Quick Imagery Techniques for Reducing Patient Pain and Anxiety

It doesn’t take much time to guide patients into a state of relaxation—there’s no need for lengthy meditations or interventions. When patients enter your facility, they are already in a highly suggestible state, which means that you are guiding a form of hypnosis, whether you are aware of it or not. 

As healthcare professionals, how can you make this a positive experience for your patients without investing extra time? Here are some tips on how to incorporate quick imagery techniques towards this goal. Imagery allows patients to enjoy a scenario in their minds that is preferable to what they are experiencing at the moment, such as stress, pain, or worries.

• Ask a Simple Question: Start by inviting the patient to enter a scenario of their choice. Ask questions like “Where would you rather be?” or “What would you rather do?” or “Where would you love to go?”.
• Encourage Use of all the Senses: Help the patient fully immerse themselves in the scenario by engaging all five senses – sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
• Remember, it’s the Patient’s Imagery, Not Yours: Avoid making statements like “Oh, I like to go there too” and dreaming of where you would rather be. This experience is about the patient, not you.
• Don’t Mention the Past or a Happy Place: Inviting someone to revisit the past, or a “happy place”, may trigger unwanted emotions and memories. This can lead to an “abreaction” where the patient experiences a negative reaction or remembers past trauma, which you want to avoid as they require extra time and skills to manage.

Applying these imagery techniques allows you to quickly and effectively reduce pain and anxiety in patients, providing them with immediate relief. This can also help you to feel more confident in your ability to provide comfort to patients.

The Comfort Talk® training and our book “Patient Sedation Without Medication” offer further instructions on how to incorporate these techniques into medical practice.

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