A cancer diagnosis is a scary time in anyone's life, and dealing with the disease is half the battle. Biopsies, chemotherapy and other procedures are commonplace for mesothelioma patients. All of these procedures have invasive aspects that affect the mind and body. Researchers are looking into the benefits of hypnotherapy for cancer patients. Also known as hypnotism, this alternative treatment program has shown some promising results for anyone dealing with lung cancer.

Hypnosis has been found to positively impact the body when used with cancer patients, states the National Institutes of Health. A professional can use hypnosis in order to calm a patient's mind before a procedure. The mind concentrates on the hypnosis instead of the impending treatment. As a result, the heart rate slows, blood pressure drops and the body is ready for any procedure. Patients perceive pain in a different way, which makes "mind over matter" a true statement. Recovery is even faster too because the patient has a positive outlook of the situation compared to a painful experience caught in the mind.

Many emerging treatments are available to lung-cancer patients, but only hypnosis truly tackles the stress factor. Patients under a lot of stress will be both mentally and physically drained. Hypnosis takes the stress away by distracting the mind from the worries. After the hypnosis, the worries are still a distant concept so that recovery can be as swift as possible. Ideally, patients should have hypnosis performed several times during chemotherapy and other long-term programs. Every hypnotherapy visit gives patients a reprieve from their minds. Without a lot of stress, the body can focus its energy on eradicating the cancer and entering remission.

A unique way that hypnosis helps cancer patients is through financial support. Hypnosis is an art that doesn't require expensive surgery or prescription pills. It only requires an experienced person to perform the service. Patients might pay for the labor involved with the hypnosis, but this amount is certainly lower than any other medical procedure. As a result, there's less stress surrounding hypnosis and the cancer itself. Reducing any strain on the individual frees the body to focus on healing instead of diverting that energy away to unimportant areas.

A fascinating alternative to professional hypnosis is a self-induced procedure. Patients can learn the art of hypnotizing themselves so that the calmness can be felt between professional appointments. A quiet room, comfortable clothing and time alone is often all that's needed to start a self-hypnosis session. In fact, patients might make this hypnosis a daily occurrence so that the cancer can be fought from both mental and physical sides.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, anxiety during cancer is one of the symptoms treated successfully with hypnotherapy and associated treatments. As the medical world evolves, hypnosis may be used in other applications. The power of the mind can be harnessed with understanding of its limitations and unexpected surprises.

For more information visit: 
https://mesothelioma.net/hypnotherapy-mesothelioma-patients , 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3755455/, or  https://nccih.nih.gov/health/hypnosis