August 4, 2017,  a semitrailer ran over me.  Driving to see my first Home Health patient for the day, proved to be a life changing event.  My car, did not survive.  It was totaled.

I am very fortunate and blessed to have survived the accident without broken bones, cuts or life threatening injuries.  I did however, receive an injury to one vital organ, my brain.    For nine months I have been off work on worker’s compensation.  I have ‘Post Concussion Syndrome’.  It is not fun.

What is Post Concussion Syndrome? A personal definition means that I have had the same headache, everyday since August 4, 2017.  The headache never goes away and at times the headache is worse than other times.  This headache has a migraine component to it, along with brain fog.  The accident also caused disturbances in my sleep pattern.  Many nights I did not sleep and on a good night I got about 2-3 hours sleep.  I prefer not to use drugs whenever possible.

I was given a prescription for an opioid for the headache as I was leaving the Emergency Room.  I didn’t want it.  Opioids were never intended for longterm use.  They take the edge off pain, but the pain is still there.  The side effects of opioids are not pleasant.  Our society has an opioid addiction crisis.  During a follow up appointment with employee health,  I was given a prescription for a stronger strength Ibuprofen.  I have taken this prescribed medication on very rare occasions, only when the migraine was exceptionally severe.

So, what have I done to manage the chronic headache?  I practice what I preach.  I use self hypnosis and meditation to manage the head injury pain.  I started self hypnosis the day of the accident.  I visualized my brain and saw the edema surrounding the organ.  I see the inflammation resolving and the brain returning to its normal size.  Giving myself post hypnotic suggestions that the headache will reduce in severity as the swelling in my brain begins to resolve is helpful.

A few weeks after the accident, I was referred to a neurologist for follow up on the headache.  This neurologist is open minded and was willing to work with me on a more holistic approach, especially in light of the fact that he had nothing to offer except, ‘wait and see’.  I was told that the headache may never resolve. (I don’t always take to heart a limiting diagnosis like that one.)  We added higher doses of magnesium and vitamin B 12 to be taken at night to help with the sleep disturbances.

I added meditation to my tool kit to help not only with the headache, but also with the sleeplessness.  Over the months of practicing self hypnosis and meditation, the quality and quantity of sleep has improved.  The severity of the headache has reduced.  I have not had a migraine in the last few months and most nights, I receive between 5-7 hours of sleep.

I fully believe that as I continue with my daily routine of self hypnosis and meditation, the headache will disappear.  At this point in time, the headache has dissipated from a level 6-7 on the pain scale with the migraine component, down to a level 2-3 with a dull ache and no migraine.   The brain fog is no longer a daily challenge, but a rare occasion and it does not last long.

Even after the resolution of the headache, brain fog and sleep disturbances, I will continue with self hypnosis and meditation.  I have gained valuable  insight into my self awareness.  I am now more at ease in dealing with life’s stressors.

Hypnosis and self hypnosis is an effective tool for pain management.  I know from first hand experience.  I have always taught my clients how to do self hypnosis starting with their first visit with me.