When Every Medical Test Was Normal but the Pain Was Real

Exploring Hypnosis for Persistent Symptoms That Resist Easy Explanations During the Civil War, physician Silas Weir Mitchell began seeing soldiers with a strange and disturbing complaint. Some had lost an arm or leg, yet they still felt pain, itching, cramping, or pressure in the missing limb. The limb was gone. The pain was not. At…

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The Patient Who Felt Calm Before the Operating Room Doors Opened

How Pre-Surgical Hypnosis May Reduce Anxiety and Improve the Recovery Experience In 2006, researchers at Yale University observed something unexpected outside an operating room. Seventy-six adults awaiting outpatient surgery were divided into three groups. One group received standard care. Another received supportive attention. The third participated in a brief hypnosis session focused on comfort and well-being.…

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The Singer Who Lost Her Voice And Found It Again

The surprising way hypnosis helped a performer overcome a mental block In February 2023, a 25-year-old singer came into our office with a problem that sounds simple until it steals your identity: her voice kept going hoarse, sometimes disappearing, right when she needed it most. Not at home. Not chatting with friends. On stage. For…

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From Constant Coughing to Calm: A Nurse’s Habit Cough Cured with Hypnosis

By Steve Cohen, RN, Healthcare Hypnosis Practitioner The Nurse Who Couldn’t Stop Coughing In the late 1970s, a young nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital developed a mysterious, relentless cough. No infection. No asthma. No allergies. No physiological explanation. Her cough was so disruptive that colleagues avoided taking a report from her. She tried inhalers, medications,…

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How to Protect Your Body From Your Own Destructive Thoughts

In my work as a keynote speaker on self-care for Healthcare professionals, I am often asked: “How does mental health impact physical health?” This question is relevant, especially for caregivers who may prioritize others’ well-being at the expense of their own. The answer is that your mental and physical health are deeply interconnected, and understanding…

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