What is Guided Imagery?
Guided Imagery is a program of directed thoughts and suggestions that guide your mind and imagination towards a relaxed and focused state. It is a proven relaxation technique where thoughts are purposely “re-directed” by visualization to achieve a desired outcome. (i.e. anxiety, pain relief, relaxation, to promote healing).
It is based on the connection between body and mind. Guided Imagery takes visualization one step further by guiding the images toward a specific life enhancing goal. Using Guided Imagery can even help you prepare for an athletic event or public speaking.
Benefits of Guided Imagery
Medical research has shown that Guided Imagery has a powerful influence on every major control system of the body- stimulating vital functions like heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory pattern, local blood flow, immune system function and wound healing.
Guided Imagery let’s you play an important role in your own healing and is also a remarkably powerful tool for self awareness. It can make you deeply aware of how your thoughts, feelings and habits influence your health. A Guided Imagery Session may help you to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower heart rate
- Decrease stress and anxiety
- Decrease pain
- Enhance sleep
- Decrease depression
- Increase control
- Increase relaxation
- Enhance healing
- Decrease nausea
- Enhance self confidence
- Decrease respiratory difficulties
What types of conditions can Guided Imagery help treat?
Imagery can be helpful in 90 percent of all problems people bring to their doctors. From headaches, back pain and allergies to serious, even life-threatening illnesses. Guided Imagery is not a replacement for good medical care but can help make it more effective. Some conditions Guided Imagery can help treat have been mentioned in the information above. Other conditions include but are not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Stress Management & Relaxation
- Immune disorders
- Pain Management
- Insomnia
- Panic Attacks
- Respiratory Conditions (Asthma, COPD)
- Addictions
Is there anyone who shouldn’t use Guided Imagery?
Yes. Guided Imagery is not a treatment option for anyone with the following conditions:
- Have dementia or delirium
- Not able to think abstractly
- Unable to communicate
- Not able to distinguish reality from fantasy
- Having hallucinations or delusions
- Actively psychotic
Guided Imagery Studies & Research
Guided Imagery Improves Mood, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Efficacy Trial of Healing Light Guided Imagery- Laura K. Case, PhD, Paula Jackson, BSJ, Revere Kinkel, MD, Paul J. Mills, PhD https://thevitalityhaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2515690×17748744.pdf
Guided Imagery Reducing Anxiety, Depression and Selected Side Effects Associated With Chemotherapy https://thevitalityhaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MahdizadehOctober2019_first.pdf
A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Guided Imagery Technique on Quality of Life Among Hypertensive Patients in Selected Rural Areas in Kodaikanal Taluk, Tamilnadu https://thevitalityhaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IJRR0015.pdf
Healing Touch With Guided Imagery for PTSD in Returning Active Duty Military: A Randomized Controlled Trial https://thevitalityhaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/milmed-d-11-00290.pdf