Asthma is a very common complaint, but its commonness doesn’t make it any
less distressing. As you will know, the symptoms of asthma include difficulty
breathing, wheezing, coughing, chest pains and chest tightness. Basically,
asthma causes the airways in the lungs to tighten, and during an asthmatic
episode the lungs don’t get enough air to breathe properly.
There are all kinds of triggers that can set off an asthma episode, including dust
mites, dander from dogs and other pets, second hand smoke from cigarettes,
pipes etc, mould, certain types of food such as dairy products, and – of course –
stress. It’s important to try to identify what triggers asthma for you, and aim to
avoid these triggers as much as possible. You also need the advice of a medically
trained health professional.
However, remember that hypnosis can also help you manage asthma and give
you a huge sense of control over the condition. Research shows that negative
emotions such as panic and depression can affect the respiratory system, in
effect bringing on an asthma attack in people with the disease. So being able to
calm yourself and fend off negative thoughts can help you feel so much better.
Hypnosis can lower stress, which is a common trigger of asthma, but we also
know that the power of the mind can influence physical processes. Hypnosis
can improve your immune function and anaesthetize pain and directly and
beneficially affect the workings of the body. This means that hypnosis can ease
asthma