\ec·lec·tic\ adj. selecting from various systems, doctrines, or styles. n. a person who uses various methods in philosophy, science, or art.
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RATINGS
A technique that uses the imagination to help people cope with stress, fulfill their potential, and activate the body's self-healing processes, visualization was being used therapeutically by doctors and psychologists by the early 1970s. Patients are said to be able to overcome physical and emotional problems by imagining positive images and desired outcomes to specific situations, either alone or helped by a practitioner (known as "guided imagery"). Visualization forms a part of many relaxation therapies and is sometimes used as an adjunct to conventional cancer treatment.
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| HISTORY
Traditional societies, especially those with shamans, are well aware of the power of the imagination to heal or harm. Many religions also practice imagery: Tibetan Buddhists, for example, focus on the image of a deity healing symptoms. Biofeedback researchers in the 1960s found that people used visual imagery in responding to cues from a biofeedback device. In 1969, Dr. Carl Simonton and his wife, Stephanie Matthews-Simonton, a psychologist, carried out research into the use of visualization in cancer treatment. They encouraged patients to imagine white blood cells destroying the cancer, and claimed that, on average, these patients lived twice as long as other cancer patients. Some cancer specialists in the US, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand now include visualization as part of care programs to improve quality of life.
Psychologists worldwide have used visualization since the mid-20th century to improve motivation, for example in sports, and to change negative attitudes.
KEY PRINCIPLEs It is unclear how visualization works, but it is said to encourage activity in the right hemisphere of the brain, which relates to creativity and emotions. Research using positron emission tomography (PET) scans to monitor the brain during visualization exercises has shown that imagery involving sight activates the visual part of the cerebral cortex, sound imagery triggers the auditory cortex, and imagery concerning touch stimulates the sensory cortex.
A vivid image may send a message from the cerebral cortex via the lower brain to the hormonal system and the autonomic nervous system, responsible for body functions such as heart rate and perspiration. Harnessing the power of the imagination may affect these processes and allow the body to find ways of coping with different conditions. If visualization is repeated enough, according to the theory, expectations rise and the individual begins to act as if the image were a reality. There are two common ways of using imagery, depending on the aim of treatment. Active imagery: This works with a chosen image to control a symptom or situation, or relax the body and mind.
Receptive imagery: This helps patients gain insight into a problem by allowing images to surface that may offer clues to the emotional reasons for certain behavior.
EVIDENCE & RESEARCH There are few scientific studies that focus solely on visualization. A number of studies since the 1960s have suggested that, when used with other stress-reducing techniques, visualization can affect physiological processes such as breathing, gastrointestinal activity, heart rate, blood pressure, sexual arousal, and the release of neurotransmitters.
A 1989 study in the Italian journal Pediatrics found that when mothers of premature babies listened to a relaxation and visualization audiotape, they produced 63% more milk than those who did not. In 1988, the British Medical Journal published a study claiming that women in the early stages of breast cancer derived greater psychological benefits from relaxation and visualization therapy than from relaxation alone. Studying the mind/body relationship may one day explain how mental imagery affects the immune system.
MEDICAL OPINION Most doctors concede that positive thinking is a useful tool in restoring and maintaining health, and many support the inclusion of visualization techniques in treatment. Not everyone has a vivid imagination, however, and an inability to conjure up mental images of an illness being eliminated should not be seen as a sign of failure.
Visualization can be practiced on a one-to-one basis or in a group, often as part of psychotherapy or hypnotherapy. A practitioner may start by taking a medical history and asking what you hope to achieve from the therapy - this will affect the choice of imagery. A simple relaxation exercise, such as progressive muscle relaxation, is practiced at the start of a session, since it is easier to learn visualization if the body is relatively free of tension. Once you are relaxed and either lying down or sitting in a comfortable position, the practitioner will guide you through the visualization process. He will encourage you to make your chosen imagery as vivid as possible, help you to maintain your concentration, and lead you away from any thoughts that may inhibit the process. The practitioner may also ask you to repeat "positive affirmations" - phrases such as "I feel calm" or "I am in control." This helps to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
At the end of the session, you will be asked to open your eyes and slowly become aware of your present situation. Sessions last about 30-60 minutes, and the length of treatment will depend on your needs and your condition. You will be advised to practice daily, possibly with an audiotape or book.
PRECAUTIONS • Do not begin to practice visualization without the guidance of a practitioner if you have a medical condition, since disturbing images may surface that could make your symptoms worse.
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