While the world grapples with the current COVID-19 pandemic, there has been progress with confirmed COVID-19 patients using a modality common to hypnosis. 

As confirmed patients must be treated in isolation due to the highly infectious nature of the coronavirus, patient anxiety and sleep disturbance increased significantly after going into isolation.  Furthermore, drugs to assist patients with sleep can inhibit the respiratory system and worsen the condition.  In an effort to determine how to combat these effects, a study was conducted in which one group of patients received 30 minutes of progressive muscle relaxation daily in addition to their routine care and treatment while a second group of patients only received their normal routine care and treatment.  The patients who took part in progressive muscle relaxation reported sleeping much better with greatly decreased anxiety1.  This only naturally leads to better overall mindset of the patient and potentially better outcomes in combination with normal patient care.

Progressive muscle relaxation is commonly used in hypnosis.  If you’re having trouble dealing with the pandemic, whether it be anxiety, stress, etc., hypnosis may help you navigate these tough times.  If you’d like to learn more, call 210-325-1567.  Online sessions are available.

1 Effects of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and sleep quality in patients with COVID-19,   Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 39, May 2020, Kai Liu, Ying Chen, Duozhi Wu, Ruzheng Lin, Zaisheng Wang, Liqing Pan