|
The patient is guided into an altered state of increased awareness of physical and mental relaxation, which distracts him from his immediate health problem as he becomes entranced with the discovery of his natural ability to have a deep relaxed experience. This training is simply the acquiring of a discipline of positive, healthy habit patterns communicated from a conscious level of mind to the subconscious level to dissipate previously acquired destructive, negative habit patterns.
 The primary means to relaxation in today's stressful environment is to learn to function on the intuitive rather than the rational level. "With this training, we try to redirect positive behavior patterns to insure the eventual establishment of healthy conditioned reflexes," says Jacobson. Conditioning those reflexes is based on developing conscious control of the sleep levels of the mind. Learning to move from the more active alpha level to levels of less brainwave activity as measured by the EEG is the process by which relaxation is achieved. A common phenomenon of the relaxed state is "dreaming awake," being in both the alpha (alert) and delta (deep sleep) levels at the same time. It is this effect that allows for growth in self-awareness.
 After learning what it feels like to control the body in a more relaxed state, the patient can then begin to resist the tensions from everyday problems and pressures. After repeated conditionings, the patient eventually makes the decision to assume full responsibility for physical and emotional well-being by performing his personal relaxation exercises prescribed to maintain and reinforce his relaxed level. Because the relaxation factor is cumulative, the patient ultimately functions in a relaxed, comfortable aware state all day long with the added benefits of a complete healthy change of attitudes, greater productivity and creativity. It is a lifetime commitment to a positive health program as protection against the vulnerability to frustrations, tensions and adversity in life.
Jacobson's approach and techniques have been used in preventative health care.
He has worked with doctors and patients in the departments of neurology, psychiatry and pulmonary medicine. He taught a course in "Self-Actualization" at an Experimental College program and courses at the YMCA and for private groups.
Click the news article above for more info.
Next Page... |
