Guided Imagery

[karrie]

I sat in my doctor's office desperately awaiting some form of help, even if it was nothing more than a stern lecture about how I need to 'snap out of it', or that I was being put on some new medication, like it or not. When I was diagnosed with fibromylagia, I knew intellectually that I was in for a lifetime of pain and exhaustion, and that there would be little or no help for me. But, emotionally, you're never quite prepared for how low it can drag you. For me, the worst thing isn't the pain. The worst thing is the cognitive impairment. My self identity is tied up in being a smart person. Lose that, and I lose myself.

So when stress strikes up and makes my world a hazy place where I can't express myself, I get even more stressed. More stress, more haziness, more haziness, more stress, and before long my body is figuratively the snake eating its own tail... my immune system goes haywire and turns on me, making everything ten times worse.

This is what I know intellectually about fibromyalgia and how stress compounds it, but, knowing something intellectually, and being able to implement it, simply aren't the same thing. So, when stress hits, how do you 'not stress', if your body and mind are wired one specific way? The typical answer from medicine, is anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and sometimes, anti-convulsants at low dosages. But, having exhausted all these options, I was surprised to be offered a different alternative today.

Guided imagery. A series of meditative sessions, aimed at teaching a mind how to work differently in times of stress, so that blood pressure, cholesterol levels, insulin levels, and immune function remain more stable. My first session is Thursday, right in the medical clinic. I'm excited to see if I can gain some lasting benefit from this, or even just some way to cope when the downward spiral strikes.

Does anyone else have any experience with this sort of thing? Any thoughts or information to share?

 

[hermanntrude]

fascinating. let us know how you get along with it. I suspect it'll do you a world of good, given the right kind of "sessions"

 

[Outta here]

Karrie,

I believe the 'mind over matter' approach can indeed have a powerful impact on your physical functioning. I've experienced this myself in varying degrees over the years for various situations... from childbirth to migraines. I will also say that the degree of success I've had has been in direct proportion to the level of visualization/ meditative state I was able to achieve.

If you've got an opportunity to be coached through this process, and you have an open mind to the possibilities, you may find some benefit. I'd be really interested to hear how your sessions are facilitated and your take on the whole thing.

 

[jimmoyer]

Almost every positive reinforcement seminar includes a statement of looking at a physical image.

If you want to be able to purchase a new car. Put up a picture near the mirror you look at every morning. Easy to scoff at. But I know if I don't write it down, I never do it.

Also, another point, when I write down my dreams, the visual imagery is easier to recall because it is more primal and fundamental than verbal.

And generally verbal is often more negative. Verbal constitutes at least 90 percent of our own negative programming.
And verbal is sequential logic whereas visual is not.

By the way, Karrie, keep posting on that. It's very interesting.
I've heard that hot peppers have something that helps arthritic nerves, but don't know if that applies to you.

 

[tracy]

I've used it a lot in labor and delivery. In my experience, it's very effective for people who really buy into it. You have to have a certain amount of mental discipline to do it though. Some people just can't let the stress go enough to commit to a mental exercise like guided imagery because they are just so frantic.

 

[Stretch]

the power of the mind is an amazing thing....as an example, a woman on a dvd I saw recently was diagnosed with breast cancer...she took the approach that she didnt have it, visualised herself as a healthy female and 3 months later the xrays prove her correct...she had both sets of xrays, b4 and "after" no drugs or therapy were taken...just her visiualisation.

My thorts on the mind/brain are ......ummmmm ya know how things evolve as we need them...like fines on amphibians evolving into feet when they left the water, gills evolving into lungs.....if we never used our mind/brain to a fuller capacity, why is it the size it is......just my thorts, but I do know, the power of the mind works.

 

[karrie]

Thanks for all the supportive input guys.

I know that it proved very useful in labor. The mantra that the pain was just my body's way of telling me to get somewhere safe, that once I was safe I could just relax into the contractions, did wonders for me, and my labor's were easy peasy.

My first appt is Thursday, and I can't wait to see what her technique is. I'll be sure to come and post again about it.

 

[quandary121]

I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from this obviously worrying complaint the article suggest that exercise is key to one form of treatment as for the stress side i recommend Buddhist meditation as this will lower your blood pressure and may help with tuning your mind to focus on inner peace try meditation and breathing exercises

For as long as space abides
And for as long as sentient beings abide
May i too abide
To dispel the sufferings of sentient beings
Master shantideva

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Well now karrie, I am intimately familiar with the kind of vicious cycle of symptoms and anxiety about symptoms you describe. I don't have anything as unpleasant as fibromyalgia, but all my adult life my blood pressure and the state of my digestion have been closely related to my emotional state. I don't know much about guided imagery, just the little bit I read after searching for the phrase with Google before posting this, but a few things seem clear to me. The vicious cycle you describe seems somewhat akin to a panic disorder: you respond inappropriately to certain somatic symptoms, which just serves to make them worse, then your response to them gets worse, then the symptoms get worse... I've been there too. Guided imagery looks to be a certain kind of cognitive therapy, in which you're taught to respond differently to the alarming somatic symptoms you get, and it has a very high success rate in dealing with such perceptions, or misperceptions, of what your body's telling you. It also appears to be one of those things that can edge over into the quackery and pseudoscience side, but I'm pretty sure you're sharp enough to spot that kind of nonsense pretty quickly. And since this was a referral from your doctor, you're probably in good hands. But if that guided imagery therapist pulls out the crystals or starts talking about quantum theory, RUN AWAY!

Good luck, hope this works for you. Truly, I wish you well.

 

[karrie]

Well now karrie, I am intimately familiar with the kind of vicious cycle of symptoms and anxiety about symptoms you describe. I don't have anything as unpleasant as fibromyalgia, but all my adult life my blood pressure and the state of my digestion have been closely related to my emotional state. I don't know much about guided imagery, just the little bit I read after searching for the phrase with Google before posting this, but a few things seem clear to me. The vicious cycle you describe seems somewhat akin to a panic disorder: you respond inappropriately to certain somatic symptoms, which just serves to make them worse, then your response to them gets worse, then the symptoms get worse... I've been there too. Guided imagery looks to be a certain kind of cognitive therapy, in which you're taught to respond differently to the alarming somatic symptoms you get, and it has a very high success rate in dealing with such perceptions, or misperceptions, of what your body's telling you. It also appears to be one of those things that can edge over into the quackery and pseudoscience side, but I'm pretty sure you're sharp enough to spot that kind of nonsense pretty quickly. And since this was a referral from your doctor, you're probably in good hands. But if that guided imagery therapist pulls out the crystals or starts talking about quantum theory, RUN AWAY!

Good luck, hope this works for you. Truly, I wish you well.

Thanks for the input Dexter. This seems like straight up response retraining. I doubt there will be much quackery involved (although I'm sure some see it as such regardless... lol). I've actually been working (slowly) on a paper on psychoneuroimmunology, and guided imagery, meditation, biofeedback are all touted within the scientific texts on the issue, as ways to 're-train' a rigidly responding somatic system. Some of the sites on it I found with a quick search on-line seem like, well, snake-oil salesmen, but, this 'therapist' (a nurse working within the clinic) seems very good. Seems... we'll see I suppose. lol.

 

[karrie]

My first session today.

Most of our time was spent talking about what is right and what is wrong in my life. I was given work sheets to take home so that I can give a clear statement of what I want to gain from this endeavor. But, without a clear 'program' written up for me, she decided we would take the time to work on the basic relaxation and imagery techniques. It felt sort of... absurdly simple, and sort of childish, if that makes any sense, and yet it was extremely powerful. It got me so relaxed and so immersed in a moment of concentration focused on strength and positivity, that when she called for me to change what my mind was focusing on, I nearly cried... actual tears formed in my eyes... because I really didn't want to leave that feeling behind.

While it didn't effect any 'change' as of today, I now know there's that something there... that sense of strength and serenity and calm... and I'm determined to seek it more, to not hit a point where I have to walk away from it to head back out into the real world.

 

[quandary121]

My first session today.

Most of our time was spent talking about what is right and what is wrong in my life. I was given work sheets to take home so that I can give a clear statement of what I want to gain from this endeavor. But, without a clear 'program' written up for me, she decided we would take the time to work on the basic relaxation and imagery techniques. It felt sort of... absurdly simple, and sort of childish, if that makes any sense, and yet it was extremely powerful. It got me so relaxed and so immersed in a moment of concentration focused on strength and positivity, that when she called for me to change what my mind was focusing on, I nearly cried... actual tears formed in my eyes... because I really didn't want to leave that feeling behind.

While it didn't effect any 'change' as of today, I now know there's that something there... that sense of strength and serenity and calm... and I'm determined to seek it more, to not hit a point where I have to walk away from it to head back out into the real world.

That's "beautiful" i hope you receive more guidance and strength in this journey. :lol:
i pray it may end swiftly for you karrie

 

[Hazmart]

Karrie,

I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you. I just have so much respect for you. For the fact that you knew to seek assistance, and then to be able to share your experience as well.

I am a very strong believer in meditation and reflection myself. I used to be a very critical person. It was through meditation that I was able to find that peace that gave me the courage to take the time to understand, tolerate and respect others differences instead of trying to make myself feel better than others.

It amazes me how when you change even one simple critical thought to one that is positive, what a difference it makes not only in the mind, but even more so in the body.

I know that, what you are doing and why you are doing it, are not for the same reasons that I did but I know that you too will be amazed at what the body and the mind can do when they work together.
I will be thinking of you and all your strength.
Haz

 

[Outta here]

Karrie

Somehow I missed your update today. I appreciate you sharing this with us too. I'm glad you're seeing something of value here - I'd love to hear what techniques she's using, if she's recommending any specific material to read etc.

 

[talloola]

I just hope that you can 'feel' the 'strength and support' I am sending you.

My daughter
does 'deep' meditation. It is an important part of her life, and seems to help her immensley. I don't have the capability to do that, just can't focus in that direction, my
mind won't go there, maybe I'm just too stubborn I don't know, I seem to have a very
busy mind that doesn't want to take time off.

I wish you well, take care.

 

[karrie]

Wow Zan.... explaining it is a bit difficult, and, well, like I said it strikes me a bit self consciously to try to explain it.. lol. Essentially, she's just telling you to relax, to focus on her words, and to not just shut out the noise and chaos of the outside world, but to let the little things you hear drive you deeper and deeper into relaxation. She goes through assorted 'levels' of relaxation to try to take you deeper and deeper a stage at a time, and at certain levels she uses different imagery (like telling you to imagine a calm, peaceful place), until she gets to the deepest level she wants you at, where she brings you into a circle in the center of an empty room. Once you step into that circle she starts talking about calm, strength, energy, and the love and admiration of all those who are important to you. It was oddly powerful for what sounds like such a simple exercise.

Once I fill out my tailored worksheets, she'll tailor the imagery and wording to me more, so I'm not sure what our sessions will be like then.

But I have to say talloola, I tried some of the 'self talk' exercises she gave me last night as I went to bed. Essentially consisting of bringing your mind down from one level or relaxation to another, while repeating a phrase you intend to implement (for me it was that I would sleep properly and wake up refreshed) and I couldn't do it. Without guiding at this point, I'm hopeless. lol.

And Haz... wow... I really appreciate what you wrote. It's nice to know it works so well for others. Thanks.

 

[talloola]

Wow Zan.... explaining it is a bit difficult, and, well, like I said it strikes me a bit self consciously to try to explain it.. lol. Essentially, she's just telling you to relax, to focus on her words, and to not just shut out the noise and chaos of the outside world, but to let the little things you hear drive you deeper and deeper into relaxation. She goes through assorted 'levels' of relaxation to try to take you deeper and deeper a stage at a time, and at certain levels she uses different imagery (like telling you to imagine a calm, peaceful place), until she gets to the deepest level she wants you at, where she brings you into a circle in the center of an empty room. Once you step into that circle she starts talking about calm, strength, energy, and the love and admiration of all those who are important to you. It was oddly powerful for what sounds like such a simple exercise.

Once I fill out my tailored worksheets, she'll tailor the imagery and wording to me more, so I'm not sure what our sessions will be like then.

But I have to say talloola, I tried some of the 'self talk' exercises she gave me last night as I went to bed. Essentially consisting of bringing your mind down from one level or relaxation to another, while repeating a phrase you intend to implement (for me it was that I would sleep properly and wake up refreshed) and I couldn't do it. Without guiding at this point, I'm hopeless. lol.

And Haz... wow... I really appreciate what you wrote. It's nice to know it works so well for others. Thanks.

The worst time, (for me), when I am very uptight, or very worried about something, is
lying in bed, trying to sleep, it is impossible. BUT, as soon as I turn on my TV, which is
situated so that I can watch it, in a very comfortable sleeping type position in my bed,
I fall asleep.
That TV has done more for me, to settle me down, distract my mind from anything that
is bothering me, and in no time at all, I am sound asleep.
I am lucky though, as my husband doesn't hear very well, and the TV doesn't bother him at all.
Sometimes that TV is on till about 3 or 4 in the morning, then it might be watched again for another hour or so, then back to sleep.
The important thing is, to get the sleep needed, as, without the sleep, whatever is bothering me, will seem much worse.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

... absurdly simple, and sort of childish, if that makes any sense, and yet it was extremely powerful. It got me so relaxed and so immersed in a moment of concentration focused on strength and positivity, that when she called for me to change what my mind was focusing on, I nearly cried...

Yes, it makes perfect sense to me and I think that report is extremely encouraging. If you can get to a place like that in the first session, after five you'll be flying. I have an image of you in my mind, based on what you've chosen to share of yourself in your postings here and the avatars you've chosen to display, and it probably has almost nothing to do with what you actually look like, but it's clear that you're strong-minded and intelligent. I am completely confident you're going to be alright. You should be too.

 

[karrie]

Today's session was, well, weird. The therapist took me down through the phases of relaxation, and when we hit this one point in the exercise, the part where you're stepping into a circle in the middle of an empty room, you're supposed to touch your forefinger and thumb together. But, I'd gone too deep, too relaxed, and it took me almost a few seconds to actually FIND my hands. An odd feeling. Resting with my eyes closed like that I lost all perspective of time and space. I could barely tell where I was, let alone where the therapist's voice was coming from. It was, weird.

 

[Hazmart]

Wow, that is so impressive. Not everyone one can go deep like that. How did you feel afterwards? How did you sleep after your first session?