Guided Imagery
What is guided imagery?
Guided imagery (or visualization) is a process of listening to suggestions that direct your thoughts and guide your imagination toward a relaxed, focused mental and emotional state. You can use an instructor, tapes or CDs, or a friend reading a script to help you through this process.
Can guided imagery help people with cancer?
Yes. Guided imagery has many uses and benefits. It can help you overcome fear and anxiety and help you prepare for important events, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. By promoting deep relaxation, it can lower blood pressure, reduce problems related to stress, and help you sleep better.
You can also use guided imagery to help accomplish some specific, meaningful goals, such as losing weight or to quit smoking. It can help you manage pain and other symptoms related to cancer and treatment. It can also help you feel more in control of your thoughts and emotions, improve your attitudes, health, and overall sense of well-being.
Guided imagery alone is not a proven treatment for cancer, nor has it been found to affect either cancer cells directly or the biology of an individual’s disease. It should not be used as a substitute for conventional care.
How does guided imagery work?
Guided imagery is based on the concept that the body and mind are intimately interconnected. Your brain and body can respond to a strongly held thought, feeling, or mental image as though what you are imagining is actually real. This is especially true when all the sensory detail about the image is strongly evoked, including color, shape, taste, and smell.
Here's an example of how this works, which you can try right now. Imagine a lemon in great detail, including its smell, color, size, weight, and the texture of its peel. Continue to imagine the smell of the lemon, and breath it in deeply. Now, see yourself cutting the lemon in half and squeezing its juice into your mouth.
Many people will begin to immediately salivate when they do this simple mental exercise. It clearly demonstrates how your body can respond to what you are imagining.
In a similar way, you can achieve a deeply relaxed state when you imagine all the details of a safe, comfortable place, such as a calm, sunny beach; a quiet meadow; or a beautiful garden. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, accessing this relaxed inner state can aid healing, improve creativity, and enhance performance.
Are there any risks or complications associated with guided imagery?
No. Guided imagery is safe, and there are no known risks associated with it. It is most effective when the person leading you through the process has training and experience in guided imagery techniques. As with other CAM therapies, discuss your use of guided imagery with your physician.
How can I find a qualified guided imagery practitioner?
It is important to select a practitioner who is qualified, experienced, and trustworthy. Click here to learn more about how to do this.