Imagery, Anyone?

Anonymous

Imagery, Anyone?

DivineMrsM

We discuss many complimentary forms of treatment here such as medical marijuana, acupuncture, supplements, meditation, and more.

One thing I haven’t heard mention is the use of imagery to aid in healing. Do any of you do this? It’s basically visualizing the cancer as gray, weak, incompetent, and picturing different forms of treatment in ways that enhance the body’s natural healing powers. For example, chemo going through the blood in a red or orange glow, boosting white blood cells to attack the cancer, then seeing the cancer flushed and eliminated by natural means out of the body.

A well-known book called Getting Well Again suggests using imagery as a another method to healing. The book is old but has cancer-fighting philosophies that still hold up today. I’m re-reading it to refresh my memory and came across the imagery concept. People don’t seem to talk about i as much today.

FarAwayToo

I did quite a bit during my neoadjuvant chemo. Read some books by Bernie Siegel, also old books, but they spoke to me. I visualized my cancer lump as a blob of red, and would close my eyes and imagine all the red was flying out into space, being replaced by green and blue (normal tissue). I had good (but not complete) response to chemo, pretty strong response for someone with hormone positive, HER2 negative tumor. It was also noted in the first several weeks of chemo. I don't know if imagery helped, but it was pretty empowering.

I have a pretty good imagination, but if one needs help, there are quite a few tapes/youtube videos to help along. Just type "healing meditation" or something like that, and there is a bunch. I like youtube channel called "The Honest Guys" - a very soothing voice and good imagery

Laine615

What a great topic, Divine! There are several books written on the subject. Most of them are rooted in CBT(cognative behavioral therapy) but are very easy to understand. I do use imagery.

Not only will you be fighting cancer by visualizing but you'll be relieving stress and anxiety by meditation as well.

I think this a wonderful idea for everyone.

Thanks for bringing up this topic.

ShetlandPony

I think the guided imagery recordings by Belleruth Naparstek are great. I used them to get through my first diagnosis, especially to be able to sleep.

exbrnxgrl

I was given a guided imagery CD by Ms.Naparstek to listen to prior to my bmx. It was very nice until the soothing voice asked that I imagine my loved ones surrounding me in the OR during surgery. That image was not peaceful or comforting. I did not want to imagine anyone surrounding me in the OR but doctors and nurses. It was actually kind of funny, in retrospect when I realized how horrifying I found the whole idea 😂.

DivineMrsM

Hahahahaha! Exbrnxgrl, the idea of loved ones around me in the OR strikes me as funny, too! I'd be thinking, “Omg, how much has my brother had to drink? Is my sister really taking the scapula out of that doctor's hands saying do it this way and not that? Dh had better not even be checking out the nurse's ass! Wait—Mary brought brownies?“

FarAway, MR and Shetland, thank you for the viewing suggestions on this subject. I will check them out. Some speak to us and some don't click with us, as with exbrnxgrl's example. Sounds like plenty out there to choose from.

To be clear, I'm talking about imagining healing going on inside our bodies. I know the type mediations that suggest visualizing yourself “on a beach, writing your worries in the sand and the waves coming in washing them away" kind of thing. I listen to one video for subconscious healing that I like, picturing the healthiest version of myself. But it's not about seeing cancer shrinking. Sometimes the idea of what's going on in my body is a bit scary! However, I'm trying to picture the cancer as weak and my body's defenses being strong and capable.

Love all your replies.

santabarbarian

When I was being treated I liked to visualize my immune system as PacMan eating up the edges of the cancer and shrinking it.

I also talked to my cancer cells and asked them to give themselves up for the greater good. They're my cells, after all!