Back to March 2007: Complementary Medicine Techniques
Hypnosis and fear of recurrence?
- Question from Momof2: How can hypnosis help with the fear of recurrence?
- Answer —Beth DuPree , M.D., F.A.C.S.: Hypnosis is a form of focused concentration. It is not a modality in which control is lost. It can be very helpful in helping someone to gain a sense of control over issues in their life that they may feel are surrounding them. Hypnotherapy as a modality can be successful in alleviating desires such as smoking and overeating; as well, it can be used in alleviating a fear such as a fear of heights, a fear of abandonment, and therefore can also be helpful in alleviating the fear that many times paralyzes someone when diagnosed with cancer. There are hypnotherapy and meditative tapes and CDs that are very good at promoting the healing process. My favorites are those of Brian Weiss, a psychiatrist who has used hypnotherapy very successfully in his clinical practice for these such symptoms.