Dear Belleruth,

I have a 22 year old brother with mental retardation/developmental disability.  He lives in a group home and holds down a job at a local supermarket as a stock boy.  Every now and then, he gets stressed, just like the rest of us.  My question is this:  can you use guided imagery with people like my brother?  Would he be able to get something out of a guided imagery CD? I’d like to give him a pre-loaded iPod for Christmas.

Thank you in advance,

Martin T.

Dear Belleruth:

After being married for 33 years to the same man since I was 21 years old, I have asked for a divorce. He has been unable to change his emotionally & verbally abusive behaviors, in spite of counseling. In October, I discovered he was having a sexual affair (2nd time) with a woman younger than him (he is 58, she 45). He said he wanted a divorce, that he has been unhappy a long time. I said fine, I will make this happen.

I am fed up with him, but I feel so sad, heartbroken really, in spite of the problems.  What do you suggest for all the emotional upheavals? Please change my name to Kathie. Do not give my last name or email.

-Kathie
 

Question:
Hi Belleruth, I'm interested in your suggestions for CD's and other approaches that will help shore me up internally when I am in contact with my Mom and sisters. I do all the right 'things' to support my mental health when it comes to them, but when I speak to them, some of the tension and worry they create inside me just seems to happen and makes me feel bad, regardless of my best intentions and all the tools I've tried... and there have been a lot!

Recently, I've had less and less contact with them. This helps quite a bit, but isn't always a good option; and with my Mom aging, and knowing my sisters and I will be responsible for her care , I feel fear of being overwhelmed by them, as often a simple phone call with them is unsettling.

Thanks for your help, Belleruth!
Janie

Question:

I love your tapes. I use Anger and Forgiveness in dealing with my feelings concerning my husband’s ongoing battle with alcoholism. He is sober for 8 or 9 months and then back out again.. I wonder if you have any other support for the person married to or dealing with an alcoholic? I am in desperate need of more support... I use Panic Attacks and Depression, but wonder if you had anything more specific or would be doing something like that in the future.... Thanks.

Question:
 
Dear Belleruth,

First of all thank you for the PTSD Guided Imagery Mp3's. They are, perhaps quite literally, a life saver. I've been in therapy for severe childhood trauma and I listen to your MP3's on my iPod ... well ... I can't imagine not having them and it's been a wonderful compliment to my therapy sessions.  And every time I hear you say "You are healing ... you will continue to heal", I feel deeply moved beyond words.  The sound of your voice, your help and guidance that comes across makes you the most dearest and treasured friend I've never met. : )

 
Belleruth,

I was recently at a professional conference (I am a clinical psychologist, male, 34 years old) where I sat through several presentations. A couple were adequate and far too many were a dull rehash of things I already knew.  As is often the case, I came away thinking that I didn’t learn anything and I could have done a much better job than most of the “experts” I had to listen to.  I am frustrated because I don’t know how to get myself to the point where I’m not in the audience but at the podium.  How do I go about getting there?  You seem to have managed to do this, so I want to know how you did it.  I’m hoping for an honest answer.

Tim K.

I have had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 13 years.  I was soaring in my career and towards my dream of a perfect life.  I was a computer consultant and traveled weekly around the USA, installing banking software and training users on how to use it.  I was also starting my own business on the side which meant waking up very early in whatever hotel room I was in and working on my PC, then putting in a long day's work, and finally coming back to the hotel room and working some more. 

Then I became horribly ill and was put on short term disability.  I never dreamed that I might never work again. 

Since you have Successful Surgery, I was wondering if it would be possible for you to do something on the order of fear of medical procedures?  Specifically, for when getting your blood pressure checked. A good 30% of people, I've read, suffer from White Coat Hypertension.  It's something subconscious that we have no control over that beckons the fight or flight response in a doctor's office but is fine at home. This is a very worrisome condition causing many doctors to convince their patients they actually do have high blood pressure and give them dangerous unnecessary medications.  I can find nowhere on the web that offers this title.  It would be a valuable service and I know I would buy it.

Thank you for reading this.

Lana

Dear Belleruth,

I have 2 small children, a full time job and a husband. These are wonderful gifts in my life, but I recently was diagnosed with clinical depression and am frustrated because I have so many great things (healthy kids, loving husband, great job) and can not get excited about anything.  How do I understand, accept and move forward toward enjoying my life again? 

Frances

Hi!  I have used your CD's to help me with my Breast Cancer treatment.  I am now done with the treatment and left, hopefully, medically cancer free.  But oh what a number has been done on my spirit!  Lack of trust in my body, in the future, and sea sickness from all the emotions roiling around in me. 

I have read that MANY (maybe most) Breast Cancer survivors have to seek help from anti-depressants or simply suffer untreated depression after their medical treatment.  Since what especially needs healing now is the spirit, what better work for guided imagery?  Maybe your post trauma CD is what I am looking for and I will try it, but it seems there are some specific aspects of cancer fighting (like the possibility of recurrence) that make this need unique.
 
Do you take requests?  : )
Thanks, Joyce