holes in your article to even address them all.

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

Morte, It is now April 2nd. I couldn't be more serious, Do 5 munutes of research. We have a real problem on our hands. Narcotic analgesics kill more people than automobile accidents.

Hypnosis is not a parlor trick. Ignorance truly is bliss.Take 5 minutes and see that it's no joke lol thank you.

0 Votes
Morte, It is now Aprilo2nd. I couldn't be more serious, Do 5 munutes of research. We have a real problem on our hands. Narcitic analgesics kill more people than automobile accidents.

Hypnosis is not a parlor trick. Ignorance truly is bliss.

Who is ignorant?

Truly, if you are making these statements it's on you to produce the research supporting it.

Thank you.

0 Votes
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.

Silly us. Seriously, how can you view the expectation that a treatment method should be scientifically sound as a hindrance or something undesirable or unnecessary? Of course we need scientific proof of efficacy. I personally think that scientific evidence for a treatment method/modality is an ethical necessity.

During the civil war hypnosurgery was widely used due to the lack of anesthesia product availability.

I'm a nurse anesthesist and I won't allow fear of opioid addiction result in undertreatment of acute surgical or post-surgical pain. Do you really think that we should set the bar for the acceptable level of anesthesia achieved during surgery by what they had to make do with during wartime in the 1800s ?

CAMs are making such an impact

I haven't really noticed this phenomenon where I work. Isn't it true that once a treatment method is scientifically proven to work it ceases to be complemetary/alternative and instead becomes evidence-based medicine/practice?

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

Thank you Brenda. Your comments are appreciated, intelligent, and reflect your knowledge base with regard to the medical uses of hypnosis. My intention was strictly to encourage the use if CAMs. The studies have been done, proven, and documented. Five minutes on google in pain control with hypnosis and you can see for yourself. Hypnosurgery, hypnobirthing, cancer treatment, its all there. How hypnosis is done is not my focus. Spreading the news that it can, and does, enhance nursing practice and health care is my focus. Doctors are embracing hypnosis. Writing scripts is more habit than an answer. Please take 5 minutes to check out my claims. It will be enlightening.

Joe a.

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

The research is well documented. I just am putting the word out about the accepted proven medical uses of hypnosis. Learning how to use this valuable complementary medicine adjunct can enhance nursing practice. That is my point.

I'm.ot calling anyone ignorant. It was a general comment.

Thank you for your comments.

0 Votes
The research is well documented. I just am putting the word out about the accepted proven medical uses of hypnosis. Learning how to use this valuable complementary medicine adjunct can enhance nursing practice. That is my point.

Instead of "putting the word out", couldn't you please provide links to the well documented research?

I'm.ot calling anyone ignorant.

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.

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

That is not true. The treatment is "complementary", not complimentary. Hypnosis has long been known and proven to work. If your statement were true, hypnosis couldn't be referred to as CAM.. Thank you for your comments.

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

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

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.

Nurse anesthesist, it's not the fear of addiction that is my point. That is an ongoing epidemic. My point is pre and post operative pain management in many cases, not all, but many can be achieved through hypnosis. As a result of the use of less chemical analgesia, other dangerous side effects can be avoided. Thank you for your comments and insights.

0 Votes