Hypnosis and Migraines

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on March 28, 2009 at 6:02am

Hi Chris,

I used to have migraines when I was younger. I was able to take part in a study using biofeedback. What I learned then was that the first thing to do is to send blood flow and warmth to the hands and fingers (maybe toes and feet too?), That's easy to do in hypnosis bc I teach all my pain patients to send bloodflow to the injured or pain part of the body. All you have to do is have the client imagine it and let them spend some time doing it.

The idea with migraines is that the pain actually comes from the fact that the blood vessels contract too much and then they dilate really fast and that's what causes the pain. If you have them send blood and warmth to the hands at the first sign of onset, it will alleviate a lot of the problem.

Deep, relaxing, calming breathing also helps. I use deep, diaphragmatic breating will all my clients because most of what we deal with has a stress component. (Count down from 30 to 0, doubling relaxation on the outbreath.) Sometimes if there is a lot of tension, I have them breathe in really low in their body, hold for a few seconds, breathe out and hold and breathe in. This is called four square breathing. It is also yogic/stress breathing. You can count to 4 on each part of the in-hold-out-hold.

AFter clients have counted themselves backwards from 30 (I use it as induction/deepener), u can give whatever suggestions you want to for total comfort, absence of discomfort, relaxation of all muscles, especially head,neck, face and "brain". Additionally bringing attention to feet should help as well. Progressive relaxation starting at the feet can divert attention and bring bloodflow away from blood vessels causing the headache.

I hope that helps.

Susan French
www.hypno4success.com

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stanton-Cook on March 28, 2009 at 3:17pm

Thank you Susan.

I will use these tips and let you know the results. Sadly the medication she is using has some minor but uncomfortable side effects so these interventions will be wonderful.

Happy trancing, keep safe, healthy and happy.

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Roy Hunter on March 28, 2009 at 5:35pm

Hi Chris,

I suffered horrible and frequent migraines from grade school until I was 35 years old. At that time I visited a hypnotherapist, who taught me self-hypnosis for managing stress. The simple peaceful place meditation has helped me reduce headaches from two to three weekly (with one or two severe migraines monthly) to less than a tenth of what they were previously. So far I have 30 years of successful experience managing them; and the difference is like night and day.

When I trained under Charles Tebbetts in 1983, he did parts therapy on a student who suffered migraines; and the part of his subconscious that produced the migraines said that it was to cause him to slow down and take time off because he worked too hard. (Note that his doctor was OK with the use of hypnosis.)

Roy Hunter, M.S., FAPHP
www.royhunter.com

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Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on March 28, 2009 at 7:49pm

Hi everyone..I also have migraines and when I get them I am in such bad pain I forget to even focus on my relief.
I do help my clients with Migraines with EFT and maybe that is something that might be a tool to add to the tool belt to pull out when needed. just a thought...

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Rose Dye on March 28, 2009 at 11:46pm

Chris,

I've worked with a lady who is like my adopted daughter for at least two yrs now.. for migraines. I take her very deeply into a state of relaxation .. telling her that her blood flow is moving very well .. everything is just as it is supposed to be..just letting her lie there and recycle her body blood flow... we do a 30 -45 min session ... in fact I do it for her over the phone... and it eases the pain right away. Shes able to get up and function with the three little girls she has. She explained to her Dr what I do .. and even tho Yes.. I have done EFT with her too ... and taught her self-hypnosis .. she says nothing helps like me doing it for her. She takes much less medication now.. especially if she can't reach me . Hypnosis is a wonderful tool for Migraine therapy.

Sincerely....
Elizabeth Rose

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on March 29, 2009 at 3:59am

Yes--

I have helped 100s of clients who have suffered from chronic and disabling migranes -- I did so, simply by teaching the clients how to relax, release their toxic emotions and feelings and refocus their attention -- Many of these clients had been to numerous healthcare providers and even hypnotherapists without any benefit before being "Ellnerized"

"Dear Michael Ellner,

I am a blast from the past You probably don't remember me, but not a day goes by the I don't think of you with gratitude. I met you at the Metropolitan Wellness Center at Park Avenue & East 28th St, back in the year 2000.

I was suffering from migraine headaches since I was 10 yrs old. These headaches took over my life and totally messed it up. You made it possible for me to have a life - FINALLY! Thank you so much.
FB-NYC 12/19/08

Hey Chris -
If I were to use your model _- I'd modify as follows:
Clients can be taught to recognize the symptoms of onset, that is before the migraine takes hold, and head it off at the pass --

Why diminish the pain if you can eliminate the headache before it starts--?

Warmest regards,

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Taylor on March 29, 2009 at 2:19pm

My wife use to suffer from migranes before I became a hypnotherapist. She has learned to settle down and relax and does not suffer migranes much anymore. A couple years ago she had a severe migrane and asked if I could help her. I read one time about a hypnotist that did the following and thought I would try it. I took her to a deep level and asked her to find the discomfort. She found it and I then asked her to give it a color which she did. I then asked her to ball that "red" (the color she assigned it) discomfort up real small. I then had her move it from her head down her neck and out whichever arm she wanted down to that hand. I then asked her to hand it to me and then I acted as if I took it and flushed it down the toilet. She was on our bed and close to the master bathroom. I then emerged her and she was amazed at how she felt. She has not had one since. This was before I learned 5 Path and would handle it differently now but thought this was interesting.

Bruce Taylor CHT

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Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on March 29, 2009 at 7:38pm

Hi Elizabeth
Love your post...Great post about Migraines...

Pattie

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stanton-Cook on April 1, 2009 at 10:31pm

Thanks Roy
Your experience gives me confidence to work with this with confidence.
All the best, Chris

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stanton-Cook on April 1, 2009 at 10:34pm

Thanks for the reply and your additional alternative - EFT is something I will have to learn. Any tips for me on that, (there are lots of google links).

Keep safe and happy Chris

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stanton-Cook on April 1, 2009 at 10:38pm

Hi Michael

My clients problem is that these usually strike at night so by the time she is aware it's too late. Our first goal is initial management so that there is no need to call the doc for chemical pain and nausea relief.

Take care and keep safe. Chris

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stanton-Cook on April 1, 2009 at 10:42pm

Hello Bruce
Thanks for another positive result and an interesting story and method.

Take care and keep happy. Chris

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