Here's what the critics are
saying about Dr. Eimer's Second Edition of
Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Now!
Eimer’s well written book is
targeted at chronic pain sufferers who have not responded to
conventional medical or drug treatment. When one finds that pain
persists despite applying appropriate medical intervention then that
pain signal has outlived its usefulness and one can then decide to
manage that pain using techniques such as self hypnosis and hypnosis.
Recognizing that everyone is unique in his or her expression and
experience of pain, and that no one technique suits everyone, Eimer
clearly describes and makes understandable for the lay person, a large
number of techniques and strategies based on self hypnosis which may be
of help in pain management.
Self hypnosis is an empowering
technique which not only allows one to understand the message of pain at
a subconscious level, but also helps one to manage the pain. Unlike
conventional medicine, self hypnosis has no side effects and can be used
as an adjunct to traditional medical treatment. However the reader is
warned to take self responsibility and seek/obtain medical opinion on
diagnosis and treatment prior to using self hypnosis.
This book is divided into two
sections and in my opinion the reader will obtain maximum value from
this book if they read it from start to finish. Part 1 of the book
informs the reader about the characteristics of pain and explains what
hypnosis is all about. Pain is a signal telling you that something is
wrong and to heed this warning and seek help. Pain which is persistent
enforces limits on one’s life and robs one of the freedom to live life
effectively and fully.
Reading Part 1 will encourage
the reader to begin the process of change by reflecting and evaluating
their own experience of pain, by rating it, examining its history and
pattern and existing coping strategies. This evaluation is thought
provoking and causes one to consider a very important question ‘Do I
want to get better?’ In turn this leads one to query one’s level of
motivation to work at getting better. Hypnosis and self hypnosis can
help one uncover the source of pain and tackle blocks to healing such as
poor lifestyle choices and so on. The author also provides a pain
description questionnaire covering 30 multi-factor pain groupings. Using
this to analyse one’s expression of pain gives clues to identifying
beneficial opposing qualities which can in turn be helpful in setting
goals for how we want to feel instead. By examining one’s coping
strategies, one determines where one exists on the continuum between
avoidance and awareness.
By participating in the self
evaluation process in Part 1, the reader has set a baseline for the
process against which he or she can measure their success in applying
the many techniques outlined in Part 2 of the book - around 50
techniques in all. The techniques are based on what Eimer calls the 6D’s
of coping: deep relaxation, decatastrophising, direction, distraction,
distortion and dissociation. All these techniques are described in a
clear way and additional self suggestions are provided which the reader
can tailor make to suit their own individual needs.
One of the techniques which
appealed to me as a reader and as a practicing hypnotist comes under the
heading of ‘Direction’. This technique focuses on monitoring one’s
thoughts surrounding one’s pain and modifying one’s thoughts towards
obtaining positive and healthy outcomes. In this technique one learns to
monitor the typical negative self talk and replacing it with positive
self talk and positive self suggestion. This technique can be employed
before, during and after a bad episode of pain.
Eimer provides many scripts
which the reader can use/amend to suit themselves. I advise the reader
to record these in their own voice. Self hypnosis implies that you are
your own hypnotist and what better than to listen to your own voice
feeding positive suggestions to the subconsious mind.
Dr. Eimer is a licensed clinical
psychologist in Philadelphia with over twenty years of experience
treating chronic pain.
Since 2007 I have been using NLP
with my clients to tackle all kinds of issues, including confidence
issues, anxiety, fears and phobias. I am a qualified NLP practitioner
through the Irish Institute of NLP. I am also a certified member of the
National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) based in New Hampshire. My hybrid
background in Homoeopathy, NLP, Hypnosis and Life coaching and Education
allows me to approach health issues (mental, emotional and physical
problems) in a holistic fashion. Find out more about my services at
http://www.hypnosistralee.com
Anne Marie Courtney, Ezine
Articles - December 2008
Here is a book whose somewhat
whacky title belies a serious and expert self help book for people who
live with pain. Bruce Eimer is a clinical psychologist who has been
treating persistent pain patients with hypnosis and cognitive-behavioural
therapy for two decades. He is also a chronic pain patient. This is no
alternative medicine text for the desperate, but a serious
evidence-based review of how the psychological aspects of persistent
pain should be treated and how these techniques can be used on a self
help basis. Everyone living with persistent pain should buy and read
this book and practise the techniques it contains. A CD is included.
Pain Matters, The Magazine of Pain Concern - October 2008
A great self help book for
anyone who wants to learn how to master pain relief.
It is a well constructed, easy to apply book that comes with a CD full
of practical exercises. Free of jargon and techno-babble, this book puts
the control into the hands of the reader to tap into the power of the
mind and shows, step-by-step, how to use hypnosis to help to relieve
pain.
It is a valuable and useful manual for pain relief techniques.
Terri Bodell, FNACHP (Fellow of the National Association of
Counsellors, Hypnotherapists & Psychotherapists)
"Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain
Now" is described as a "powerful, user-friendly program for anyone
searching for immediate pain relief", and it is all of this. It is also
the most comprehensive and effective program for lasting pain relief
that I have ever found.
Bruce Eimer combines over 20
years of knowledge, skills and experience, with the empathy and
understanding of someone who has developed these effective methods
through learning to manage his own chronic pain.
Those who suffer chronic pain
have often spent a long time trying medical and alternative approaches
without finding relief, and under such circumstances, it is
understandable to lose hope and motivation to keep trying new methods.
If this describes you, take heart - reading this book will really make a
difference for you and will help you regain control of your mind and
body.
If you are a professional
working with those in pain, this book offers ways and means to help each
individual using the combination of methods that will suit them best.
Bruce Eimer offers
straightforward, honest, caring support alongside all the information,
practical methods and different approaches you might need to reduce any
kind of pain to manageable levels.
Susanna
Bellini, NLP trainer,
counselor, hypnotherapist and also a chronic pain survivor.
This book is valuable and
thought-provoking for people experiencing chronic pain. Eimer approaches
his subject with the first-hand knowledge and commitment of someone who,
after an accident, sought relief from the resulting persistent pain. Not
wanting to remain an invalid, he summarizes the techniques which freed
him.
Principally directed at the layperson, this book will also prove a
resource for the healthcare professional helping patients manage their
pain.
"...to tame pain, we must use our brain": we are aided to solve the
puzzle of pain, separating the sensory, cognitive and emotional
experiences of pain which keep chronic sufferers in a vicious cycle.
Techniques are explored to evaluate, then practice self-hypnosis to
reduce the everyday impact of pain and live with it in a meaningful
manner. Hypnosis is introduced in a way which allows readers to choose
the induction method which best suits them. Self-suggestion is explained
so that readers feel unthreatened by the process.
The penultimate chapter is entitled Become AWARE and find your inner
balance. The acronym AWARE (- Accept the pain, Watch your experience,
Act functionally, Remove yourself from pain, and Expect the best - gives
a clear idea of the positive self-change which Eimer hopes sufferers can
achieve on their journey.
Anthony Scratchley is a Hazelden-trained counselor, with some
years in practice. He has also worked in sports management.
Although written as a self-help
manual, Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Now is a fantastic resource for
practising therapists as well as for anyone suffering from chronic pain
themselves.
With so many self-hypnosis books currently on the market, this excellent
account distinguishes itself by being clearly focused on a particular
problem and written by someone who is not only a clinical psychologist,
but who has himself suffered from chronic pain.
Bruce Eimer was injured in a major road accident in 1993, giving him
first-hand experience of what his patients had been going through. As a
result he pledged that he ‘would do anything within his power to help
other chronic pain sufferers cope’.
This experience gives the book a degree of commitment, focus and
personal investment that should serve in itself to inspire and encourage
fellow sufferers, as well as convince them of the benefits of hypnosis.
Because pain has both a sensory and an emotional content, Dr Eimer
believes it is ideally suited to the kinds of relaxation, cognitive and
imaginative techniques employed in the therapeutic use of hypnosis.
The book is absolutely bursting with practical self-help exercises which
avoid overwhelming the reader by being contained within the framework of
a clearly structured programme of self-treatment.
Having first offered information to assist in understanding ‘the puzzle
of pain’, Dr Eimer provides comprehensive questionnaires which allow the
reader to evaluate their own experience of pain.
A clear explanation is given of the basics of hypnosis followed by an
account of the benefits of self-hypnosis and how this in itself can help
to alleviate discomfort.
The reader is then able to select from the huge range of coping
strategies that form the core of the book. These are brought together in
a step-by-step approach combining self-hypnosis, coping exercises and
the use of self-suggestion.
The book culminates by offering detailed scripts that can be used to
probe more deeply into the underlying causes of pain.
This is both an accessible and exceptionally thorough guide which is not
just a very good aid to pain-relief, but also one of the most lucid
introductions around to the therapeutic uses of hypnosis in the
treatment of everyday problems.
Julian Gill, Hypnotherapist
www.aspiretherapyonline.com
With all the recent press and
television coverage of people having operations without anaesthetic but
choosing the route of Hypnosis instead, I decided to try it for myself.
Not to the level of having an operation mind, as I think I would prefer
to be totally out for that one, but when Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain
Now! appeared on the potential book of the month review list I thought
why not? What have I got to lose?
Reasonably priced, this one is
packed full of useful information and exercises for self hypnosis and
deep relaxation and comes with a CD too. Both the book and the recording
can be used together, however, the CD has also been designed to stand
alone.
Bruce Eimer also knows how to
write a guide on a relatively complicated subject that is reader
friendly and understandable. An interesting section on Pain Description
is recommended as a starting point to progress onto the exercises to
relieve the symptoms.
Another aspect of this powerful
book is the self suggestions that appear throughout and some useful
pointers on how to use them effectively. Using similar aspects in my
practice of complimentary therapies, self suggestions or affirmations
are a powerful tool for mind and body wellbeing and the proposed
suggestions Bruce Eimer highlights in this book are just as important in
the practice of self hypnosis.
One of those books you can dip
in and out of when you feel the need, I would suggest that readers take
some time out to familiarize themselves with the first part of the book
as it provides the reader with an excellent baseline of pain theory,
one’s own ability to cope with pain and a comprehensive introduction to
explaining what Hypnosis actually is. As a result, the guidance provided
in the following parts and chapters will make more sense and become
simpler to follow at those times of need.
Taking my own advice into
consideration I decided to try a couple of the exercises when I woke up
with a stonker of a headache as a result of starting medication for high
blood pressure. I was amazed and after a few failed attempts to get
myself in a relaxed state of mind to progress with a couple of the
exercises proposed and allowing myself to actually relax with the aid of
the fantastic CD that came with it the pain actually did subside and I
felt invigorated to face the day ahead pain free.
So Bruce, you aptly named the
book Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Now! and I am sure readers will not
be disappointed. He is not advocating this as an alternative to
traditional medical practices with pain management; however, this one
should be kept by the medicine tin as a compliment to anyone wishing to
relieve themselves of pain following such a programme written by someone
who I think knows their craft inside and out. This could be the best
£12.99 you would spend if the results are as a positive as I experienced
following Bruce’s advice.
David Feakes, What’s Happening Magazine
Excellent and encouraging self
hypnosis book inspired by the author’s personal pain recovery
techniques. The book is really reassuring. A valuable self hypnosis
tool. It gives real practical self hypnosis tools for the reader who
needs cheer, encouragements, and guidance, it has sound, detailed advice
for an all-important issue. How to handle pain, using the 6 D’s. Deep
relaxation, decatastrophizing, direction, distraction, distortion and
dissociation. Each is handled as a part of self hypnosis.
The author covers of the basic
knowledge of how the conscious and subconscious work together. He makes
even more reassuring noises when he talks about new ways that the
conscious and subconscious co operate with each other; find that in
chapter 8. Vital in teaching how the conscious and subconscious mind
operates together for healing.
Eimer has made available a book
that provides all you need to know about relaxation and the importance
of making comfort in the body. I enjoyed all the chapters, since they
cover all the fundamentals around hypnotherapy. E.g. Not all Tools are
for Everyone and the Issues of Conflict between the parts. Importantly,
the author reassures his readers particularly people with a heavy
reliance on medical drugs that the book does not compete with their
doctor.
The chapters on how to hypnotize
yourself are basically teaching the reader how to consider pain from an
attitudinal point of view. He asks you to decide what attitude you will
practise towards your own pain. He also asks you to consider what
personal skills and internal resources you can bring forward to use to
either distract or dissociate yourself, using your imagination for
healing purposes.
An inspirational book for use by
anyone who wants to use hypnotherapy to hypnotise themselves out of pain
now. It has all the material is there, it just seems that the
presentation of the text, its layout etc, sizing, spacing and size of
font could be altered to provide lots of breathing space for a reader
with chronic pain to imagine themselves deeply receiving the positive
effects of their practical response to the exercises.
This wonderful book could be
improved greatly by having much more white space throughout the text.
Issues of desirability for those who have not been exposed to
hypnotherapy could also be to be addressed.
The more I read the text, the
more I found that the CD helped a lot to access the written material in
the book. It was considerable contrast to the text in that it provided
the gentle walk way into the healing process, was extremely user
friendly and showed the reassuring heart of the author. It went to the
heart of the matter and allowed the reader time to become acquainted
with the text base elements of the book.
Again, in the gentlest way, my
question is who is the book for. The book is encouraging, and opens up
the possibility for pain sufferers, that pain no more may be their
experience. And that they deserve that. If it is someone with pain, then
for him or her, I wish the size of font was a little bigger for people
with eyesight issues. I wish the density of text was a little less for
people with eyesight issues or who might be intimidated with lots of
words on a page. I wish a section, which actually visually shows how
pain may be created. Lots more visual guidance may be needed so it moves
the visual reader who also is feeling pain in the body. I offer you some
guidance later about how to get the most out of the book. I am so glad
that the CD is provided so that the person with pain can begin to
explore the exercises he writes about so well.
Tips for Getting The Most Out
Of This Book:
A section on how to get the most out of this book. E.g. with suggestions
how to read the book one a day, three times a day, am, noon, pm before
bedtime. /that you may want to set yourself a simple goal of taking one
or two ideas at a time and practice them.
-
Asking the
reader to read the sections out loud instead of reading
them silently to make the book more effective.
-
More
reassuring Signposting Tips in boxes like: allow
yourself time to work on one or two tools or approaches
at a time. They already exist in the body of the text.
-
Create obvious
toolboxes, and advanced toolboxes to draw reader’s
attention towards.
-
Visual
illustrations throughout the text, to help people
practise the visual elements of the work.
-
Maybe boxed
sections for research and researchers to assist
hypnotherapy practitioners record their experiences with
the techniques.
-
A ‘Just Do It’
section with its activities.
I sense an authentic kindness
from the author which holds the readers interests, while showing that
self healing, self assessment and healing planning need no be dull,
arduous, or an awesome task. Written with authentic, humane, authority.
A highly recommended text when the tips are taken on board. I thank the
writer for writing this work!
Deborah Rose - Therapeutic Hypnotherapist for Stress Free Caring
In the City, a WellBeing and Training Membership organization for Social
workers and Social care workers.
The clinical psychologist who
wrote this book not only has over 20 years' experience in using
cognitive-behavioral and hypnosis strategies for treating other people's
chronic pain but also uses his methods to treat himself Fifteen years
ago, he was seriously injured in a major car accident. Pain, he says,
may be mandatory but suffering is optional - and that is the thrust of
this highly practical book. It is a treasure chest of strategies for
"sending away unnecessary pain" that use attitude shift, instant
relaxation, effective self-suggestion and positive use of the
imagination (if you find it physically hard to get out of bed in the
morning, mentally rehearse doing it first) to bring about change. As the
author has found in his long experience, not every technique works for
everyone, so he has a wide range to offer and, for the same reason,
describes several methods for inducing selfhypnosis.
The exercises he suggests fall
within his "six Ds of hypnotic coping": deep relaxation;
decatastrophising (alas, this section promotes the outdated idea of
thoughts leading to feelings, although that doesn't detract from the
usefulness of the information contained within it); direction
(controlling or guiding one's thoughts and actions); distraction;
distortion (reinterpretation); and dissociation. This last is prefaced
by an interesting section on spontaneous dissociation as a survival
mechanism, illustrated by the author's own experience.
Overall, this is an excellent
resource, and it comes with a standalone audio CD.
Human Givens,
Volume 15, No 1 2008
Once in a while, I read a book
on hypnosis that is to eloquent, so well-organized, so understandable,
and written with such clarity and sensitivity that I wish I'd written it
myself. That's how I felt about reading Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain
Now (Second Edition) by Bruce Eimer, Ph.D. This is the quintessential
book on self-hypnosis for pain management.
Eimer first covers topics such
as types of pain, the physiology of pain, pain and neurology, and the
pain gate control theory, explaining how hypnosis can reduce chronic
pain by closing off the neurological transmission of sensation to the
brain from the site of previous injuries. He also discusses how to
evaluate pain and how to evaluate one's coping strategies.
The book then moves into the
topics of hypnosis and self-hypnosis. Eimer acquaints the reader with
basic information about hypnosis and then teaches eight methods of
inducing self-hypnosis, such as eye fixation, arm drop, pencil drop, and
the eye-roll method. Each induction comes with a script which the reader
can record.
Next, the author provides a
primer on pain management, covering the "six D's" of pain management:
Deep Relaxation, Decatastrophizing, Direction, Distraction, Distortion,
and Dissociation. He tells the reader how to match the pain management
method to the type of pain, and gives self-hypnosis processes and
self-suggestions in each "D" category. For example, with
Decatastrophizing, Eimer discusses how to dispute self-talk, reframe the
meaning of pain, conduct cognitive analysis of thought processes, and
use self-suggestions such as "I can still enjoy things." The pain
management skills in this book include behavioral coping strategies,
cognitive interventions, and relaxation methods.
This book also covers ways to
refine self-hypnosis, as well as advanced self-hypnosis processes such
as instant relaxation, a self-healing ritual, mindfulness meditation,
ideo-motor signaling, and ego state therapy. I counted over 50 exercises
for pain management in this book, so there is surely at least one that
will help any reader who is willing to invest the time to learn and
practice self-hypnosis. The book comes with a companion CD covers what
hypnosis is, pain perception and hypnosis, relaxation with hypnosis,
rating and lowering discomfort, pain relief and imagery, healing
imagery, therapeutic touch and energy healing, comfort transfer, and
stress control.
Bruce Eimer is a clinical
psychologist practicing in Philadelphia, with over 20 years of
experience in treating chronic pain. He writes from personal experience
as a chronic pain survivor. While this book is written for anyone with
chronic pain, it is also an excellent reference for hypnotherapists who
work with pain reduction. As a chronic pain survivor myself, I believe
this book holds great promise for improving the lives of many.
Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.
is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Executive Director with the
National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists. She is an NLP
Master Practitioner/Trainer and hypnotherapist with a solo practice in
Springfield, Virginia. She has recently published The Weight,
Hypnotherapy and You Weight Reduction Program: An NLP and Hypnotherapy
Practitioner's Manual. [judy@engagethepower.com]
Those who are frequently
suffering from pain but do not find relief in typical methods of
treatment will definitely find effective relief from this book by Bruce
Eimer, PhD. Although pain relievers are typically known to provide
instant relief for anyone who suffers from chronic pain, there are
people who no longer respond just as well through conventional
medications. This is why alternative medications like hypnosis are being
widely recognized nowadays. Depending on the needs of every patient,
Eimer illustrates how self hypnosis techniques can be valuable for
people suffering from intense pain.
Through self-hypnosis, an individual will be able to control the pain
effectively at a physical and subconscious level. This is extremely
valuable in pain management. What makes hypnosis extremely advantageous
than typical medicine is that it provides no adverse effects to the
patient. Nonetheless, it is still important to obtain the assistance of
professionals when it comes to using self-hypnosis. Exercising self
responsibility is essential as well.
What you will find in this book is verified and valuable content divided
into two sections. It is recommended that you read this book thoroughly
from the beginning to end. During the first part of the book, you will
get to understand pain better and recognize what hypnosis essentially
is. Pain is actually a symptom that tells you how your body is
experiencing something not quite well. Persistent pain has the ability
to rob anyone of any comfort in life.
By reading the first part of the book, the reader will be able to
evaluate their own experiences regarding pain and how this has been
treated in the past. You can begin by asking yourself, "What efforts
should I take to get better?" by doing hypnosis or even performing
self-hypnosis yourself, you will be able to realize where the pain is
actually coming from. Through the pain evaluation questionnaire included
in the book, you will be able to analyze effectively your experience of
pain and what you can do to feel so much better.
After having undergone the evaluation processes in the first part of the
book, you can then proceed to the second part which outlines several
techniques in hypnosis and self-hypnosis. Eimer mentioned the valuable
techniques in coping with pain, which is referred to as the 6Ds: deep
relaxation, direction, decatastrophising, distortion and disassociation,
and distraction. These techniques are further explained in the book in
clear detail and illustrations. You can also customize the techniques in
order to suit your personal preferences.
Most hypnotists will agree to the technique mentioned in the 6Ds which
is direction. This is a strategy that seeks to control the thought
patterns regarding one’s experience of pain. It is essential for anyone
to adjust their thoughts on pain so as to achieve a more positive
consequence. This can be done through positive self talk and focusing
away from the pain.
There are also scripts provided so that the patients can record them
using their own voices for positive self talk. This is what
self-hypnosis is essentially about. Dr. Bruce Eimer after all is backed
up by more than 20 years of experience in pain treatment and his license
as a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia.
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