Live Whole Health #325: Give yourself a lift with guided imagery
Think of your body as one of those Macy’s Day balloons, but instead of helium your body is filled with stress, anger, pain and general misery. Sometimes you feel like you’re going to burst! Now imagine that same outline and shape, but instead you can fill it with a sense of peace, security, contentment, and ease.
When someone is in pain or feeling bad, we say that they have a “heaviness” around them, while someone who is enjoying life could be said to be “on cloud 9!”
There are no easy answers or magic pills for emotional and physical pain, but there are ways you can “lighten the load” even for a short time. Guided images is a relaxation practice in which you bring to mind positive images that support healing. During guided imagery, you focus on something that helps you feel relaxed. This can be a specific object, place or sound.
Lighten up
Try it today with this 9.5 minute recorded session that allows your mind to go to a safe and relaxing place while your body settles into comfortable, relaxed breathing.
Reach out
Pain and suffering are part of life, but you don’t have to be alone! There are many ways the VA can support you through difficult physical, mental and emotional challenges.
Here are five resources that can help veterans and caregivers:
