Hypnotherapy and Opioid Addiction
There is a proliferation of the use of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain. This proliferation has an unfortunate side effect in that there are many people who have unfortunately become addicted to these powerful drugs.
The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis has been lobbying hard to get the word out that hypnotherapy may well be a route to stop this problem of addiction before it even begins. The idea that using hypnotherapy as a means of dealing with chronic and long term pain is by no means unreasonable.
There is very good evidence that sessions with a qualified therapist who will also utilise personalised recording for clients to use at home get fairly good results in dealing with pain. Obviously, hypnotherapy for pain control and management is not for everyone. However, neither are opioids as shown by the higher and higher levels of addiction that we are seeing.
It is time for healthcare professionals to think more laterally when it comes to dealing with pain. Yes, of course, patients may well prefer to be given a pill. However, with the risks of addiction, patients should be given more options as to how they will be able to manage pain in the long term. Informed choice is essential when it comes to any type of medical or psychological treatment.
