Positive Health Online

Abstract

HARDING, Wildara Psychogeriatric Assessment and Treatment Team, St Georges and Inner East Geriatric Service, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia writes that although the benefits of relaxation are widely acknowledged, clinicians must remain aware of possible adverse effects . Some people with mental illness may experience an exacerbation of their symptoms with injudicious use of relaxation techniques using imagery. The author explores two conditions where vivid, emotionally charged images are problematic: 1) post traumatic stress disorder and 2) hallucinoses . Individuals with these disorders may have difficulty controlling shifts between these internal and external events, or difficulty recognising events as internal rather than external. Using a relaxation technique which encourages imagery may produce a stronger reaction because the impact of the imagery is increased by relaxation, resulting in an increase in arousal, the antithesis of relaxation.

Background

Methodology

Results

Conclusion

This paper suggests that relaxation techniques avoiding imagery or which consider the patients experience are less likely to provoke undesirable reactions.

References

Harding S. Relaxation: with or without imagery? Int J Nurs Pract 2(3): 160-2. Sep 1996.

Comment

The above finding appears to be common sense, but I bet that, just as many depressed people are treated inadvisably with hypnosis, which usually deepens the persons depression, many people who cannot distinguish their inner and exterior realities are being treated inadvisedly with techniques such as visualisation. It all comes down to the training and competence of the practitioner. This is why working in a multi-disciplinary integrated practice must be a better solution that working in an isolated way, without recourse to other colleagues who may have a better treatment strategy. After all, who of us is all-knowing?