Anyone who has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia knows how debilitating the symptoms can be. Not just the physical pain/burning/pins and needles but also the fatigue, brain fog, sleeplessness, helplessness and hopelessness.
Very few people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia early on, doctors usually look for other possibilities first. It's only when these tests and examinations can't explain the symptoms that fibromyalgia is given as the reason. Because it is not very well understood how or why these symptoms appear and perpetuate. The other puzzling aspect is that the symptoms change in frequency, intensity and location.
There may not be only one cause. Modern research points to a number of possibilities. There may be an initial viral or bacterial infection. Mould and toxic substances in the environment might be implicated. Insect bites e.g. ticks might be the culprit. It may start after an accident or body trauma like a kind of PTSD, it can also follow a very stressful period.
According to a NewLifeOutlook survey, the majority of fibromyalgia patients are also diagnosed with depression. More than 63% of those surveyed stated they had been diagnosed with depression and 58% with anxiety. This may be underreported because some respondents may not yet have been tested for depression or anxiety but do suffer from it.
TDW Hypnotherapy Harrogate suggest different treatments to help reduce the severity of symptoms. Cold/hot therapy, exercise, diet, massage, acupuncture, yoga, mindfulness, rest, laser, TENS, medication etc but nothing specific seems to cure it.
Because neural pathways are implicated in fibromyalgia, it makes sense that hypnotherapy could help. And it has found to be beneficial in reducing sensitivities and increasing sleep. The phantom limb pain example shows the mechanism by which it works. Doctors couldn't explain how people who had lost a limb like a leg felt as if it was still there and it was painful. They discovered that if they placed a mirror next to the other leg, when the person saw it, the pain went away. Once the brain thought the missing part was still there, it stopped experiencing pain. This led to the discovery that when the brain gets confused messages from the nerve-endings it simply registers them as pain, even when there is no physical cause for it. Hypnosis can help by updating the brain with new data and clearing the outdated underlying response. Hypnotherapy is also very relaxing, giving both mind and body a break by changing brainwave patterns. Listening to sleep-inducing hypnotic audios improves both the quality and quantity of rest. Using self-hypnosis techniques reduces the pain and depression by giving back a sense of control. Anxiety reduces as the underlying fears are accessed and dealt with.
The brain and body are so closely linked that an improvement in one affects the other. Hypnotherapy may be the positive change needed to start the spiral upwards towards healing. It takes time to journey back to feeling better but at least it is going in the right direction. Call us on 01423 206218 if you have any questions TDW Hypnotherapy Harrogate
Disclaimer
This website/blog/article is provided for information only and is not intended to replace a consultation with your GP or other health care professional. The information on this website should not be considered as medical advice. If you have any doubts or concerns about your health, you should seek advice from a medical doctor. Results vary and depend on your participation and homework completion.
Comentários