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There has been much research that has indicated that bodily functions previously thought to be totally beyond conscious control can be modified using psychological techniques. Guided imagery, a technique that has grown in popularity in the last several years, uses this mind-body connection to help people cope with a variety of disorders, including pain.
Researchers have established a link between negative emotions and lowered immune function. Conversely, they have found a connection between positive emotions and a healthy immune response. Guided Imagery - the mind thinking in pictures - is an effective tool for eliminating negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones.
Through guided imagery, the mind conjures up mental pictures or scenes in order to better direct the body's energy. You can, for instance, close your eyes and visualize the pain as a sharp knife in the affected body area. Then you can imagine that the knife is being withdrawn, and that a cooling, soothing cream is being applied to the area. Through imagery, people with cancer commonly visualize the cancer cells in their bodies as weak and their white "fighter" cells as strong and destructive. In other instances, people have found that, rather than visualizing the pain, focusing on a pleasant scene, such as a beautiful day at the beach, promotes relaxation and substantially controls pain.
Used successfully in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and other illnesses, guided imagery has also been shown to reduce stress, slow the heart rate, and stimulate the immune system. Taught properly, guided imagery can be an effective form of self-care; however, it is not meant to replace your health care provider or prescribed medication. Rather, it can be used to enhance your prescribed course of treatment.
As a midwife, I encourage my birthing clients to practice guided imagery throughout their pregnancy and during labor and the birthing process. I have found that women who visualize themselves as healthy with a healthy baby have happier, less eventful, normal pregnancies. During labor, the visualizing helps them to relax, cope much better with the discomforts of labor, and assist in the dilation and effacement of the cervix, the descent of the fetus into and out of the birth canal to be born healthy and gently. For instance, visualizing yourself into a beautiful flower garden, maybe with a waterfall, or any other relaxing place and then visualizing your body opening up as a flower opens helps with the opening of the cervix. Visualizing your baby coming through the open flower and into your arms helps the mothers to keep their focus on the birth and the rewarding "baby in arms" afterwards. There can be many personal guided images that can be used for the birthing of a baby. Each woman has to find the imagery that works specifically for her.
RELATED LINKS
Imagery Birthing: Natural Childbirth Through Imagery
MOONDRAGON'S PAIN CONTROL LINKS
MoonDragon's Health Therapy: Pain Control
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