Hypnotherapy is a natural and holistic approach to managing the symptoms of menopause. Find out how hypnotherapy can support you during this phase of your life.
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During menopause, some women can experience a range of symptoms that vary from mildly uncomfortable or undesirable to downright debilitating.
While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a great choice for many people, others want to use alternative medicine for menopause symptoms or utilise complementary therapies in combination with or instead of HRT to improve their overall physical and mental well-being.
Reflexology for menopause, for example, has been shown to reduce vasomotor symptoms, improve sleep quality and boost overall mood. Hypnotherapy is another non-invasive, deeply relaxing practice that can help women to manage their symptoms.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness, often referred to as a trance.
In this state, your mind becomes more open to suggestions, making it a powerful tool for addressing various health concerns, including menopause symptoms.
Hypnotherapy can be done in person with a specialist, called a hypnotherapist, or at home using guided audio.
Can hypnotherapy help with menopause?
Hypnotherapy for menopause can reduce the impact of many physical and psychological menopausal symptoms, improving overall quality of life. It is especially effective in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms.
Hot flushes and night sweats
Hot flushes and night sweats are two of the most common symptoms reported by women, with up to 80% experiencing them.
Hypnotherapy can assist in reducing the frequency and intensity of hot flushes and night sweats by helping you manage stress and regulate your body's response to hormonal changes.
In a clinical trial involving 187 post-menopausal women who reported a minimum of 7 hot flushes per day or at least 50 per week, five weekly sessions of hypnosis reduced hot flushes by 80%.
Find out more about what can help with night sweats during menopause.
Sleep disturbances
Menopause and sleep issues often go hand in hand as a result of hormonal fluctuations and mood changes. Many women experience insomnia, fewer hours of sleep and waking during the night.
Improved sleep quality is a common benefit of hypnotherapy. By addressing underlying stress and anxiety, hypnotherapy can promote relaxation, leading to better sleep patterns.
One study explored the effects of in-person and phone hypnotherapy supported by self-hypnosis in menopausal women. All delivery schedules were beneficial, and self-hypnosis was shown to be an effective treatment for menopausal sleep problems, improving sleep quality in 50%-77% of participants.
Learn more about common sleep problems during menopause.
Mood swings and emotional well-being
Hypnotherapy can be effective in managing mood swings, irritability, and emotional challenges associated with menopause, such as stress, depression and anxiety, by fostering a positive mindset and emotional balance.
A meta-analysis found that on average, participants treated with hypnotherapy for anxiety improved more than around 84% of control participants, although it is more effective when combined with other psychological interventions than as a stand-alone treatment.
Further, a systematic review that looked at hypnotherapy’s impact on stress revealed that six out of nine studies reported significant positive effects on stress reduction.
Discover how else menopause impacts mental health.
Cognitive function
Some women experience cognitive changes during menopause. Hypnotherapy may enhance cognitive function and concentration by addressing psychological factors that contribute to cognitive decline. For example, studies suggest hypnotherapy is effective in:
- Enhancing concentration
- Improving attention and focus
- Reducing mental load
- Optimising cognitive control
- Reinforcing mental clarity
Get our guide to brain fog during menopause.
Pain management
Muscle and joint pain are experienced by many women in midlife, with headache (38%), osteoarticular pain (31%) and cervical/lumbar pain (21%) the most commonly reported.
Further, a 2019 study found that women with menopause symptoms are nearly twice as likely to have chronic pain diagnoses such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and back pain.
However, for those experiencing pain or discomfort associated with menopause or with chronic pain, hypnotherapy techniques can help in alleviating discomfort and promoting a sense of well-being. Research on hypnotherapy for the management of chronic pain found that the therapy significantly decreased pain intensity after four weeks of treatment.
What to expect during a hypnotherapy session
- Initial assessment: Your hypnotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment to understand your specific menopause symptoms, overall health and personal goals.
- Your sessions: HypnoMenopause® combines elements of hypnotherapy, CBT, mindfulness, neurolinguistic programming and coaching to achieve support with symptoms of menopause. This comprehensive approach can really help to achieve change, as well as being a wonderfully relaxing experience.
The sessions last for about an hour, and you should have somewhere quiet and comfortable to lie or sit with your head supported. You should try to ensure as best as you can that you won't be interrupted. You will be sent a sound recording to play during sessions – please play this on a separate device from the one you use to log into your appointment.
HypnoMenopause® usually runs over 5 sessions, normally weekly or fortnightly. It is suitable for almost everybody, regardless of whether or not they are on HRT. It is not suitable for anyone suffering from psychosis, or anyone who has epilepsy which is not well controlled and whose seizures are triggered during sleep. It can be helpful to have a short ‘discovery call’ before booking sessions to allow you to ask any questions you may have about hypnotherapy and to tell you in a little more detail what it involves. These calls are free.
- Post-session support: Tools and techniques will be discussed for self-hypnosis that you can practise between sessions to reinforce positive changes.
Choosing hypnotherapy at Menopause Care
When seeking a hypnotherapist for menopause support, consider the following:
- Qualifications: Dr Becky Smithson is fully qualified in HypnoMenopause.
- Communication: Choose a practitioner with whom you feel comfortable discussing your symptoms and goals. Dr Becky has a calm and approachable style and can put you at ease.
Hypnotherapy can be a valuable addition to your menopause management plan, providing a natural and holistic approach to symptom relief. If you’re interested in finding out how hypnotherapy could help with your unique symptoms of menopause, book a hypnotherapy consultation.
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