| Show Imagery healing through the minds mind's IS eye r David Owens Contributing Writer i EVERYONE has an imagination We all have experienced experienced ex ex- using our imagination in a form of mental imagery to create art write literature or simply daydream Through using the mind there is a side of imagery imagery imagery im im- im- im agery that can help prevent cope with and even help pain and disease A good demonstration of how imagery works is trying to manufacture and secrete saliva Through the verbal order the process of doing this may produce very little saliva because parts of the body that produce saliva do not respond very well to commands Through the use of mental imagery however we are able to approach approach approach ap ap- ap- ap this command differently Imagine that you have in your hand a big yellow yellow yellow yel yel- yel- yel low juicy lemon Visualize it in your minds mind's eye until you smell its fresh tartness Then imagine taking a knife and slicing into the lemon Carefully Careful Careful- ly cut out a thick juicy section Now take a deep bite of you imaginary lemon and begin to sense that tart sour lemon juice splashing in your mouth saturating every taste bud of your tongue so fully that your lips and cheeks curl Swirl it in your mouth with its acrid taste Through the use of mental imagery patients are able to help defeat their diseases in two ways actual cancer cells being destroyed or using symbols wh which ch represent the symptoms they have Case studies have proven successful with many cases in the use of positive imagery Patients with cancer who vho use these treatments actually see white blood cells and chemotherapy treatments fight off beat and in certain cases cure them Experts agree that the psychological effects of being being- terminally being ill can cause negative feelings which create a block of positive thinking and r 4 I 4 imagery Without positive feelings it is virtually impossible to visualize positive images Being able to accept ones one's illness is a difficult task alone but butto butto butto to actually imagine ridding yourself of any cancerous cancerous cancerous can can- cerous cells is a far step that people arent aren't likely to reach Unless under direct supervision and a constant feeling of positivism imagery cannot work Its It's hard to imagine a day going by without thinking of my limy cancer my limy stress or my limy disorder Its It's very difficult to place yourself in a positive situation situation situation situa situa- tion during times of trouble and discomfort or when the body and the mind are displaying negative negative negative nega nega- tive thoughts but it can be done Though different people image in different ways the techniques have one feature in common they all the persons person's picturing the desired outcome If youre you're having problems coping with stress from school or psychosomatic disorders ie i.e. ulcers you might want to try these steps to help you cope with the problems you face Deep relaxation is basic To help you relax breathe deeply Assume that breathing in brings air and energy while breathing out releases tension and discomfort After this exercise is complete you youcan youcan youcan can resume natural breathing Focus on your symptoms notice what's wrong What will represent the pain or the problem Allow another image to form that represents the healing of your problem The healing images must promote positive change and can be anatomically accurate or purely symbolic After the experience draw what you saw through the minds mind's s eye What does it tell you What seems to be the problem If a dilemma occurs occurs occurs oc oc- oc- oc curs during the process now is the time to add a drawing that represents healing Drawing helps you visualize more easily Every time you focus on onan onan onan an image it becomes stronger and over a few weeks it becomes lodged in your unconscious mind For those of you whose problems are cancerous deal with the rehabilitation of drugs or arc are psychological you may want to get advice from your doctor or specialist If you are arc desirous to learn more about imagery and its astonishing effects effects effects ef ef- ef- ef check out these books from the library Imagery and Disease by Jeanne Achterberg and Frank Lawlis Healing yourself A Step-by-Step Step Program for Better Health Through Imagery by Martin L. L Rossman MD Imagery Its Many Dimensions and Applications Applications Applications Ap Ap- Ap- Ap by Joseph E. E G Gail il E. E Sobel Pe Pennee c cRobin Robin and Jack A Connella |
