Hypnosis for Autoimmune Diseases: A Complementary Approach for Stress, Pain and Immune Support
- Nivea Loiselle
- 7 days ago
- 11 min read
From weight loss and improved self-confidence to overcoming phobias, procrastination, anxiety, and chronic pain, hypnosis has been shown to help remove subconscious blocks that prevent you from experiencing the quality of life you desire today.
Among its many applications, hypnosis for autoimmune diseases is gaining increasing attention. But how does hypnosis actually work? And what concrete benefits can hypnotherapy offer people living with chronic autoimmune conditions?
This article provides evidence-informed answers.
What Is Hypnosis and What Is RTT® (Rapid Transformational Therapy®)?
Hypnosis is somewhat like guided meditation. In fact, whenever we are absorbed in a novel or a film — or when we are just about to fall asleep or wake up — we are naturally entering a hypnotic trance state. It is a natural state that we move in and out of several times a day without even realizing it.
During this state, brainwave activity slows down. This allows the conscious, analytical part of ourselves (that small critical voice in our head) to step into the background, making space for the subconscious mind.
Hypnosis is a modified state of awareness in which you remain fully conscious of what is being said and what is happening around you. Research using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional MRI has shown that the neurological changes observed during hypnosis do not correspond to a state of sleep.
Hypnosis creates a bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind, allowing you to access internal resources that already exist within you.
It is an active and voluntary process. You remain in full control and can choose whether or not to accept the suggestions or ideas communicated to your subconscious.
Hypnosis works by helping reorganize neural pathways. As a result, automatic responses to stimuli — such as pain or stress — can be modified. This is not magic; it is a form of mental training that becomes increasingly effective with practice.
How Is RTT® Different?
RTT® (Rapid Transformational Therapy®), or rapid transformational hypnotherapy, is a brief and innovative therapeutic approach developed over the past 30 years by British psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Marisa Peer.
RTT® combines the most effective principles of:
Clinical hypnotherapy
Traditional psychotherapy approaches such as Gestalt therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
Neuroscience
Mindfulness
The goal is to address subconscious blocks at their root and dismantle limiting beliefs or internal constraints that prevent you from moving forward. By bringing new insights and tools into conscious awareness, RTT® helps you create meaningful and lasting change.
RTT® protocols are grounded in neuroscience. While results always depend on factors such as self-awareness, readiness for change, and the complexity of the situation, one of the key strengths of RTT® hypnosis is its ability to access deeply rooted subconscious material quickly — often within 1 to 3 sessions.
How Does an RTT® Session Work?
You can find full details about the process here:
https://www.nivealoiselle.com/en/rapid-transformational-program
Understanding Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases are numerous and diverse. They include conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, among many others. These disorders share a common underlying mechanism: a mistaken attack by the immune system against the body’s own healthy tissues.
An autoimmune disease can be compared to “an allergy within the body.”An allergy involves an abnormal immune response triggered by an external allergen. In contrast, an autoimmune disease involves an abnormal immune response directed against something inside the body itself.
This process leads to chronic symptoms that often fluctuate in intensity — ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain and debilitating fatigue.
One of the major challenges in treating autoimmune diseases is their unpredictability. Individuals often alternate between periods of remission, during which symptoms decrease, and flare-ups, when symptoms intensify. Conventional treatments, primarily based on immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications, aim to control these symptoms. However, these medications can cause significant side effects and are not always effective in the long term.
Given these limitations, many individuals seek complementary approaches to better manage their condition. Hypnosis, as a complementary therapy, is not intended to replace medical treatment. Rather, it offers valuable support in improving overall quality of life.
By working on pain perception, stress regulation, and even sleep quality, hypnosis may help stabilize an individual’s overall condition and potentially reduce the frequency and intensity of flare-ups.
Symptoms Associated with Autoimmune Diseases That Impact Quality of Life
Inflammation
Stress and anxiety
Chronic pain
Sleep disturbances
Chronic fatigue
Digestive disorders
Hypnosis for Stress and Anxiety Management
Stress is generally triggered by an external event (a negative experience, bad news, a difficult situation). It can have a short-term impact, but it may also persist over time.
Anxiety, on the other hand, is excessive worry that continues even in the absence of real danger. It often stems from fear of a negative future event that has not yet occurred — or from fear that pain or symptoms may return.
Stress and anxiety are typically accompanied by:
Emotional symptoms (irritability, anger)
Cognitive symptoms (difficulty concentrating or falling asleep)
Physical symptoms (muscle tension, digestive issues, fatigue)
The Impact of Stress on Autoimmune Diseases
Stress is a major trigger for many autoimmune conditions. When stress becomes chronic, it disrupts immune system balance due to the continuous production of cortisol. In excessive amounts, cortisol can worsen inflammation.
Inflammation plays a key role in the progression and intensification of autoimmune symptoms.
In addition, living with a chronic illness is itself a source of stress. Uncertainty about disease progression, ongoing pain, and physical limitations can create a persistent state of tension. This stress can amplify symptoms, creating a difficult cycle to break.
This is where hypnosis can play a supportive role.
Hypnosis for Stress Reduction
Hypnosis helps regulate the inflammatory response by influencing the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. It also acts on the autonomic nervous system, which regulates many bodily functions — including immune response through cortisol secretion.
By accessing a state of deep relaxation, individuals can learn to release physical tension and develop mental strategies to better cope with everyday stress. Over time, this may significantly influence how they experience and manage their autoimmune condition.
A 2019 meta-analysis(1) found hypnosis to be a highly effective intervention for reducing anxiety. The results showed that individuals who underwent hypnosis experienced greater anxiety reduction than approximately 79% of participants involved in other treatment modalities — and more than 84% at the longest follow-up after treatment ended.
The authors also concluded that hypnosis may be as effective as, or even more effective than, other approaches such as mindfulness for anxiety management. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that hypnosis appears to be even more effective when combined with other supportive interventions.
Hypnosis and Pain Management: A Promising Complementary Approach
Chronic Pain in Autoimmune Diseases
Chronic pain is one of the most common — and most difficult to manage — symptoms of autoimmune diseases. Whether it involves joint pain, muscle pain, or nerve-related pain, this persistent suffering can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
Conventional treatments often include analgesics or anti-inflammatory medications. While these medications can be necessary, long-term use may lead to undesirable side effects and does not always provide lasting relief.
How Hypnosis Helps Relieve Chronic Pain
Pain serves an important purpose. We do not want to eliminate it entirely. Pain protects the part of us that is injured and warns us to move away from what is harmful. During the healing phase, pain is essential.
However, when pain has fulfilled its warning function yet persists in the form of chronic pain, hypnotherapy can become particularly relevant.
Hypnosis offers a complementary approach to traditional treatments. In fact, one of the most extensively researched applications of clinical hypnosis is pain management(2).
By inducing a state of deep relaxation, hypnosis can modify pain perception. Under hypnosis, the brain can reinterpret pain signals and reduce their intensity.
Hypnotic suggestions — the therapeutic content delivered during hypnosis — can target:
The sensory component of pain (reducing the intensity of the sensation)
The emotional component of pain (reducing how distressing or overwhelming the sensation feels)
Research suggests that areas of the brain involved in the salience network(3) — which determines the importance of incoming information — function differently during hypnosis. This same network also processes pain-related information and contributes to the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the pain experience(4).
Through hypnosis, the brain can decrease the amplification of pain signals and reduce their impact on daily life. In some cases, hypnosis can literally lower the perceived intensity of pain.
For example, an individual living with rheumatoid arthritis may learn, under hypnosis, to visualize their joints as flexible and healthy. When combined with therapeutic suggestion, this type of imagery can reduce perceived pain intensity and lessen the emotional distress associated with flare-ups.
Over time, many individuals report a significant improvement in their quality of life because they feel less overwhelmed and less defined by their pain.
Hypnosis for Restorative Sleep
The Importance of Restorative Sleep in Autoimmune Diseases
Sleep is another crucial aspect of health for individuals living with autoimmune diseases. Quality sleep is essential for allowing the body to regenerate and maintain a balanced immune system. Unfortunately, pain, anxiety, and stress associated with autoimmune conditions can significantly disrupt sleep.
Lack of sleep — or poor-quality sleep — alters the function of certain immune-regulating cells and promotes the production of inflammatory proteins.
Since inflammation plays a central role in autoimmune diseases, sleep disturbances can contribute to worsening symptoms and increased flare-ups.
Hypnosis and Restorative Sleep
The benefits of hypnosis for sleep are well documented. Numerous studies show that individuals suffering from insomnia or sleep disturbances — including those linked to chronic illness — experience noticeable improvements in sleep quality after just a few hypnosis sessions.
These improvements may include:
Fewer nighttime awakenings
Longer sleep duration
Deeper, more restorative sleep
A 2018 systematic review reported that more than 58% of the studies included found beneficial effects of hypnosis on sleep outcomes. The authors concluded that hypnosis is a promising treatment for sleep difficulties(5).
Hypnosis was also considered a very safe intervention, as two studies monitoring both positive and negative outcomes reported no adverse events among 231 participants.
How Hypnosis Improves Sleep Quality
Hypnosis can play an important role in improving sleep quality by inducing a state of deep relaxation. This relaxed state helps calm the mind and prepare the body for restorative sleep.
Hypnosis techniques for sleep typically include:
Relaxation suggestions
Soothing visualizations
Breathing exercises
Post-hypnotic suggestions that support healthy sleep patterns
Some individuals also find it helpful to listen to hypnosis recordings specifically designed for sleep before bedtime. These recordings guide them through structured suggestions that help release the worries of the day and focus on calming, positive imagery.
Over time, these techniques can help retrain the brain to associate bedtime with feelings of calm and safety rather than anxiety or pain.
Hypnosis is not a state of sleep — but you can absolutely fall asleep during hypnosis.
Strengthening Resilience Through Hypnosis
Living with an autoimmune disease requires considerable mental resilience. The emotional highs and lows, physical limitations, and uncertainty about the future can be overwhelming. It is therefore essential to develop strategies to strengthen your mental health and emotional well-being.
Hypnosis is a powerful tool for enhancing mental resilience. It allows you to reprogram your mind, helping you better manage the stress, anxiety, and depression that often accompany autoimmune diseases.
Under hypnosis, it is possible to learn how to transform negative thoughts into positive affirmations. This approach helps adopt a more optimistic perspective toward the disease, which translates directly into overall health benefits.
For example, an individual with multiple sclerosis may use hypnosis to visualize a future where they live in harmony with their disease, rather than feeling defeated by it. This positive visualization, reinforced by hypnotic suggestions, can reduce feelings of despair and increase motivation to adhere to treatments or wellness routines.
Hypnosis can also help boost self-confidence. By addressing limiting beliefs under hypnosis, an individual can gradually overcome fears and doubts that prevent them from living fully.
This mindset shift can be particularly beneficial in daily disease management, as it encourages individuals to make choices that support their well-being rather than being overwhelmed by challenges.Techniques to strengthen mental resilience through hypnosis also include guided meditation, post-hypnotic suggestion (where the individual receives suggestions during the trance to influence behavior after the session), and visualization therapy. All these methods aim to cultivate a more positive and resilient mindset, significantly impacting how a person experiences life with an autoimmune condition.
Testimonials of RTT® Hypnosis Success
Sharon 06-27-2024
« Am so happy to be on the capable hands of Nivea, i have made a lot of changes since we have started working together..My Selfworth has spicked and am loving it.Thankyou so much for this beautiful journey ❤️. »
Ida 06-18-2024
« When I sought help from Nivea I was struggling with procrastination and decision making. Few days before the first session my doctor informed me that I had to go through an unexpected surgery. I was so surprised with myself on the surgery day. I was feeling very calm, connected to myself and relaxed. Even doctors noticed my calmness and fearlessness, and jokingly asked me : Do you know why you are here? :) During this healing process I feel more confident, focused, more aligned to my body, more aware of my thoughts and emotions. Now it's easier for me to understand and accept why I feel a certain way. Now it takes less time and energy to make decisions and feel positive about them. As well as, the recovery after the surgery was fast and almost painless. Nivea taught me some really helpful and easy techniques to control and ease the pain. After the sessions she was constantly in contact with me through phone calls and follow up emails to remind me what was discovered and to help me stay focused during my transformation path. I'm infinitely grateful that Nivea is accompanying me through my healing process. She is absolutely a great source of information, suggestions and techniques. For her genuine compassion, professionalism and care I wholeheartedly recommend working with Nivea. »
Hypnosis: Complement or Alternative?
Many ask whether hypnosis can replace traditional medical treatments or if it should be used alongside them. The answer largely depends on the nature of the autoimmune disease and the individual's overall health.
It is important to emphasize that hypnosis does not cure autoimmune diseases.
However, it can provide significant symptom relief and improve quality of life. For most individuals, hypnosis is used as a complementary therapy.
This means it is integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan, alongside prescribed medications and under the supervision of a physician. The goal is to optimize outcomes by combining the strengths of conventional medicine with the benefits of hypnosis.
For example, an individual taking immunosuppressive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may also undergo hypnosis sessions to manage pain and stress. Thanks to the action of the medications and the calming effect of hypnosis, the individual can experience symptom reduction while minimizing medication side effects.
Limits of Hypnosis
RTT® hypnosis does not replace medical consultation, diagnosis, or prescription. You must consult your physician or emergency services, who are solely qualified to assess your health status.
Additionally, if you suffer from severe psychosis or have been diagnosed with a personality disorder, such as bipolar disorder, RTT® hypnosis is strongly discouraged. These pathologies are considered “dissociative,” sometimes accompanied by personality disorders and a chronic or permanent difficulty in perceiving reality. Since hypnosis also involves dissociation, it could exacerbate these psychological imbalances.
It is IMPORTANT not to stop or change any medication or treatment without your doctor’s prior consent.
Tips for Finding a Qualified Practitioner
Look for certified and experienced practitioners. Check online reviews and ask for recommendations. A good practitioner will tailor sessions to your specific needs.
Is Hypnosis Right for You?
You can easily book your informational appointment here: https://calendly.com/nivea-loiselle/20min
I answer all your questions and explain how I can help you.
In Summary
Our thoughts have a direct impact on our sensations. In fact, our thoughts can regulate how we feel. We control our thoughts, which implies that we can influence how we experience emotions and bodily sensations. But sometimes, we need help to do so. Sometimes, we get stuck in habitual thought patterns that make our mind and body feel unwell, unhealthy, or uncomfortable.
Hypnosis has demonstrated the ability to modulate immune responses and inflammatory phenomena. Thus, hypnosis can influence many factors, including psychological state, gut physiology, immune function, inflammation, and the perception of pain associated with disease.
Hypnotherapy can help us unblock, start using different parts of our mind to think differently, change how our body reacts, and help us feel, act, and behave in a healthier and more effective way.
Valentine, K. E., Milling, L. S., Clark, L. J. & Moriarty, C. L. The Efficacy of Hypnosis as a Treatment for Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Hypn. 67, 336–363 (2019).
Thompson, T. et al. The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 99, 298–310 (2019).
The salience network is responsible for controlling the information received by the brain and deciding its importance. Due to its crucial role in attention control, it also participates in various cognitive and behavioral functions. It allows us to be aware of our emotions, thoughts, and body.
Del Casale, A. et al. Neural functional correlates of hypnosis and hypnoanalgesia: Role of the cingulate cortex. Am. J. Clin. Hypn. 64, 53–61 (2022).
Chamine, I., Atchley, R. & Oken, B. S. Hypnosis Intervention Effects on Sleep Outcomes: A Systematic Review. J. Clin. Sleep Med. 14, 271–283 (2018).
Comments