HYPNOTERAPl - Dansk Selskab for Klinisk Hypnose

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the anticipated or already experienced problems; victimization not only by the illness itself,
but also by the over-whelmingly complex and frightening medical technology which appears
beyond the patient's comprehension or control and to which he feels he must passively
acquiesce; bewilderment as a result of confusing, fragmentary, often contradictory
information and advice from all too many sources including physicians, well meaning friends,
books, news media, etc
Medical experts, who offer state of the art medical treatment, each deal with segments of
patients' overall physical condition, but they are left to cope emotionally by themselves in
often ever increasing isola-tion. At best they experience a compassionate and caring attitude,
at worst, a sense of being infantilized by an impersonal system. Several patients were
horrified when their oncologist, with apparent good intention to reassure them during their
very first visit, said: ".. don't worry: when it comes to dying, I will make sure you don't have
much pain. I will give you enough medicine."
Usually, nothing in their preceding life-experience has prepared the majority of patients
sufficiently to cope effectively with such over-whelming news. And it is not surprising that,
more than any other group of patients, it is cancer patients who seek out alternative therapies.
In their desperate search they are vulnerable to falling prey to unscrupulous pracitioners and
dubious offers for magical cures.
POSSIBLE APPROACHES/INTERVENTIONS
In my experience rather simple approaches can decrease fear, restore a sense of competence
and control. They can help patients move from seeing themselves as victims and passive
recipients of interventions to which they must acquiesce, to become active participants in the
decision making and treatment process.
While the responses to their illness vary widely from patient to patient, there are a number
of common issues, which, if addressed, can significantly decrease this emotional suffering.
This is where hypnosis can be of considerable value. However, neither hypnosis nor a
particular technique is the solution, but rather a combination of educational approaches with
continued emotional support including positive suggestions, whether used in formal trance
states or very informally.
Key elements of such an intervention are:
A) Information & education
1. It is of paramount importance that the physician furnish the patient with accurate, factual
information - in a language which is compre-hensible to the patient. Even complex medical
information can be grasped by the average person if presented appropriately and when placed
into a rational, reasonable and familiar context. Such infor-mation must include specifies of
the disease, as well as the patient's treatment options and choices. Their illness can be
compared to other serious illnesses, or conditions, especially those the patient himself may
have overcome in the past. Understanding that they have the right to accept or decline
treatment, even when knowledgeable persons are of different opinion does NOT make
patients militant or obstinate, but enhances their interest, sense of control, and most
commonly even their compliance.
2. Common, nearly ubiquitous misperceptions must be addressed and corrected, for example:
• Cancer is the most horrible disease one can have
• Cancer is an automatic death sentence
• Cancer treatments are the most hideous poisons from which one can never recover
These and numerous other common misperceptions respond to balanced presentation of facts.
B) Instruction
There are a wide range of possibilities of what a patient can do him-self to keep himself fit,