Deane; he/him; Chronic back and neck pain
Chronic back pain is an epidemic in the United States. The term chronic is used when the pain surpasses 12 weeks in duration. It has been estimated that about 80% of Americans will experience some form of back pain in their lifetimes. The causes can be wide ranging including injury, osteoporosis, slipped disks, nerve pinching, etc. or they may be undiagnosed. Back pain is different for everyone but can be very debilitating.
Deane has been an inspiring person to work with. Although he was in a terrible car accident that left him in excruciating pain that has lasted years beyond the original injury, he has discovered an unusual and fascinating way of managing - self hypnosis. Many people experience relief from chronic pain after sessions of hypnosis, and Deane is not only able to guide himself through this practice but has been licensed as a hypnotherapist so that he can begin to help others as well. When we discussed his pain he said that his experience of it was like an unceasing buzz, a background noise that at times becomes overwhelming. We found cicadas to be an excellent metaphor for this, imagining their constant droning sound that permeates the silence of hot summer days.