Product reviews for Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Now! Second Edition

Once in a while, I read a book on hypnosis that is to eloquent, so well-organized, so understandable, and written with such clarity and sensitivity that I wish I'd written it myself. That's how I felt about reading Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Now (Second Edition) by Bruce Eimer, Ph.D. This is the quintessential book on self-hypnosis for pain management.

Eimer first covers topics such as types of pain, the physiology of pain, pain and neurology, and the pain gate control theory, explaining how hypnosis can reduce chronic pain by closing off the neurological transmission of sensation to the brain from the site of previous injuries. He also discusses how to evaluate pain and how to evaluate one's coping strategies.

The book then moves into the topics of hypnosis and self-hypnosis. Eimer acquaints the reader with basic information about hypnosis and then teaches eight methods of inducing self-hypnosis, such as eye fixation, arm drop, pencil drop, and the eye-roll method. Each induction comes with a script which the reader can record.

Next, the author provides a primer on pain management, covering the “six D's” of pain management: Deep Relaxation, Decatastrophizing, Direction, Distraction, Distortion, and Dissociation. He tells the reader how to match the pain management method to the type of pain, and gives self-hypnosis processes and self-suggestions in each “D” category. For example, with Decatastrophizing, Eimer discusses how to dispute self-talk, reframe the meaning of pain, conduct cognitive analysis of thought processes, and use self-suggestions such as “I can still enjoy things.” The pain management skills in this book include behavioral coping strategies, cognitive interventions, and relaxation methods.

This book also covers ways to refine self-hypnosis, as well as advanced self-hypnosis processes such as instant relaxation, a self-healing ritual, mindfulness meditation, ideo-motor signaling, and ego state therapy. I counted over 50 exercises for pain management in this book, so there is surely at least one that will help any reader who is willing to invest the time to learn and practice self-hypnosis. The book comes with a companion CD covers what hypnosis is, pain perception and hypnosis, relaxation with hypnosis, rating and lowering discomfort, pain relief and imagery, healing imagery, therapeutic touch and energy healing, comfort transfer, and stress control.

Bruce Eimer is a clinical psychologist practicing in Philadelphia, with over 20 years of experience in treating chronic pain. He writes from personal experience as a chronic pain survivor. While this book is written for anyone with chronic pain, it is also an excellent reference for hypnotherapists who work with pain reduction. As a chronic pain survivor myself, I believe this book holds great promise for improving the lives of many.