Do you have a special place that you wish to visit? Maybe it is a place that holds special memories for you; it could be a relaxing place, or just a place to get away from the stresses of your daily life. Having the ability to effectively transform yourself into these places could be a key to improved mental health.
The practice of Guided imagery is being used on a number of ailments. It can help with the alleviation of anxiety and stress, but also is used to improve sleep, reach goals and break free from addiction. A scoping review was conducted on the process and has revealed that the outcomes from Guided imagery are extensive. Benefits have been seen in the reduction of pain, stroke recovery, and sports skills, to name just a few. A drawback mentioned was time constraints. It looks like with anything; good results take time.
For me, personally I have dabbled in some Guided meditation with great success, but it was always me being guided by a YouTube video, often by experts in the field. But this time I would like to try Guided imagery myself. Well, it is really only me that knows the special places where I can escape my stress or take a little holiday in my mind.
In the case of Guided imagery, it is important to use your imagination, emotion and your bodily senses to conjure up your special place. If, for example, you are thinking of a place in nature, what are the smells of the flowers blooming? Can you feel the cool wind on your face? Can you hear the birds singing, or see the view from the top of the mountain from where you are standing?
Before you go to these places in your mind, find a quiet place to sit, take some deep breaths, and get lost in your journey. Take some time to relax in the moment. Try this daily for a few minutes. That is what I am planning. I look forward to seeing what happens and I will tell you my results next week.
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The health benefits of guided imagery
https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/thrive/the-health-benefits-of-guided-imagery
Guided imagery studies
https://journals.lww.com/progprevmed/fulltext/2017/12000/a_scoping_review_of_health_outcomes_examined_in.2.aspx
Benefits of guided imagery
https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-benefits-of-imagery#step-by-step-guide
