Researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing in Madison evaluated the feasibility and potential efficacy of a patient-controlled cognitive-behavioral intervention for pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance, during treatment for advanced cancer.  

This one group pre- and post-test design consisted of 30 adults with advanced (recurrent or metastatic) colorectal, lung, prostate, or gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Participants completed baseline measures (demographics and symptom inventory) and received education and training to use an MP3 player loaded with 12 cognitive-behavioral strategies (e.g., relaxation exercises, guided imagery, nature sound recordings, etc).

I was given your book, Your Sixth Sense, a couple of weeks ago and I have read all of part one, and am now trying out the guided imagery exercises.

I have always believed that there is more than the eye sees. I have noticed a lot that I have many experiences with intuition, whether it is just a gut feeling or something more. I have had experiences like, knowing someone is going to call or show up without anyone saying so, or even hearing from them in a while.

I have had feelings in my throat and stomach like a bad feeling and then something bad happens, and I have also had many dreams about things and then they happen or have happened as I was dreaming about them.

I have had chronic insomnia for 12 years and FM for 33. I am on 300 mg Elavil and 2 Seroquel at night. Can the Healthful Sleep CD work for me with all those meds. I have tried every tape going, with no success at all, but not guided imagery. I have studied, practiced and used all types of alternative therapies and if I can sleep again, I have a therapy that I would like to use on people and animals, but I have lost both my personal and professional life due to my sleep deprivation. I look forward to your quick reply.
Thanks.
Bonita

This funny, ersatz testimonial came from a witty blog, called Ovulation Adventures: Tackling Infertility while Keeping My Smile, Wits & Hair Intact (An Attempt).

Like a certain percentage of comments we find here and there on the internet (especially Amazon), the writer at first finds my voice pretty weird, but then gets used to it, and maybe even likes it (hard to say).  Either way, it does get the job done of putting her to sleep!   Read on, it’s funny and engaging! 

Question: 

Hello Belleruth, I deal with anxiety. I am managing it pretty well. However, both my husband and I are unemployed and job searching, which is stressful. 

Some nights I get monkey brain when I go to bed, and I can't shut it off. It takes me forever to get to sleep and if I do get to sleep, I don't sleep well. 

I do have your Relaxation and Wellness CD, but I am wondering if Healthful Sleep would be better. Please let me know. 

Question:  

My father has suffered from dementia since 1999.  He no longer has clarity in his mind and does not recognize me or my brother.   He lives in a special care facility where he gets good care.

The staff recently told me that he was becoming more agitated and sleepless during the night.  As a result, he is extremely tired and confused during the day.

Any suggestions as to what kind of tools might help him, or will nothing reach him at this point?

Thanks.  Arnold 

A grateful parent posted this paean to the Sleep Fairy, and it’s amazingly similar to what my niece told me years ago – she’s the one who put me onto this phenom of a snooze-inducing CD for kids.

She had a child with night terrors who was too scared to fall asleep.  Nights were hellish for the whole family for months – not to mention the cranky, exhausted days that followed.

They tried all sorts of things, but to no avail. Then a friend suggested she try this CD, and it was like blessed magic fairy dust. Suddenly they had a sleeping child. It was right away. 

Researchers from the Departments of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Old Dominion University at Norfolk, Virginia, examined the impact of a structured meditation program intervention on female detainees, comparing an experimental group and a control group for medical symptoms, emotions, and behaviors before and after the intervention.

A 2 1/2-hour meditation session was held once a week for 7 weeks. Study participants completed a medical symptoms checklist before the program began and after it ended.

This exquisitely written note was so moving and so heartfelt, it brought tears to the eyes of everyone on our staff.  We all say thank you for thanking us.