Each Monday this series of articles will feature pain management techniques to help you decrease and cope with pain. It’s your at-home pain management class!
So far we’ve looked at relaxation skills – breathing, relaxation and visualization – that work to decrease pain indirectly through relaxation. Guided imagery – while still a relaxation skill – is a bit different.
Guided imagery helps reduce pain more directly through the use of suggestion. An image is paired with your pain, and by reducing, decreasing or changing the image in some way, your pain may also decrease. Today we’ll use the image of special water.
There are several ways to use this exercise:
- read through the exercise and then do it from memory (it doesn’t have to be done exactly as I’ve written it)
- tape record the exercise yourself, then play it back for yourself to do
- have someone else read or record the exercise for you
As you try guided imagery, notice if you benefit even more than by using relaxation exercises.
Your assignment: Do a guided imagery exercise at least once a day.
Other articles in this series:
- How to change a habit, part 1
- How to change a habit, part 2
- Breathing exercises, part 1
- Relaxation exercise, part 1
- Breathing exercises, part 2
- Websites that help you stick with your new habit
- How are you doing with your new habit?
- Try 1/2 a habit
- Visualization
- Feedback on changing habits, part 1
- Feedback on changing habits, part 2
- Guided imagery, part 1
- Guided imagery, part 2
- Stress management, part 1
- Stress management, part 2
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