Will hypnosis work for me? Find out here.

Hundreds of studies show that hypnosis can safely and effectively reduce symptoms of chronic pain. But will it work for you?

Will hypnosis work for me? Find out here.

Hundreds of studies show that hypnosis can safely and effectively reduce symptoms of chronic pain. But will it work for you?

Hypnosis can typically reduce painful symptoms by 30 to 40 per cent ). That’s a significant shift and one that occurs rapidly. Unlike many pharmacological treatments, there are no negative side effects. In fact, studies have shown positive side effects, such as a greater sense of empowerment and a better quality of life.

Around 9 out of 10 people are in the medium-to-highly suggestible range for hypnosis (Suman et. al 2008). This can be surprising to some, but hypnosis is a much more ‘natural’ state than people imagine. You probably space out or daydream a few times each day without even noticing.

Some factors that may affect your suggestibility to hypnosis include your ability to:

  • visualise
  • focus your attention
  • imagine
  • access emotions
  • be creative
  • relax
  • follow suggestions

You don’t need to be an expert in any of these areas, so don’t worry if you don’t tick each box. Remember that 9 out of 10 folks score well enough to benefit significantly from hypnosis.

It’s easy to test yourself. You can complete our free test below. It takes 2 minutes. The test draws on the wealth of studies and suggestibility scales, such as the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale. It’s free and fun – give it a go!

References

Häuser, W., Hagl, M., Schmierer, A., & Hansen, E. (2016). The efficacy, safety and applications of medical hypnosis: a systematic review of meta-analyses. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 113(17), 289.

Lew, M. W., Kravits, K., Garberoglio, C., & Williams, A. C. (2011). Use of preoperative hypnosis to reduce postoperative pain and anesthesia-related side effects. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 59(4), 406-423.

Stern, T. A., Rosenbaum, J. F., Fava, M., Biederman, J., & Rauch, S. L. (2008). Comprehensive clinical psychiatry. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier.

Thompson, T., Terhune, D. B., Oram, C., Sharangparni, J., Rouf, R., Solmi, M., … & Stubbs, B. (2019). The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 99, 298-310.

Weitzenhoffer, A. M., Higard, E. R. (1959). Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Forms A and B. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, California, USA.

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