Hi, Dr. Stoll! After my telephone coaching session with you
many months ago, I started working on my "assignments",
reading the Mind As Healer, Mind As Slayer book, working
through the Relaxation And Stress Reduction Workbook, and
beginning to practice skilled relaxations. It took me a
good six months to find someone to test me (I live in a town
of about 100,000 with no biofeedback therapists). Finally,
an elderly friend's daughter from Houston was here treating
her mother, who has Parkinson's, and I was tested, only to
find I don't reach the relaxation reponse in my brainwaves,
though I do in the muscles and cardiovascular system. I
followed with six EEG training sessions - pure heaven, and
so rejuvenating to get out of the frantic beta brainwaves!!!
I still have very busy thoughts, but I purchased a sound and
light entrainment device (SLED) and have used it very
successfully the last few days.
I don't know whether you and your readers know about devices
like this, but it has about 50 programs with various
wavelengths predetermined for set periods of time. Two
nights ago I couldn't sleep, even with my usual sleep meds,
and I put that little gadget over my eyes and ears and was
out so quickly, a good, sound sleep -- much needed for
someone with fibromyalgia who just doesn't get there often.
The device is the Minnd's Eye Mental Fitness System by Theta
Technologies, and I bought it from Smarter@Smarterway.com
for $349.00, along with some great SR cassettes. I can't
believe this gadget was out there all this time and I didn't
know about it -- very helpful with my problems of inability
to focus on one thing.
The difference in my brainwave patterns over the six
training sessions was very noticeable -- very jagged and
mixed up at first, then much more regular with not as many
highs and lows later. Finally, I'm getting there! The
therapist said it's like when someone first walks through a
grassy field, you can barely recognize where they've walked,
but after they've walked the same path six times it is very
obvious where they've been ... the brain remembers a little
more each time I "get there" and can follow the path more
easily next time. Whew! This has been a long time coming.
Thanks for your good
Follow Ups:
Re: SR and a busy brain (Importance of getting it substantiated)
Posted by Denise Wyrick on February 22, 1999 at 12:57:47:
In Reply to: SR and a busy brain posted by Johnelle on February 22, 1999 at 10:53:03:
Hi all, Thanks Johnellle for proding me along (and Walt too). I have been practicing SR but have not worked with someone to test it out. I happen to live with a mental health professional who used to teach biofeedback; however, we only have a finger thermometer for testing. I guess I need to figure out a way to do that! I know my brain goes on overdrive a great deal of the time so it would be good to go for the more sophisticated technology to really see if I am in Alpha. However, I am going to focus my energies towards diet this next month (and continuing with the unsubstantiated SR of course) and then think about the "proof" part of the SR after that.
I have recently started reading the MegaBrain book by Michael Hutchinson... Johnelle have you read it? If not you might enjoy reading it. I guess I have had this notion that if you over rely on the technology that you might get addicted to it like chocolate :-) So I have kept my practice fairly low tech. Perhaps I ought not have such tunnel vision about it regarding the sound and light technology!
Namaste,
Denise
Follow Ups:
Re: SR and a busy brain (PLEASE ARCHIVE--testimonial)
Posted by Walt Stoll on February 23, 1999 at 09:42:48:
In Reply to: SR and a busy brain posted by Johnelle on February 22, 1999 at 10:53:03:
Dear Johnelle,
Thank you so much for taking the time to help others. Your testimonial is EXACTLY what those struggling to learn this skill need to hear. I HOPE EVERYONE READS IT!!!!!
I am going through a period in MY SR history where even I need a mechanical device. I think NO one should rule out the use of one if they are having trouble. If they are not seeing the kind of benefits you are finally seeing, they are "having trouble".
SOME people actually find that these devices get in the way of their practice. People have to do what works for them. Thank goodness for biofeedback! With that way to check we no longer have to spend a lifetime learning this skill (like all those up till biofeedback came into being had to risk).
Namaste` Walt
Re: SR and a busy brain
Posted by Peter Wray on February 23, 1999 at 10:52:51:
In Reply to: SR and a busy brain posted by Johnelle on February 22, 1999 at 10:53:03:
Johnelle,
Thanks so much for your message. I just ordered a similar machine (the Orion). I went with a cheaper model because the exchange rate for those of us living in the Great White North is unbelievable right now (oh but I'm wining sorry).
I'm looking forward to getting mine and trying it out.
Peter
MegaBrain book
Posted by Johnelle on February 24, 1999 at 12:33:29:
In Reply to: Re: SR and a busy brain (Importance of getting it substantiated) posted by Denise Wyrick on February 22, 1999 at 12:57:47:
Yes, Denise, I've got MegaBrain on my kitchen cabinet right
now (unfinished, like most of the projects in my life), and
I also have the concern about growing dependent on the
"gadget", as my biofeedback therapist and her psychologist
husband call it. I couldn't even go to sleep WITH IT a few
days ago as I was preparing to give a presentation the next
day on stress, of all things! But I love that thing, and
you'd have to battle with me to take it away ... I've only
had it five days now! Does that mean dependent? Probably.
But I also have the confidence I can reach the alpha
brainwaves now, and the experience of what it feels like, so
that's valuable if I lose my gadget. My brain has "been
there" recently, so I'm confident it can go back