I am touch and go on this. As I said in my letter to the stars, my mother is a daughter of an alcoholic so my family is into hiding what is really going on. So I used to hide behind my smile during high school then go home in hide in my room and sleep. No one knew how depressed, hurting, and suicidal I was. I hid it well during the day and stayed involved with activities too. I even took a class on interpersonal communications, which was more like group therapy which talked a lot about positive thoughts. We had to look in the mirror every day and say "I am a worth while human being. I chose how I am feeling. I chose to be happy." It might have been a little longer but that was the just of it. To me it always felt like it said I chose to look happy whether I am or not.

Now there was a professor I had in college who had Lupus, and she used visualization and meditation to battle this disease. It worked really well for her. She would imagine that she was her white blood cells destroying the toxic cells in her body.

My physical therapist also supports this visualization process in a method he called biofeedback. It involves rubbing the flat of your hands together to create heat then slowly moving your hands over the different areas of your body and imagine the heat as a healing light that calms the pain and takes it away.

So, in other words, I have a better understanding of visualization, meditation, and biofeed back, because I have I difficult time making statements that don't feel true to me. I do try to elimate my negative self talk, but I difficulties turning them into positive thoughts, especially if they feel like lies.

This is just my personal experience I have read there is alot of value in positive thinking. Its just difficult for me.

Hey Tst
Does tha biofeedback really work? The dr wanted me to try that, but I never did , thought it wouldnt really help, but if it does let me know

Hugs
Angie

Hi Angie,

I probably haven't done it enough to help significantly. But I do use visualization to relax in bed at night when I am having a difficult time going to sleep, which helps as much as my muscle relaxant. I imagine a warm bright fluid, TANG pops into my head at the moment lol, filling me up, like it is pour through the head, first filling up my toes, then my feet, up my calves, through my thighs, waist and chest cavities, going through the arms to the hands and fingers, back up to the shoulders and neck, and finally my head. You could use the same thought process and think of the liquid as having healing powers. It works wonders on relaxation, but not sure yet on the long term. I need to do it more often I think.

I am a true believer in positive daily affirmation, it helps in all areas of my life. Also, visualization, breathing, relaxation exercises, writing, sharing and meditation help. However, when pain gets the best of me for several days or weeks, or fibro fog takes over-- I tend to forget to do it. Heck, I forget to breathe sometimes. However, for daily stressors, mild to medium pain, it works great for me. Like any other tool, they work when I use them. My problem, I just forget to use them in 7 to 10 ranges of pain or when I am depressed. Although, when I feel better, I could kick myself in the head for forgetting. That's why support groups are so important to me, you all remind me to do what I need to do.

Like zazasgranny, it seems when I am stressed I forget to do the things that help the most. Until something like this post reminds me. I have the tools I just forget to use them.

Thanks TSKTSK, just reading that one about the "tang" relaxed me.
Angie. If it does not work at first, don't give up. Practice will get you there. You can also buy tapes or self help books to help get you started.

My doctor gave me a tape, that helped with relaxation and sleep. You start with your toes, hold your muscles real tight, then relax them. Repeat until it is totally relaxed. Slowly go over every muscle, from the toes up. I never thought I would get the hang of it. But, with practice, it went from a 30 min drill to 1 min tops, and it really works. Now, I can do it without thinking.
For me, growing up in the age of vidio games, I used visualization before I knew what it was. I would pretend I was "PacMan" and travel through my body "chomping" the pain away or one of those lazer guns, where you could blow it up.
In addition, my favorite mini stress exercise is to visualize my favorite place. For me, it's the beach. After a while, I can feel the sun on me; the breeze blowing; hear the seagulls and waves pounding on the shore. When your having a really stressful day, it helps, gives you renewed energy. I would go out in the sun and take a 30 second miny vacation on my breaks at work.

You can visualize anything you want. Perhaps you love to sew, visualize making something beautiful like a family quilt. Just pick something that makes you happy and go for it.

OK MY DEAR DEAR PEEPS! Yep this is what I was talking about. Know about meditation, visualization & biofeed back. The positive talk is also important.

My sister when she was fighting cancer the 2nd time (more serious) the first things the Drs did was all the above except the bio-feedback. Included was a "cancer diet" to boost her immune system.

NOW GET THIS, a scientist actually DID THIS. He took water and spoke various words into the water...some positive (love) some negative (you make me sick) then quick froze the water and examined under a high powered microscope.

The water crystals produced a variety of images. Love produced something like a beautiful chandalier, but the you make me sick looked like someone with a gun.

It's been shown, scientifically, that objects (water & rocks) actually retain the verbal vibration pattern.

This is why, even if I don't "feel" it I make myself say it firmly & strongly.

TSKTSK2U, I understand the hiding thing. I am sorry you had to experience that. I send you a special hug with much understanding. You aren't alone.

Just got my HOMEDICS DEEP TISSUE massager. It REALLY helped with the muscle tightness in my back. I actually woke this AM without the usual stiffness.
www.homedics.com

OK, day 2 and the massager still helping!

TAMMY123 Here's what the post

Hmmm... Is it the massager, or the power of positive thinking... or both!? Either way, glad you're feeling better!

There is a mind body link. When I was busy researching everything on earth I ran across these researchers who were examining DNA. When you're happy your DNA became shorter and cell function increased when you became very unhappy cell function was reduced dramatically and your DNA became longer. They think this is because of what's called fight or flight mode. When your body is in fight mode it does not regenerate cells it saves its energy to fight..so be happy....In my case this did not cure me but it might explain why some mood altering drugs can make you healthier.

DONNA & Doug --- You are probably both correct. I recently heard of a scientist who actually spoke words into water, quick froze then examines under a high-powered scope. LOVE made beautiful crystal designs but YOU'RE STUPID made a crystal that looked mean & threatening. WORD POWER is proven.

ANYWAY, I go around (when alone!) talking out loud to myself saying I am healthy, I am happy, I am healed, I am well, etc. Hey, can't hurt, right? God and the Drs. know the meds really don't do squat except eat up another body part.

I have posted for days now, on the chronic pain board about living instead of being alive. Glad to see that this topic is up for discussion here.

Doug/Ouch

I truly believe that positive thinking has a lot to do with the way I feel. I know it may all be in my head, but when I get up and showered and dressed I always feel some better, maybe not 100%, but it does help. Then, I try to find at least one positive thing about myself every day.