Customer Reviews

Health Journeys: For People Managing Pain

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I have a few Bellaruth CD's which I have been using for a couple of years now, and this one may be my favorite. I bought this one because I suffer from pain issues. I must say, though, that I don't really feel like the pain itself is erased by listening to the CD, but I do feel much calmer and more relaxed, and therefore not as anxious and upset about the pain. In fact, I usually fall asleep. Actually I use these CD's mainly to help me sleep. They give me a positive dialogue to focus my [overactive] mind on, and to get away from the internal dialog of worries. Bellaruth has a very mellow and soothing voice to begin with, and, also I get the impression that she is sincere, confident, and really want to help people who suffer. The narration on some other CDs can sound superficial, insincere, or even glib.

This CD has two main parts: 1. Guided imagery and 2. Affirmations. It starts out, "I'm Bellaruth Naparstek, and this is guided imagery that I've designed for people who want help dealing with pain..." She then tells us that guided imagery is "a sort of deliberate, directed daydreaming". She discusses the mind-body relationship. She lists two different kinds of approaches to use to help alleviate pain: turn your attention away from it, sort of take a vacation from it, which is often what we want to do for chronic pain; or you can focus into it, breathe into it, soften around it, which is better for acute pain. The second segment has about 20 minutes of affirmations--"positive statements that can be useful in the healing process." You can recite them to yourself at different times of the day, in order to keep your mind focused on the positive.

Relax, breathe in deeply and breathe out tensions, your mind becomes still and empty. You will then imagine a place where you feel safe, relaxed and easy. (I have three main places that I use--all of them are real places which I have visited in the mountains). Now B.N. guides you to make the place real by using sensory imagery. Then she guides you and helps you to open up the hurting places, and so on.

The CD doesn't have any real music, A few tones at the beginning of each segment, and a calm background theme. This works well for me since most music or even "white noise" CD's prevent me from sleeping---even the ones designed for sleep. Some other types of sleep/relaxation CDs are helpful to me, but Bellaruth is the best for me; I hope that this CD helps you, too!

Managing Pain has been a lifesaver for me. The tape is doesn't just generate relaxtion, but also teaches the skills needed to decrease an individuals pain level. It is direct and to the point. Ms. Naparstek's voice creates a feeling of warmth and trust. I would recommend this to anyone undergoing a difficult time with pain-chronic or acute. I have shared this tape with several friends from my pain management group and everyone loves it!

This is great...the female narrator's voice is soothing and precise, and the images are relaxing. The only fault I can find with it is that it's sometimes hard to find just the right place on the tape where the spoken introduction and instructions end and the actual relaxation and imagery begin.

By far Belleruth's tapes are the best in applying guided imagery to health and healing. Her tapes inspire as they help you focus your mind on healing your body. Highly recommended!