Guided imagery technique

Prof. Marudhar , Ms Marfa Bano

Guided, technique, illness, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, imagery

Guided imagery (sometimes called guided meditation, visualization, mental rehearsal and guided self-hypnosis) is a gentle but powerful technique that focuses the imagination in proactive, positive ways. It can be as simple as an athlete’s 5-second pause, just before leaping off the diving board, imagining how a perfect dive feels when slicing through the water. Or it can be as complex as imagining the busy, focused buzz of thousands of loyal immune cells, swarming out of the thymus gland on a search and destroy mission to wipe out unsuspecting cancer cells. Although it has been called visualization, mental rehearsal and mental imagery, these terms are misleading. Guided imagery involves all the senses, not just the visual sense – a good thing, since only 55% of the population is strongly wired visually – and it is experienced throughout the body, not just mentally. And because it catalyzes a naturally immersive altered state, it is rightly called a form of self-hypnosis as well. Guided Imagery is a form of meditation, and can be used interchangeably with the term Guided Meditation. Almost anyone can use this highly democratic technique. It works across differences in education, class, race, gender, vitality, culture and age – a truly equal opportunity resource. It requires no training or discipline – just the ability to press Play. People can stop paying attention and even fall asleep while listening and it will still get through, yielding benefits to even a snoozing end-user.

Volume 4 Issue 5, May-2019

Pages : 46 - 50