Practice Guided Imagery for Self-Care, Mental Health

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• Practice Guided Imagery for Self-Care, Mental Health
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Video: 3 Reasons Why Staying on Bipolar Medication is So Hard
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Practice Guided Imagery for Self-Care, Mental Health

Recall a fond memory. What do you see? Conjure details, textures, and colors. What do you smell? What sounds resonate in your mind? Breathe deeply, slowly, as you explore. When ready, open your eyes and smile.

This exercise, while abbreviated, illustrates the powerful self-care tool known as guided imagery. A form of meditation and mindfulness, guided imagery involves sitting or lying in a comfortable position and listening to a program (often an app or a podcast) that escorts you on a journey to relax and let go of physical tension, negative or racing thoughts, and roiling emotions.

As you settle in, a soothing voice, calming music, and/or peaceful nature sounds channel your thoughts and energy to a positive place you enjoy. Guided imagery reminds your brain and body of their natural state of calmness. Because brain and body react as if the imagery were real, guided imagery is effective for:  

• Lowering anxiety
• Calming panic attacks and preventing future episodes
• Helping sleep
• Reducing the effect of automatic negative thoughts
• Inducing relaxation.

Guided imagery also enhances your mind-body connection so that each is more in tune with the other. As your awareness of your whole self increases, you’ll be able to practice self-care in the moment with a quick, self-led, guided imagery session for your mental health.

Related Articles Dealing with Guided Imagery and Self-Care

• Relaxation Techniques for Anxiety: How to Relax Your Mind
• Guided Imagery and Eating Disorder Treatment
• Guided Imagery for Treating Psychological Conditions
• Adult ADHD and Relaxing
• Adult ADHD and Relaxing, Part 2

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: If you’ve tried guided imagery, what has your experience been like? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• Finding Inspiration in a Mental Hospital
• Mental Health Costs Us Money: Stigma in Statistics
• How to Fall Asleep When Your Anxiety Keeps You Awake
• Finding Love as a Transgender Person
• How to Visualize Anxiety Away
• Could a Side Gig Increase Both Income and Health?
• The Origin of Values: Internal Values vs. External Values
• 6 Tips for Using Visualization to Live an Anxiety-Free Life
• Why Developing Skills Improves Self-Esteem
• Major Depressive Episode Recovery
• The Power of the Mind/Body Connection
• What to Do When Your Loved One Suffers from Self-Harm
• National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2019
• Change Your Self-Talk to Reduce Anxiety
• 4 Brain Hacks to Fight Executive Dysfunction

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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From HealthyPlace YouTube Channel

I'm Hannah. I Have Bipolar 2

3 Reasons Why Staying on Bipolar Medication is So Hard

Why is it so hard to stay on bipolar medication? Here are the three main reasons. (Watch Hannah and subscribe to the HealthyPlace YouTube channel for more great mental health videos.)

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. How to Face Down Your Triggers in Eating Disorder Recovery
2. A Day in the Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder
3. False Assumptions About Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darkness of other people."

Read more mental health quotes.

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That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. You can also share the newsletter on any social network (like facebook or stumbleupon) you belong to by clicking the links below. For updates throughout the week, follow HealthyPlace on Twitter or become a fan of HealthyPlace on Facebook. Also, check out HealthyPlace on Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest, where you can share your mental health pins on our Share Your Mental Health Experiences board.

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