Indeed, many mind/body healing processes encourage the practice of regularly focusing on the image of being in a place where you feel safe, secure and comfortable-and there is a sound reason why this is done, based on the placebo effect.
One type of placebo is where the patient's belief in a remedy creates a healing effect, rather than the drug or procedure itself. An example is giving a person a sugar pill yet telling her that it is a powerful pain killer and as a result the inert substance creates an analgesic effect.
Current research on placebos suggest that this is not simply a matter of fooling someone into believing they are well. Instead, observable biochemical changes takes place in the person's body as result of the positive belief and expectation that is present.
During clinical trials for new drugs, the standard procedure is to give half the volunteers the real drug and the others get a placebo without them knowing which group they are in. The substance being tested has to significantly outperform the placebo in order to be considered effective.
An interesting side note: in clinical trials all participants have to be told about the possibility of negative side effects such as headache or stomach upset and often people taking the placebo will experience them. This is called the nocebo effect.
Another kind of placebo is based on memory. In one famous study lab rats were given a immune suppressing drug that was delivered in a strawberry flavored syrup. Later on it was found that giving them the syrup without the actual drug also dampened the immune system-the response is believed to be an unconsciously learned behavior based on the familiar cue of the flavoring agent.
So when we study the placebo effect we begin to see an interesting interface between memory, imagination and the functioning of the mind and body.
If thoughts and memories can spur wellness (placebo) or illness (nocebo) why not intentionally game the process in your favor?
If you can intentionally draw upon your positive memories and imaginings, it is possible to mitigate the negative effects of stress and anxiety, even if you are currently in challenging circumstances.
How would you describe a happy time and place in your life? What were the sights, sounds, scents, sensations, etc.
Have trouble coming with an image like that? Then make one up out of thin air, the effect is going to pretty much be the same.
If you would like to learn more, I am here to help. A free, confidential phone consultation is available, call (732) 714-7040.
P.S. My audio mp3 a Hypnotic Healing Trip to the Beach can help you deeply relax if you can't make it to the beach for real this week. You can download it through the link below
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