Originally published October 21 2008
Controlling Dyspnea With Self-Hypnosis in Pediatric Patients
by Steve G. Jones, Ed.S.
(NaturalNews) Dyspnea is a disease of the airway, lungs, or heart. Dyspnea is characterized by difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and painful breathing. The disease is often diagnosed with a physical exam, but a doctor may need the help of chest radiographs or an ECG (electrocardiograph). A complete medical history should also be evaluated.
In an article published in the journal Pediatrics, a study was performed on 17 children who had been diagnosed with chronic dyspnea. All of the participants in the study had previously received medical intervention, but it had been unsuccessful. All patients had their lung function tested at rest and all received a normal rating.
The 17 participants ranged in age from 8 to 18 years. The average time span of their dyspnea at the start of the study was 2 years. All participants were studied to see what triggered their dyspnea and all were examined by doctors. All tests including pulmonary function tests, radiographs, and electrocardiograms came back normal. During the preliminary phase, one participant declined to participate in the study, reducing the number of patients to 16.
All participants were taught self-hypnosis in one or two 15 to 45 minute sessions. They were taught self-hypnosis through the use of imagery and relaxation to induce a hypnotic state. Under hypnosis, they were told to imagine their lungs being healthy and being able to breath easily without pain. In addition to the sessions, patients were to use self hypnosis in their every day lives and to use the techniques they learned in the sessions.
The researchers kept up with the participants for an average of nine months after their last hypnosis session. 13 of the 16 participants said their dyspnea symptoms had disappeared within the first month of the study. The other three said their symptoms had improved, but not disappeared. In the patients whose symptoms had disappeared, all reported that there had been no reoccurrence.
The study concluded that one of the reasons why hypnotherapy was so successful in this study was that many of the participants had dyspnea due to anxiety disorders. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis helped these patients reduce their anxiety associated with dyspnea and thus reduced or eliminated their dyspnea symptoms. Of the seven patients who were on anti-inflammatory medication, two were able to discontinue use of the medication with success.
Hypnosis is a very helpful form of therapy in children diagnosed with chronic dyspnea.
Source:
Pediatrics. Vol. 107 No. 2 February 2001, p. e21.
About the author
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. has been practicing hypnotherapy since the 1980s. He is the author of 22 books on Hypnotherapy. Steve is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the Steve G. Jones School of Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida (1994), a master's degree in education from Armstrong Atlantic State University (2007), and is currently working on a doctorate in education, Ed.D., at Georgia Southern University. Learn more at:
http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/
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