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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Living With The Beast; Part II
        
(Message started by: Frank_W on Feb 6^th, 2005, 12:37pm)

Title: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Frank_W on Feb 6^th, 2005, 12:37pm

Good morning. As promised, here is the second part of this series. Again, this may not work for everyone, and as I said earlier, it's a bit more esoteric, but the aim is produce a sanctuary inside of yourself, into which you can retreat when you are in pain. It also works nicely when you're bored, have insomnia, or you're waiting somewhere and want to take a mini-vacation. The first few times, it may seem difficult, but with practice, it becomes easier, and your body recognizes the mind's cues to "switch gears."

Begin by taking a few slow, deep breaths and letting your mind and body quiet a little. You can do this in a comfortable chair, while lying in bed, or if you want to sit tailor-fashion and do it as a formal meditation, that's fine.

It's going to take a little visualization exercise to get there, and if you like, perhaps you can record this onto a tape so you can listen with eyes closed, or else just read it through a few times so that you can really let it sink into your consciousness. Don't worry if you can't visualize things clearly at first. With gentle, persistent practice, it gets easier, clearer, and more vivid.

Begin by closing your eyes and taking a few slow, deep breaths. Take a moment and call to mind a memory that fills you with love. Spending time with your children, spouse, or a pet, or a memory of a beautiful sunset, etc.

Envision yourself on a soft cloud that's floating, and descending slowly and steadily...

Gradually, the cloud turns red. Actually see the color red. Think of a traffic light, or a stop sign, or anything red that will help you to call this color to mind in a vivid way. See your body turning red, as well. Keep breathing and focusing until you see the color red in your mind's eye as vividly as possible.

The cloud continues descending at a slow, steady rate, and you feel safe and warm and relaxed. The cloud gradually turns orange. See the color orange as vividly as you can, in your mind's eye. A traffic cone, a basketball, an orange and blue piece of fabric, an orange car...

Gradually, it turns yellow..... then green... then blue... and finally, either lavender or violet, whichever is easiest for you to visualize.

The cloud has come to rest inside of a giant pearl, into the side of which, a door is set. The door can be translucent, oak, glass, locked or unlocked... If the door is locked, you have the key in your pocket, or on a chain around your neck. Open the door and step out of the pearl.

You find yourself in a scene in nature, or inside of a cozy cabin, or a Roman hall, or... wherever your mind takes you. Wherever you find yourself, go with it. If you find yourself on the beach, hear the sound of the waves, see the sun glinting on the water, and hear the sound of the gulls. Smell the salt air... Taste the ocean spray on your face... Feel the sunlight...

If you find yourself in a small cabin, smell the cedar and pine, feel the warmth of the fire crackling in the stone fireplace, hear the wind moaning through the pines outside, taste the mug of cocoa, coffee, or hot tea that you are holding, feel the warmth, feel the hardwood floor under your bare feet...

Engage every sense that you possibly can, until wherever you are is nearly as "real" as everyday, waking life.

You may meet other people, in this place. A spiritual guide, a dear friend, a spouse, a pet... Whether they are alive in the "real world" or not. Or, you may choose to be alone.

This place may be as big as you choose to make it, as small as you choose to make it, can have whatever weather you choose, whatever time of day or night you choose, and whatever natural or man-made features you choose. Rearrange it to your liking, but do your best to keep all of your senses as fully engaged as possible.

Each time you visit this place, you may find that some things have changed, or decide to build something piece by piece, or find a new and unexplored place. Have fun with it, and create to your choosing. The more you visit, the more powerful and vivid it will be.

It's best to limit your conscious visit to no longer than about 20-30 minutes. When you are ready to leave, return to the pearl and close the door. Lock it if you choose to do so. Recline on the cloud and feel it beginning to ascend, going through the colors in reverse: Lavender (or purple), blue, green, yellow, orange, and finally, red.

This is a place and an exercise I have used since I was 15. I can't claim total authorship of it, because I read it in a book somewhere, though I can't recall the author. Over the past twenty years, it has been a place of sanctuary for me, no matter what was happening in my life. It has been a place of healing, of retreat, and since developing CH, it has been a place where I can hide out, while the pain rages overhead like a thunderstorm that I've taken shelter from.

I hope it can be of use to someone else, whether they use it for CH or not.

PFDAN's,
-Frank

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Langa on Feb 7^th, 2005, 10:15am

Thanks for sharing this info Frank.

Langa

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by nani on Feb 7^th, 2005, 10:16am

Thanks, Frank. I wonder if my special place could be the Hershey factory? ;)

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Frank_W on Feb 7^th, 2005, 10:18am

You're welcome, Langa. One other thing that I forgot to mention, was that once you have established this place, you can close your eyes and instantly be there, without going through the entire first part of the visualization, although it also works as a relaxing exercise to do, prior to sleep, or when you have more time to actually go through the entire process.

-Frank

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Langa on Feb 7^th, 2005, 10:32am

Sometimes in hospice where a lot of patients suffer with intense pain, I notice that nurses tell the family members to bring something from the home that has the scent of something the patient will find comforting and can be a place to retreat to in their time of pain.

Langa

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Frank_W on Feb 7^th, 2005, 10:38am

Yep. I volunteer with hospice, too. This is also a technique I have suggested to a select few patients who seem open to it, and it seemed to bring them some comfort.

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by sandie99 on Feb 7^th, 2005, 12:03pm

I use visualizing, too. But in my version I just imagine how white little creatures are winning the bad red guys, who cause the pain. It works... :)

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Frank_W on Feb 7^th, 2005, 12:10pm

The same technique works for getting over colds too, Sandie. :)

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by cat14 on Feb 7^th, 2005, 12:14pm

How do you get your body to relax though, thats where I have trouble?

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Frank_W on Feb 7^th, 2005, 12:19pm

Just let your body relax. Let your muscles go limp. You can also start at your toes and tense the muscles up as tight as you can, hold for a moment, and then release. Then to your calves, upper legs, arms, shoulders, neck, face, scalp... Tighten up each muscle group, and then after holding for a few seconds, relax and let the muscles go limp. Also, make sure you're sitting or lying in a comfortable position, that you aren't wearing anything that's too constrictive, and that you are warm enough. A shower or bath beforehand can help, as well.

Once again, it's something that requires gentle practice. Don't get terribly distressed about whether or not you are "successful." Do your best, and it will gradually get easier. Eventually, your mind will begin to recognize the cues that you are giving it, and it will send out the signals to your muscles to relax.

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Tiannia on Feb 7^th, 2005, 12:45pm

This is used with Kemo (probably spelled that wrong) but it was somethign that helped my grandmother while she was going through the treatment.

It can help and does take practice. You just have to work on it all of the time. Eac and every time you get a HA or a few monutes to try it.

Thanks Frank
Good to see you back
-Tia

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Frank_W on Feb 7^th, 2005, 12:50pm

Thanks, Tia. :) I'm doing what I can to support sufferers, help newbies, and find some of my own answers to this condition, even if it means nothing more than finding a better way of living with it.

-Frank

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by sandie99 on Feb 7^th, 2005, 12:55pm

I didn't recall to use visualization when I had the flu... Thanks, Frank. I'll recall that the next time! :)

Title: Re: Living With The Beast; Part II
Post by Gator on Feb 8^th, 2005, 2:31am

I've been doing something similar for a long time. I can frequently take myself to a place above the pain or let it wash over me. Trying to be more like the reed who bends in a strong storm, rather than the mighty oak who stands firm against the blast and is broken or torn from the ground. This doesn't work for every attack, during the really bad ones I bang like everyone else, but it gives me an edge.