Question:
I purchased your Healthy Pregnancy and Successful Childbirth MP3 set at the beginning of my pregnancy. I am now 21 weeks in and still do it whenever I find the time. The pregnancy set is very relaxing. Thank you. My question however is when do I begin to listen to the birthing set? Is this something I should begin in late pregnancy? Do I just listen to it when I go into labor? What are your suggestions? Thank you!

Jena  ~First time mother expecting a little turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

Hello! I am a student physical therapist and am working at one of my clinical rotations right now. I have noticed several patients could benefit from guided imagery to help them relax. Do you have any short sessions, between 10-15 minutes? Patients will often have a hot or cold pack, etc for 10-15 minutes and I would love to try a guided imagery session at the same time, since we shut the lights off anyways to help promote relaxation. Thank you for your time.
Karl

Good people, you simply must watch this Breast Cancer Awareness video out of Portland, Oregon.  Cindy forwarded it to me, knowing I’d go nuts for it, which I did.  Kudos to the Providence St Vincent Medical Center community, for its wonderful, spirited, joyful support of a great cause.  This hospital comes across as so warm and welcoming, it’s enough to turn me into a hypochondriac, just to have an excuse to visit.

Here’s the note that came with the video: 

Emily McInnes Somers created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline Glove Division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York tested the effectiveness of a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnosis (CBTH) to ameliorate radiotherapy-related fatigue.

Women (n = 42) scheduled for breast cancer radiotherapy were randomly assigned to receive standard medical care (SMC) (n = 20) or a CBTH intervention (n = 22) in addition to standard medical care.
 
Participants assigned to receive CBTH met individually with a clinical psychologist, receiving training in hypnosis and CBT. Participants assigned to the SMC control condition did not meet with a study psychologist.

Listening to guided imagery helped me so much 4 years ago when I was dealing with breast cancer. I am a cancer thriver today, even though the chemicals were debilitating, I never missed a night of sleep using the chemo and restful sleep.

I found in the process that I was more auditory, and use affirmations now. Guided imagery helped but was a little more difficult for me to do.
 
These audios and the experience of cancer profoundly affected my Life, so that each day I wake up with gratitude. I also continue to find the daily, mundane tasks in life so profound. This has not changed in four years and I do not believe it will for the rest of my life (and I plan to live a long time).

Editorial comment:
 
Some of you know I’ve always cast a wary eye on Virtual Reality as a technique, mainly because its cost makes it unrealistic for most people and situations; and because instead of directing focus inward, the way hypnosis and guided imagery do, to increase internal locus of control and empowerment for self-driven change, it takes end-users’ attention outward, so that they must depend on the VR machinery to create sensation.
 
Except for the relative few who are congenitally incapable of doing self-directed imagery for relaxation, this seems like a self-defeating, redundant, expensive option.  These researchers deserve great praise for their integrity. They published a study where the findings ran counter to their hopes and wishes for VR.

Hello, Health Journeys!

I had been dealing with infertility for almost four years. After the first dismal try (and “failure”, as they like to call it) with IVF, I realized I was going to need help, because the whole process was upsetting, and I wanted to be able to stick it out.  I was feeling discouraged, depressed and, in a way, disabled. I began searching the web for books, CDs and videos that could help me cope.
 
Before beginning the second round of IVF, I purchased your CD, Help for Fertility.  I listened to it every night before falling asleep.  It brought me a great sense of calmness and hope.  I know you could argue with me about this, but I think this relaxing, positive imagery helped me get pregnant.

Researchers from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia conducted a systematic review of studies that compare the impact of various techniques on reducing pain and distress in children getting shots for immunization.

The investigators identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that measured the impact of these interventions during the injection of vaccines in children 0 to 18 years of age. Both self-report and observer assessments were used as measures.

A friend sent us the link to this blog entry by a woman who underwent surgery for what looks like hip replacement, if I’m interpolating correctly. This is a magical story by a charming woman who refers to herself as a reluctant clairvoyant.  Check it out:

My Magical Band of Allies

Jan. 1st, 2010 at 1:07 PM.  It's been 4 weeks post-op.  I'm off the walker, back to my leopard print cane, and I'm finding myself "forgetting" to use my cane when walking outside or doing minor tasks.  Where once there was pain, now there is none and my pronounced limp is slowly receding every day as I get stronger and re-learn the process of walking. I can't push it too much but I am surprised at how easy, rapid and peaceful my whole recovery has been.  I saw Dr Gilbert earlier this week for my first follow up visit since surgery.  He was pleased with how my gait has improved and how mobile my left hip is becoming.  However, I still need to follow hip precautions for the next 2 months.