http://drmiller.com for Stress Management, Anxiety Relief, Insomnia Treatment, Weight Loss Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:21:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= for Stress Management, Anxiety Relief, Insomnia Treatment, Weight Loss DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no for Stress Management, Anxiety Relief, Insomnia Treatment, Weight Loss http://drmiller.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://drmiller.com http://drmiller.com/2011/10/occupy-movement-and-corporation-machine/ http://drmiller.com/2011/10/occupy-movement-and-corporation-machine/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:24:21 +0000 EMiller http://drmiller.com/?p=7352 http://drmiller.com/2011/10/occupy-movement-and-corporation-machine/feed/ 0 http://drmiller.com/2011/10/welcome-to-healing-times-radio/ http://drmiller.com/2011/10/welcome-to-healing-times-radio/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:22:49 +0000 EMiller http://www.drmiller.com/?p=1046 http://drmiller.com/2011/10/welcome-to-healing-times-radio/feed/ 10 conversation,Dr. Miller,emmett miller md,healers,Healing Times Radio Archives - Not Active,internet radio,interview,leaders,Open Mind Radio,radio Healing Times Radio features conversations with other thought leaders - the movers and shakers who are transforming our world. Listen as Dr Miller and his expert guests explore the health challenges we face as individuals and as a collective, Healing Times Radio features conversations with other thought leaders - the movers and shakers who are transforming our world. Listen as Dr Miller and his expert guests explore the health challenges we face as individuals and as a collective, and show you how to reclaim your inherent personal wisdom. Visit our Events Page to for more information about our upcoming Healing Times Radio Shows, Topics and Guests! Show Airs Every Thursday, 12-1pm at OpenMindRadio.com! Browse and Listen to more Healing Times Radio Conversations   About the host, Emmett Miller MD is a physician, author, poet, musician, and master storyteller whose multicultural heritage has given him a unique social, medical, and spiritual perspective. He has won international acclaim as one of the pioneers of Mind/Body Medicine and its application to our social and cultural imbalances as well as to our personal (mind, body, spirit, emotion, behavior) ones. Author of Deep Healing and Our Culture on the Couch: Seven Steps to Global Healing, Dr. Miller’s mission is to help us heal ourselves so that we can in turn, heal our planet. Dr. Miller is also available for interviews, workshops, trainings, seminars, and lectures. Please visit our Book Dr. Miller page.  You can also get information about scheduling a personal appointment. Please Connect with Dr. Miller Online: Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes or with another podcatcher Join the Ask Dr. Miller Facebook Page Follow Dr. Miller on Twitter! Sign up for Healing Times eNewsletter (2 free gifts with signup) to be notified of new shows by email!   CLICK HERE to select an episode and start listening to Dr. Miller's Conversations with Extraordinary People! DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no http://drmiller.com/2011/10/jeanne-acterberg/ http://drmiller.com/2011/10/jeanne-acterberg/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:31:10 +0000 EMiller http://drmiller.com/?p=6692 http://drmiller.com/2011/10/jeanne-acterberg/feed/ 0 alternative health,conversation,Dr. Miller,emmett miller md,Healing Times Radio Archives - Not Active,health,health professionals,interview,mind-body medicine,self-healing Dr. Achterberg is a scientist who has received international recognition for her pioneering research in medicine and psychology. A faculty member for 11 years at Southwestern Medical School, she is expressionsly a Professor of Psychology at Saybrook In... Dr. Achterberg is a scientist who has received international recognition for her pioneering research in medicine and psychology. A faculty member for 11 years at Southwestern Medical School, she is expressionsly a Professor of Psychology at Saybrook Institute, San Francisco. She also co-chaired the mind/body interventions ad hoc advisory panel and the Research Technologies Conference of the Office of Alternative Medicine, and was a member of the Advisory Board, Unconventional Cancer Treatments Study Group, Office of Technology Assessment, U.S. Congress. Listen Now: She is a research consultant and advisor to foundations. She also provides training in the use of mind/body therapies for health care professionals in Europe, Japan, Argentina, and to refugees in Kosova and Macedonia. 

She has authored over 100 papers and five books. Imagery in Healing is critically acclaimed as a classic in the field of mind/body studies, and Woman as Healer is described as a ground breaking work, surveying the activities of women from prehistoric times to the present. Rituals of Healing is a primer on the use of creative therapies for health and medicine, and won the Book of the Year Award from the American Nursing Association. Her new book, Lightning at the Gate, the story of her personal healing journey, was published in 2001. About Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People Welcome to Healing Times Radio. Since being a part of the launching of the holistic approach to healing and the field of Holistic Medicine 40 years ago it has been Dr. Miller's passion to seek out other thought leaders – the movers and shapers who could see the disaster looming for our world and were setting about crafting the tools that would help transform the world. Those few who, like Dr. Miller, were in the medical and psychological field could see the enormous waste in our health care system, the crisis it was leading to. The tools they developed – guided imagery, mindfulness, meditation, wellness, nutritional medicine, and physical exercise physiology – are now transforming mainstream medicine. Those in other fields (organizational development, sociobiology, ecology, climatology, leadership) were developing their respective instruments and tools (e.g., The World Cafe, Gather The Women, Peak Moment TV, People's Pharmacy) His relationships with this extraordinary cadre have developed through the decades, as they supported one another in the evolution of their collective intelligence and collective wisdom. On Conversations With Extraordinary People, you will experience Dr. Miller in Heart-to-Heart conversations with his remarkable guests as they explore the challenges to health and sustainability we face personally, collectively, globally. You will be treated to an enlightening intellectual experience and receive powerful, practical tools to: Reclaim your inherent personal wisdom Use the power of your mind to heal your body Harness the energy of stress and apply it to your true goals in life Nurture and heal your relationships and your planet   Listen Anytime Browse and listen to shows anytime at Conversations With Extraordinary People or listen to Dr. Miller's introductory show. Check out upcoming topics and guests on our Event Menu page. Shows are aired on Thursdays 12pm - 1pm. About the Host Emmett Miller MD is a physician, author, poet, musician, and master storyteller whose multicultural heritage has given him a unique social, medical, and spiritual perspective. A pioneer in Mind-Body Medicine, he fused the tools of meditation, hypnosis, prayer, and autosuggestion to form Guided Imagery - a powerful tool for self-healing and peak performance. Turning his attention to the larger sphere, he now applies those principles to the glaring community and cultural imbalances and the planetary illness they are causing. His examination, diagnosis, and prescription are explored in his latest book, DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no 50:00 http://drmiller.com/2011/10/consciousness-cruise/ http://drmiller.com/2011/10/consciousness-cruise/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:30:14 +0000 EMiller http://drmiller.com/?p=6634 http://drmiller.com/2011/10/consciousness-cruise/feed/ 0 http://drmiller.com/2011/06/bob-stahl/ http://drmiller.com/2011/06/bob-stahl/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 07:59:36 +0000 EMiller http://www.drmiller.catswebweave.com/?p=2333 http://drmiller.com/2011/06/bob-stahl/feed/ 0 alternative health,anxiety,buddha,buddhism,collective wisdom,Compassion,conversation,death,Deep Relaxation,Dr. Miller,healing,mbsr This week’s guest, Bob Stahl, the founder and director of three mindfulness-based stress reduction programs at three medical centers in the San Francisco Bay area, shares with us his unique path into the healing profession, and what he has discovered. This week’s guest, Bob Stahl, the founder and director of three mindfulness-based stress reduction programs at three medical centers in the San Francisco Bay area, shares with us his unique path into the healing profession, and what he has discovered. Two of his most beloved family members died during Dr. Stahl’s childhood, awakening in him a confusion and an enduring interest – what is this thing called death that can wreak such havoc in one’s life? What does it mean, and what can we do about it? Listen Now: Download MP3 for your computer, smartphone, or iPod at the end of this article This led him on a quest, beginning with a study of the physical process of death, then continuing with an exploration of its social, spiritual, and psychological factors. This, in time, led him to the committed practice of Buddhism and 8 ½ years in a monastery. Professionally, he found numerous applications for what he had learned, especially in the practice of (MBSR) – a most useful clinical tool developed by Jon Kabat Zinn. Dr. Stahl will share with us the meaningful of mindfulness, the practice of being present, its relationship to stress reduction, and how it can help us overcome our self-narrative – the self-limited perspectives we have on ourselves. The Buddha, the “unconditioned one,” he explains, provides, offers, insights, that could be of great value to us moderns. Dr. Stahl will share with us some of what he’s learned about how to approach death and, paradoxically, how these insights can help us approach life so that we can be victorious over the three enemies described by the Buddha – greed, hate, and ignorance. Finally, we will touch on the worldwide deficit of compassion our planet is now experiencing and some thoughts about what we might do about it. Please join us for this most enlightening conversation with a remarkable man. Please Connect with Dr. Miller Online: Subscribe, rate, and review Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People in iTunes or with another podcatcher Join the Ask Dr. Miller Facebook Page Follow Dr. Miller on Twitter! Receive 2 Free Gifts when you sign up for Healing Times eNewsletter. We will make sure you are notified of any new shows! About Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People Welcome to Healing Times Radio. Since being a part of the launching of the holistic approach to healing and the field of Holistic Medicine 40 years ago it has been Dr. Miller's passion to seek out other thought leaders – the movers and shapers who could see the disaster looming for our world and were setting about crafting the tools that would help transform the world. Those few who, like Dr. Miller, were in the medical and psychological field could see the enormous waste in our health care system, the crisis it was leading to. The tools they developed – guided imagery, mindfulness, meditation, wellness, nutritional medicine, and physical exercise physiology – are now transforming mainstream medicine. Those in other fields (organizational development, sociobiology, ecology, climatology, leadership) were developing their respective instruments and tools (e.g., The World Cafe, Gather The Women, Peak Moment TV, People's Pharmacy) His relationships with this extraordinary cadre have developed through the decades, as they supported one another in the evolution of their collective intelligence and collective wisdom. On Conversations With Extraordinary People, you will experience Dr. Miller in Heart-to-Heart conversations with his remarkable guests as they explore the challenges to health and sustainability we face personally, collectively, globally. You will be treated to an enlightening intellectual experience and receive powerful, practical tools to: Reclaim your inherent personal wisdom Use the power of your mind to heal your body Harness the energy of stress and apply it to your true goals in life DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no 50:04 http://drmiller.com/2011/06/reality-television-and-the-casey-anthony-saga/ http://drmiller.com/2011/06/reality-television-and-the-casey-anthony-saga/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:18:54 +0000 EMiller http://www.drmiller.com/?p=2448 http://drmiller.com/2011/06/reality-television-and-the-casey-anthony-saga/feed/ 4 American culture,Casey Anthony,collective intelligence,collective wisdom,court TV,current culture,Dr. Miller,global healing,media circus,Paradigm Shift,pop culture,Reality TV So here I am, just one week after the royal wedding extravaganza plus the final of American Idol, flipping through the channels, and I come upon HLN where there is this amazing spectacle. It is the trial of Casey Anthony, So here I am, just one week after the royal wedding extravaganza plus the final of American Idol, flipping through the channels, and I come upon HLN where there is this amazing spectacle. It is the trial of Casey Anthony, who is accused of being involv... DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no http://drmiller.com/2011/03/you-are-what-you-eat-and-think/ http://drmiller.com/2011/03/you-are-what-you-eat-and-think/#comments Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:14:30 +0000 EMiller http://www.drmiller.com/?p=2228 http://drmiller.com/2011/03/you-are-what-you-eat-and-think/feed/ 19 adrenaline,chronic health problems,Dr. Miller,emmett miller,emmett miller md,food,graedon,healing with food,Healing Yourself Is Healing the Planet,joe,natural healing,natural health If you’re interested in maintaining your health and preventing illness, then you owe it to yourself to check out the work of Joe and Terry Graedon. Joe was trained as a pharmacologist at the University of Michigan, Theresa’s PhD is in Anthropology. - If you’re interested in maintaining your health and preventing illness, then you owe it to yourself to check out the work of Joe and Terry Graedon. Joe was trained as a pharmacologist at the University of Michigan, Theresa’s PhD is in Anthropology. Joe and Terry published their first book, People’s Pharmacy, in 1976, with a vision of providing people with high quality information for personal health and natural wellness. Through their books, their regular radio show and their many appearances on national television, they have managed to stay on the cutting edge even until now, with their current new release, Recipes and Remedies, which presents some most fascinating and useful information about ways you can treat common ailments and prevent serious illnesses through the use of common foods, spices, and other items you can find around the house. Listen to the Conversation Here:Download MP3 at the end of this article. The famous physician, Hippocrates, is reported to have proclaimed, “Let food be your medicine.” Joe and Terry have taken this to heart. In this Healing Times conversation, we will get to know this colorful couple, and learn a few of their tips. For instance, did you know that some of the most troubling symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be treated with, of all things, coconut macaroon cookies? In this conversation, we take a look at some of our new learnings about food – that food really can be our medicine – and the use of food as medicine is being avidly studied by institutions of the stature of Harvard and Stanford. In this illuminating conversation we will also explore: How you can treat Type II diabetes with a vinegar dressing on your salad. How a blueberry cheesecake that can help you heal chronic disease The latest news about vitamin D How to use vinegar at the end of a meal as a treatment for Type II diabetes   The Graedons agree that – “you are what you eat and what you think.” As an example, we will discuss the latest on depression, now that clinical studies have shown that perhaps the vast majority of the $10 billion a year we spend on antidepressant medications is wasted on mild to moderate depressions. We will talk about a number of non-drug approaches you can use, and especially about some of the foods you can eat to help you Escape From Depression. In 1976, when The People's Pharmacy® was originally published, it was one of the first books providing drug and health information to consumers. It went on to become a number one bestseller. Since then, Joe and Terry Graedon have gone on to write 14 additional books, one of which was a medical thriller co-authored with Tom Ferguson, MD (No Deadly Drug, Pocket Books, 1992). In addition, they write The People's Pharmacy® syndicated newspaper column, distributed by King Features®, co-host an award-winning health talk show on public radio, and speak frequently on health issues.  Learn more about the People's Pharmacy and how it started, and listen to our conversation below! Please Connect with Dr. Miller Online: Subscribe, rate, and review Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People in iTunes or with another podcatcher Join the Ask Dr. Miller Facebook Page Follow Dr. Miller on Twitter! Receive 2 Free Gifts when you sign up for Healing Times eNewsletter. We will make sure you are notified of any new shows! About Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People Welcome to Healing Times Radio. Since being a part of the launching of the holistic approach to healing and the field of Holistic Medicine 40 years ago it has been Dr. Miller's passion to seek out other thought leaders – the movers and shapers who could see the disaster looming for our world and were setting about crafting the tools that would help transform the world. Those few who, like Dr. Miller, were in the medical and psychological field could see the enormous waste in our health care system, DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no 44:03 http://drmiller.com/2011/02/getting-the-most-from-social-networks/ http://drmiller.com/2011/02/getting-the-most-from-social-networks/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:05:03 +0000 EMiller http://www.drmiller.com/?p=2206 http://drmiller.com/2011/02/getting-the-most-from-social-networks/feed/ 0 collective intelligence,collective wisdom,Dr. Miller,friends and health,Healing Times Radio Archives - Not Active,health,neighborhood and health,Nicholas Christakis,online community,social network,social networking,sociology I am pleased to welcome Nicholas A. Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH, is an internist and social scientist who conducts research on social factors that affect health, health care, and longevity. He is Professor of Medical Sociology in the Department of Health ... I am pleased to welcome Nicholas A. Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH, is an internist and social scientist who conducts research on social factors that affect health, health care, and longevity. He is Professor of Medical Sociology in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School; Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; and Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He is the Master of Pforzheimer House in Harvard College. Listen to the Conversation Here:Download MP3 at the end of this article. Dr. Christakis' lab is currently focused on the relationship between social networks and health. People are inter-connected, and so their health is inter-connected. This research engages two types of phenomena: the social, mathematical, and biological rules governing how social networks form ("connection") and the biological and social implications of how they operate to influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors ("contagion"). Other ongoing investigations in the lab consider the effects of neighborhoods on people's health, the biodemographic determinants of longevity, the widowhood effect ("dying of a broken heart"), and the genetic bases for human behaviors. Along with his long-time collaborator, James Fowler, Dr. Christakis has authored a general-audience book on social networks: Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, which has been translated into nearly twenty foreign languages. Please Connect with Dr. Miller Online: Subscribe, rate, and review Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People in iTunes or with another podcatcher Join the Ask Dr. Miller Facebook Page Follow Dr. Miller on Twitter! Receive 2 Free Gifts when you sign up for Healing Times eNewsletter. We will make sure you are notified of any new shows! About Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People Welcome to Healing Times Radio. Since being a part of the launching of the holistic approach to healing and the field of Holistic Medicine 40 years ago it has been Dr. Miller's passion to seek out other thought leaders – the movers and shapers who could see the disaster looming for our world and were setting about crafting the tools that would help transform the world. Those few who, like Dr. Miller, were in the medical and psychological field could see the enormous waste in our health care system, the crisis it was leading to. The tools they developed – guided imagery, mindfulness, meditation, wellness, nutritional medicine, and physical exercise physiology – are now transforming mainstream medicine. Those in other fields (organizational development, sociobiology, ecology, climatology, leadership) were developing their respective instruments and tools (e.g., The World Cafe, Gather The Women, Peak Moment TV, People's Pharmacy) His relationships with this extraordinary cadre have developed through the decades, as they supported one another in the evolution of their collective intelligence and collective wisdom. On Conversations With Extraordinary People, you will experience Dr. Miller in Heart-to-Heart conversations with his remarkable guests as they explore the challenges to health and sustainability we face personally, collectively, globally. You will be treated to an enlightening intellectual experience and receive powerful, practical tools to: Reclaim your inherent personal wisdom Use the power of your mind to heal your body Harness the energy of stress and apply it to your true goals in life Nurture and heal your relationships and your planet   Listen Anytime Browse and listen to shows anytime at Conversations With Extraordinary People or listen to Dr. Miller's introductory show. Check out upcoming topics and guests on our Event Menu page. Shows are aired on Thursdays 12pm - 1pm. About the Host DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no 43:31 http://drmiller.com/2011/01/healing-depression-ptsd-with-dr-james-gordon/ http://drmiller.com/2011/01/healing-depression-ptsd-with-dr-james-gordon/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:00:25 +0000 EMiller http://www.drmiller.com/?p=2061 http://drmiller.com/2011/01/healing-depression-ptsd-with-dr-james-gordon/feed/ 0 conversation,depression,Dr. Gordon,Dr. Miller,escape from depression,gaza,haiti,healing,Healing Times Radio Archives - Not Active,health,health professionals,interview Dr. Gordon is a physician who, like Dr. Miller, while in medical school, became interested in a different approach to medicine, one which honored the potential for self healing and self help in medicine. He trained in Psychiatry, then went on to found, Dr. Gordon is a physician who, like Dr. Miller, while in medical school, became interested in a different approach to medicine, one which honored the potential for self healing and self help in medicine. He trained in Psychiatry, then went on to found, in 1991, the Center for Mind Body Medicine. Through the center he has trained thousands of health professionals around the world to apply Deep Relaxation, Meditation, Guided Imagery, and other person-centered approaches to deal with post traumatic stress during the acute phase - in trouble spots like Kosovo and Haiti, and with traumatized US veterans. Listen Now:Download MP3 at the end of this article. In this show we will explore the value of imagery for adjusting autonomic responses, as well as the immune and endocrine systems, and discuss the seven phases of depression, why it is better to not think of depression as a disease, but the start of an important life journey. Dr. Gordon will present an overview of his latest book, Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven Stage Journey Out of Depression. We will touch on the importance of deep relaxation, the value of a guide, the dark night of the soul, and the spiritual connection. Dr. Miller will then present a brief guided imagery experience drawn from his CD program, Escape From Depression. Check out this short video showing Dr. Gordon’s work with traumatized people in the Gaza Strip James S. Gordon, MD, a Harvard educated psychiatrist, is a world-renowned expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma. He is the Founder and Director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Dean of the Graduate School of Mind-Body Medicine at Saybrook University, a Clinical Professor at Georgetown Medical School, and recently served as Chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. Dr. Gordon has created ground-breaking programs of comprehensive mind-body healing for physicians, medical students and other health professionals; for people with cancer, depression and other chronic illnesses; and for traumatized children and families in Bosnia, Kosovo, Israel and Gaza as well as in post-9/11 New York and post-Katrina southern Louisiana. His most recent book is Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven Stage Journey Out of Depression (Penguin Press). If you enjoyed this Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People Podcast, please subscribe to our other podcast channel, Free Guided Imagery & Meditations Please Connect with Dr. Miller Online: Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes or with another podcatcher Join the Ask Dr. Miller Facebook Page Follow Dr. Miller on Twitter! Receive 2 Free Gifts when you sign up for Healing Times eNewsletter.  We will make sure you are notified of any new shows!   About Healing Times Radio: Conversations with Extraordinary People Welcome to Healing Times Radio. Since being a part of the launching of the holistic approach to healing and the field of Holistic Medicine 40 years ago it has been Dr. Miller's passion to seek out other thought leaders – the movers and shapers who could see the disaster looming for our world and were setting about crafting the tools that would help transform the world. Those few who, like Dr. Miller, were in the medical and psychological field could see the enormous waste in our health care system, the crisis it was leading to. The tools they developed – guided imagery, mindfulness, meditation, wellness, nutritional medicine, and physical exercise physiology – are now transforming mainstream medicine. Those in other fields (organizational development, sociobiology, ecology, climatology, leadership) were developing their respective instruments and tools (e.g., The World Cafe, Gather The Women, Peak Moment TV, People's Pharmacy) His relationships with this extraordinary cadre have developed through the decades, DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no 44:16 http://drmiller.com/2010/10/answer-to-cancer/ http://drmiller.com/2010/10/answer-to-cancer/#comments Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:27:21 +0000 EMiller http://www.drmiller.com/?p=1734 http://drmiller.com/2010/10/answer-to-cancer/feed/ 2 about Dr. Miller,alternative health,anxiety,Cancer,cancer awareness,cancer guided meditation,chemotherapy,chronic health problems,complementary cancer medicine,depression,Dr. Miller,emmett miller md What’s the first thing to do if you get a diagnosis of cancer? Grab a deep relaxation and guided imagery CD! - Really. It could save your life. Listen to Dr. Miller Reading this Article: When people first receive the message from their physician th... What’s the first thing to do if you get a diagnosis of cancer? Grab a deep relaxation and guided imagery CD! Really. It could save your life. Listen to Dr. Miller Reading this Article: When people first receive the message from their physician that their body may be harboring a potentially fatal disease, they are usually dumbfounded, commonly frightened, and often emotionally traumatized. This is unfortunate, since such reactions of helplessness associated with the illness create an internal physiological and psychological state which may actually impair the body’s ability to defend itself against this invader. Since guided imagery in the state of deep relaxation has been shown to assist the healing process in many illnesses, including cancer, it should be made available as soon as possible to anyone newly diagnosed with cancer – as well as those with other chronic illnesses. It’s the least expensive, fastest, and possibly the most important single thing you can do. A patient’s physical comfort and perception of pain can often be markedly altered, as can their attitude, mood, willingness to undergo invasive procedures, or to participate actively in the treatment – even their ability to successfully survive the treatment. All these are profoundly influenced by the attitude and the mental self image he or she has, of the disease, of the treatment, and of those who are rendering care. Certain ways of approaching the illness are far more likely to produce a successful outcome, cure and complete healing. Well-designed guided imagery and deep relaxation – what I call “Software for the Mind” – functions to enable the person to move through acceptance, to awaken the inner potential to heal and become whole, and to free the body of the stress that could otherwise worsen the illness. And the sooner an individual begins this process, the better. I will describe some of the most important ways that these tools can be used as valuable adjuncts to treatment in a moment, but first lets look at the role of your mental imagery in preventing cancer. Guided Imagery and The Prevention of Cancer Of course the best use of guided imagery in confronting the challenges of cancer is to employ it at the stage of prevention Sometimes, for example, a woman with breast lump or unusual bleeding, or a man who notices an abnormal mole on his skin will avoid seeing a health professional because of fear they experience when they consider that this might be a cancer. Yet by avoiding that cognitive dissonance they fail to have the mass removed before it spreads, and while it is still curable. A different mental image can be developed, one which could tolerate the idea of having an unknown mass checked out, and save their lives. Another example is represented by the person who needs to change their inner imagery is the person who engages in behaviors that can lead to the development of cancer – such assmoking or exposing him or herself to other toxic substances, or eating an unhealthy diet (fat, charred meat, low vegetable intake). Guided imagery techniques can help resolve the emotional states that underlie such self-destructive behaviors. A few counseling visits and/or the use of the appropriate CDs are often all that is needed. (For example, see Weight Loss/Management and Smoke No More) The Power of Imagery and Meditation in the Clinical Setting One of the physician’s first challenges is how to inform the person that they may have cancer. The mental image the doctor creates in the mind of the patient is very important. Because of this natural reaction of fear, rather than face the emotions, the doctor will sometimes try to be matter-of-fact about it, saying something insensitive, like, “Your tests showed that you may possibly have a rapidly-growing cancer that could kill you within 6 to 12 months. I will take another biopsy today to confirm the diagnosis. Come back in a week and I will let you know what we find out. DrMiller.com: Guided Imagery, Meditation, & Self-Hypnosis no 16:18