Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.  ~Victor Hugo

Now for a new series on Self-healing techniques for your physical and mental health. To begin with I will tell you about Guided Imagery which is a simple technique that you can use in the comfort of your own home, or any other place that you mightLink to site like. The practice of creative visualization has been around since the Egyptians and was also used by the ancients of India. They understood that visualization could affect health in a positive way, if done correctly. Western medicine gave little credence to imagery until the 1970s when a few doctors used it as an aid in the treatment of cancer patients. They found the results to be quite impressive. Those patients who used this practice were able to visualize their cancer cells getting smaller and they were more likely to go into remission. In addition to this, mental imagery may help alleviate the following symptoms: pain, anxiety, allergies, immune disorders, fatigue, as well as menstrual and menopausal issues,etc.

Studies of today have shown that our bodily functions such as heart rate, pulse,and so on, respond favorably to mental images. For example, when you picture your favorite meal, or sweet, your mouth may begin to water, and when you think of a stressful event, your pulse rate increases, this is how our mind effects our body. If we can use this technique in a constructive manner, we can will ourselves back to physical and emotional health. You may be wondering how this occurs, it happens because mental imagery has a deep effect on the hypothalamus, or the part of our brain that controls our endocrine and nervous systems. These systems regulate blood flow, heart rate, blood pressure, brain waves, and the release of chemicals and hormones in our body. If an over-abundance of chemicals/hormones are produced, it can lead to stress, flight/fight response, depression, and more.

Before you begin the process of creative visualization on your own, it might benefit you to consult with a therapist who can help you learn how to create images and teach you imagery techniques. There are also many good books, and videos on the market that you may purchase.

You may want to make a journal in which you collect images that illustrate your desired life changes. Write down any goals that you have, sketch your mental images such as ideas and fantasies, and write down your dreams. Include anything that inspires you, like poems, or quotes that you have read. Then cut out pictures from magazines that make you feel good. Whenever you are stressed or need a boost of confidence, look through your journal.

Here are some exercises that you can do.
  • As a daily ritual, perhaps before you get out of bed, visualize your goals enveloped in pink bubbles that float into space. Pretend that they are absorbing the positive energy in the universe that you need to realize your dreams.
  • For life changes such as a move, picture yourself in your new home, try to visualize where you will put your furniture, etc, and imagine yourself happy there.
  • For relaxation find a comfortable and quiet location, either sit, or lie down. Begin by breathing deeply and go to a place in your mind that gives you total peace and contentment. Next, visualize a bright white light that envelopes and shields you from negative energy.
  • For cancer and other illnesses, find a comfortable spot to sit or lie down and close your eyes. Relax and breathe deeply. Put yourself into the part of your body where there is cancer and imagine that the chemotherapy treatments are annihilating the diseased cells. Observe how the immune cells surround the cancer cells and sweep them away. Watch as the tumor shrinks and visualize your complete return to health. For other types of illnesses, modify the process to suit your needs.
Lastly, I would like to let you in on some steps that will help you to succeed.
  1. Create specific goals and break them down into manageable steps. Initiate a method to progress from one step to the next.
  2. Envision one of your goals in precise detail, as though it is already a reality. Imagine yourself delighted and successful in achieving this goal.
  3. Repeat this activity twice a day for 15-20 minutes. Visualize your dream in fine detail creating a mental picture, like a movie, with you as the main character.
  4. Utilize all of your senses to create more focused images. You can do this by thinking about the following things: the aromas that you smell, the flavors that you can taste, the skin and body sensations that you feel, the temperature and weather, as well as  the sounds that you hear.
  5. You may want to purchase cassettes, CDs and videos that you can use during your sessions.

Remember, if you have a serious condition, you should speak with your primary physician, naturopathic doctor, or mental health practitioner who will advise you as to what is best. He/she may recommend that you use guided imagery in addition to other types of treatment.

Stay tuned for my next blog on more Self Help techniques for your physical and mental health.


Links

Guided Imagery-Stress Management & Over-All Health
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer Treatment
Cancer Imagery
Reference

The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers,
     Pittsburgh, PA.