Hypnosis to Alleviate Perioperative Anxiety and Stress: A Journey to Challenge Ideas

Abstract

Mention the possibility of surgery to a patient and most will react with a feeling of apprehension at best. Some will be horrified at the mere thought of being ‘cut open’. For others, it will be the suggestion of entering a hospital for anything longer than an out patient appointment. Newspaper reports of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) may spring to mind: ‘Will I leave with more than I came in for?’; ‘What if it goes wrong?’; ‘Who will look after the family?’. All this worrying leads to increased anxiety and stress, and the patient has not even been put on the waiting list yet, let alone been admitted.