Stephen M.Kosslyn, Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, MA,USA

Behavioral studies have demonstrated that imagery content can selectively influence also perception ( Perky, 1910; McDermott and Roediger, 1994; Pearson et al., 2008)

Behavior change, Self-regulation and Motivation

In the research area of behavior change and self regulation, significant results are showing up over and over again. Mindfulness-Informed Guided Imagery to Target Physical Activity trial concluded that; Guided imagery is theorized to influence behavior change and self-regulation by strengthening the link between cognitions and goal-directed actions (Renner et al., 2019) and can be used in a range of contexts to increase motivation toward exercise behavior (Andersson and Moss, 2011; Giacobbi et al., 2014).

Better Performance

Guided imagery delivered before or during physical activity is shown to amplify physical activity enjoyment and satisfaction (Stanley and Cumming, 2010), highlighting its capacity to target the reward system outlined in the dual-system model.

Less Stress and Better Health

Effects among healthy subjects of the duration of regularly practicing a guided imagery program have been studied and results are promising. It has been concluded that “The longer the duration that participants had practiced the Guided Imagery program once a day regularly, the lower scores of their stress were and the higher scores of their health were. It has been suggested that the regular daily practice of a Guided Imagery program might be connected to less stress and better health.”

There are also enormous amount of research where visualization and guided imagery is used as a tool for treatment as a part of complementary medicine

A critical review of the literature by Trakhtenberg suggested that guided imagery can influence the immune system.

There is increasing interest in the literature on the efficacy of guided imagery as part of a broader biobehavioral model for disability and depression , which includes its use in the management of inflammatory diseases.

A recent trial in clinical groups examining the effectiveness of guided imagery as compared with usual care on fibromyalgia symptoms demonstrated that; patients assigned to guided imagery showed significant decreases in fatigue, pain and depression.

Reducing Anxiety:

For the fact that the brain doesn’t know the difference between the real and the imagined, guided imagery and visualisation became a great tool for Reducing anxiety . Usually the anxiety is created by the body that is living another reality created by the brain. So if it is given another stimulus to the brain the body becomes relaxed easier.

Relieving Pain:

In a recent trial Effect of guided imagery on anxiety, muscle pain, and vital signs in patients with COVID-19 has been studied.

“In guided imagery, the brain activated in the same area when experiencing an event is reactivated. In other words, a person creates exactly a stream of thoughts through which he/she would be able to see, hear, feel, or smell what he/she desires or imagines in his/her imagination at the time. Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that focuses on pleasant mental events and images rather than stressful emotions. In this method, the client is involved with mental imagery to the extent that the body responds to it as a real experience to cause profound physiological consequences. This method, as a complementary medicine technique, can be learned through either an instructor or self-study materials and used in cases of pain and anxiety to reduce pain and psychological stress.”

Evaluation of guided imagery as treatment for recurrent abdominal pain in children: a randomized controlled study showed that ; “The therapeutic efficacy of guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation found in this study is consistent with our present understanding of the pathophysiology of recurrent abdominal pain in children. Although unfamiliar to many pediatricians, guided imagery is a simple, noninvasive therapy with potential benefit for treating children with RAP.”

Coping with Food Cravings

In another study for Guided imagery targeting exercise,for food cravings, and stress concluded that, the guided imagery intervention resulted in significant reductions in food cravings across time.

There are numerous scientific studies that show the benefits of Visualization and Guided imagery in different areas for human health and wellbeing [x].

So it is important to conclude that….

Visutate never is and never will be a magic stick that changes the current reality immediately but ; it surely is a great tool to learn and practice visualization and guided imagery as one can summarize from these scientific studies that is a curious and joyful path you may choose to consider, which may bring you health, happiness and ultimately your life.

So Let’s Begin!