Talk to the Brain to Stop the Pain 

Script Transcribed from Client Session

Ron Eslinger

Starting long ago, research was done on how the brain works. Part of that research, which has extended into the 21st century, is the influence of hypnotic suggestion on the brain and how it affects pain perception. The suggestions in this short pain management script are ideas adopted from an article written by Mark P. Jensen PhD, University of Washington.

The suggestions in this script are specific for cortical activation to create a generalized calmness. For those of you who have taken my course, you may recall that the number one activator of pain is stress.  The cortical or cortex layer of the brain plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language and consciousness.

Use the script below to help your client control comfort by controlling thoughts to control stress. At this point you have done your induction and your client is ready to accept your suggestions:

If you don’t mind, allow yourself to remember a time or a place that was comfortable and calming for you. In that place allow yourself to remember how comfortable the different areas of your body felt at that time, every breath relaxing the muscles and tendons of your body. Now imagine that your body has those same feelings again, at this time. Enjoy those feelings.

I don’t know what relaxation feels like to you, but you do, so allow yourself to create an inner peace, an inner calmness in every part of your body.  Focus on those areas that you are ready to let become more comfortable, to feel more at ease and to be a part of that which you decided to be. From the top of your head down to your toes create an experience of feeling comfortable, feeling calm, feeling relaxed, and feeling in control of your sensations and your comfort.

I wonder what it feels like for you to imagine that you are in a comfortable and safe place, a place that allows you to change any sensations that you are ready and willing to change. It could be changing a sharp sensation to a dull sensation, a hot sensation to a cool sensation, a tight sensation to a loose sensation….  (You should know this information from the interview so that you can be specific on the wording of the suggestions.)

Allow your mind to focus on that area which is not as comfortable as you would like for it to be. Now imagine what that area would feel like if it was comfortable. What would it feel like now if it felt like it did before?  I wonder how surprised you will be when you realize that just simple relaxation can create comfort in those areas.  Take an abdominal breath and feel the relaxation growing through your body as you enter deeper and deeper into this hypnotic rest.

If you don’t mind take another soothing abdominal breath. As you take that breath your diaphragm drops down causing it to pull on the vagus nerve, activating the release of anti-pain hormones—endorphins, the body’s natural morphine, serotonin, the body’s natural mood elevator, and melatonin, the body’s natural sleep aid. Continue breathing in relaxation and breathing out tension, anxiety and stress. Every breath is sending healing and comforting oxygen to the areas of uncomfortable sensations, relaxing the muscles and taking the pressure off the blood vessels. This brings comforting and healing oxygen and nutrients into the cells. Relaxing the muscles takes the tension and stress off the nerves and creates comfort.

I wonder how comfortable you’re ready to become. I wonder what will change in your life when you decide to control your comfort. I wonder just how comfortable you are willing to become, as you are in control. You control your mind, you control your body, you control your comfort.

As you go to sleep at night the last thought on your mind will be of doing something in a comfortable way. Healing sleep means being sure you get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

Drink one half your body weight in ounces of water every day, unless exercising or being more active than normal. This will help flush the toxins and the discomfort from your body.

Every breath continues to bring a calm inner peace to each cell of your body, as you go deeper and deeper into this comfortable, hypnotic rest.

Each night take your relaxing breath and go into a comfortable night’s sleep. Think yourself to sleep.  Sleep your very best tonight.

It is time to forgive yourself for all things you regret doing in the past.  This doesn’t mean that you condone anything you’ve done, but it does take the pain out of the past. Now forgive all the others in your life, knowing again it doesn’t mean you condone the things they have done, but it does break that chain that allows them to control you.

It is now time for you to take control of your life, your comfort, and your happiness. Abraham Lincoln said that we are only as happy as we make up our minds to be. In the same manner, you are only as comfortable as you make up your mind to be.

(You can continue with imagery and visualization and other metaphors.  Following this you can bring the patient back to an alert state.)