IMAGINARY FOR PAIN TREATMENT: ALLEVIATING MIGRAINE
In his book ‘Applied Hypnosis and Hyperempiria’, American psychologist and expert in imagery techniques, Dr D. E. Gibbons, presents a catalogue of useful imagery techniques. Gibbons believes that the use of imagery can in fact enhance sensory experiences. Thus, people are better able to utilise suggestions aimed at helping them to achieve pain relief — or even a significant change in behaviour.
Amongst these is a dolphin image where migraine sufferers are asked to imagine themselves as a dolphin swimming in the sea. By slowing the heartbeat and decreasing blood pressure, circulatory congestion in the head may be alleviated and the headache symptoms gradually cease. The effect of the following suggestions may be enhanced by the headache sufferer assuming a seated position before the imagery session begins:
‘Picture yourself now as a dolphin, swimming lazily along just below the surface of the sea. Feel the water above you gently warming your back. And, feel the cooler water beneath you as you swim lazily along.
‘You think how refreshing it would be to dive down all the way to the bottom. . . . Let yourself begin to dive now, diving easily and gently all the way down to the bottom through the crystal clear water.
‘Any previous discomfort you may have felt is fading away. You feel the cool, soothing currents rushing by as you sink deeper and deeper. Your system continues to slow down in response to the increasing pressure and cold. ‘You continue to drift down and down, sinking all the way down to the bottom. You’re almost there. You experience for a few moments the enjoyment of the cool freshness as you swim along. ‘You will return to your normal sense of time and place. But, after you return, the feeling of peace and well-being will remain with you and all traces of your previous headache will have vanished.
‘Even after you have returned to your normal sense of time and place, you will continue to feel just as good as you do right now.
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