My Journey with Cushing’s disease
At 30 years old, I was fit, healthy and naturally a size 8–10. I knew my body well, which is why, when it started to
Menopause is a natural and inevitable phase, and while it represents a normal transition, it can also give way to many physiological and psychological changes that can profoundly impact one’s overall well-being. Hot flashes that hit when you least expect it, night after night of insomnia, and a rollercoaster of emotions encompassing stress, anxiety, and mood swings, all become familiar companions for many during this period.
Medical science has explored a myriad of options to help alleviate the impacts of menopause. These can range from simple lifestyle changes to hormone replacement therapy. But have scientists considered hypnotherapy for menopause symptoms as a topic?
In June 2023, The North American Menopause Society published its 2023 nonhormonal therapy position statement, updating its 2015 statement on evidence-based nonhormonal management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms. The results were based on the review and evaluation of new literature published since 2015 by an advisory panel of clinicians and research experts in the field of women’s health. Their aim was to determine whether or not to recommend the use of certain non hormonal modalities to treat the symptoms of menopause based on the levels of evidence available for each.
The statement cites clinical hypnosis (or hypnotherapy) as one of the nonhormonal options recommended for the treatment of menopause-related vasomotor symptoms, classifying it Level I, meaning that there is good and consistent scientific evidence to support the use of this modality. The statement also emphasizes the importance of healthcare providers being well informed about nonhormone treatment options, such as hypnotherapy, that are supported by the evidence. (NAMS, 2023)
Hypnotherapy offers a unique approach to managing menopause symptoms by leveraging on the mind-body connection to support several key areas.
Hypnotherapy techniques often promote a state of deep relaxation as the hypnotherapist guides you into a focused and receptive mental state, reducing your stress response and calming the nervous system. This can help improve the quality and quantity of sleep, lessen stress levels, and prevent mood swings.
Hypnotherapy can help you reframe your perceptions of the uncomfortable symptoms that accompany menopause. This can be achieved through positive suggestions that alter thought patterns and associations, creating a shift in mindset around your experience of these symptoms.
Visualization techniques and positive suggestions used in hypnotherapy allow you to mentally regulate your body temperature so that when a hot flash hits, you can visualize, think about, or imagine yourself in a cool and comfortable environment, for example. Not only can these techniques help reduce the frequency and impact of hot flashes, they can also provide you with a sense of control over how your body responds to changes in temperature. This can be particularly useful if hot flashes are keeping you from a restful night’s sleep.
By contributing to reducing stress levels through relaxation, hypnotherapy can indirectly influence hormonal balance. This in turn can reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and help you get more quality sleep.
A key aspect of hypnotherapy is empowering you to take an active role in their well-being. Through hypnotherapy sessions, individuals can learn self-hypnosis techniques to manage hot flashes on their own, fostering a greater sense of control, agency and confidence in managing symptoms.
Incorporating hypnotherapy into a comprehensive menopause management plan can provide you with an effective toolkit to address your menopause symptoms on both a psychological and physiological level. Thenyou can enjoy a better quality of life during this major transition.
You can start enjoying the benefits of hypnosis right now with this soothing self-hypnosis audio. Find yourself a quiet, comfortable space and get ready to take your first steps towards a new menopause mindset!
The many benefits of hypnotherapy have been shown to offer those experiencing menopause a better quality of life. Support through hypnotherapy can provide non hormonal relief of symptoms, as well as new, healthy ways to cope and thrive.
Listen to Lewina’s Cooling Guided Visualisation for Menopause here.
References:
The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. (2023). Menopause, 30(6), 573. doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002200
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