I had an elderly lady at the weekend , who had problems with pain.

She had been cleared by the Doctors and Hospitals, as to having ro ''real'' problems, and asked me to help her with her stress.

She had her twin sister with her , as moral support and chaperone , and on a scale of 1-10 described her pain , caused by she believed IBS and Diverticulitis as being on the level of 9...no more like 10 (her own words and estimation.)

Several attempts at relaxing the lady, and inducing hypnotic trance failed (first for a very long time ?)

In the end , I told her , ''Today , there is nothing I can do for you...I will see you tomorrow!''

We then began , an informal chat regarding her condition and other things....

As we chatted , I noticed , that she was relaxing more....knowing that pain reduces , as a person relaxes...I made the statement ''Your pain has gone down , from a level of 10 to 7 !''

She assessed herself , and said, that yes it had gone down, and was slightly bemused.

We carried on our conversation , and again I noticed a drop in her tension state. Again , I stated to the lady , that her pain level had now dropped , from 7 to 4.....She again reassessed , and confirmed , that I was right.

Again , the conversation continued, and again her tension dropped , and her relaxation increased....

Once again , I stated to her , that her pain level now , was on a level of 2 or 3....which she again confirmed!

From being defeated , to being the winner , in one easy session !

I explained to the lady, that this did in fact prove , that her Doctors were right , and that the majority of her pain , was self induced , but left her with the proviso , that any doubts , that she had about her physical well being , or the original cause of the pain , should be taken up with her Doctor...the Hospital etc.

Finding the number for the NHS helpline....etc for her , before I went.

There is always more than one way to ''skin a cat'', and as long as you are determined , to help each and every person , that seeks your advice....and you have the background knowledge and the patience to listen...and the wisdom to recognise the solution when it ''hits you in the face'' , there is nothing that we cannot accomplish...there is nobody , that we cannot improve !

Hope this story , is useful , to somebody out there.

Basically, I ''suggested'' that the pain was lowering....in tandem , with her own visible tension subsiding.....tension increases pain levels....relaxation , decreases pain levels !