DEPRESSION-YOU ARE NOT ALONE

For those who know how to use them, meditation and autosuggestion are efficient tools for influencing the mind and body. They are comprised of various techniques that impact the subconscious, and which partially overlap. This article shall analyze the option of combining the two methods in a manner that will enable harnessing the advantages of each method. This option will be referred to below as medisuggestion.

Meditation vs. Autosuggestion

The main objective of meditation is soothing the soul. This objective is achieved through relaxation, closed eyes, regulated breathing, an attempt to detach oneself from external stimuli and influences, avoidance of disturbing thoughts and the desire to reach the “peaceful realm”. Some meditation techniques include the repeated self affirmation of a mantra, usually a meaningless word that contains syllables with no negative connotations. Mediation has a suggestive impact on the body and soul seeing that the individual applying this technique wishes consciously to achieve peace and serenity while consciously and unconsciously detaching himself from mundane worries. The meditating individual creates for himself, over time, a kind of conditioning aimed at reaching relaxation whenever beginning the meditation process.

While autosuggestion is more of an indirect and side effect of the relaxation method of meditation, the self persuasion performed in the process of autosuggestion is direct and intended to generate a willful, directed and focused impact on the subconscious. Autosuggestion is a tool for achieving various objectives and not only tranquility and inner serenity. Similarly to meditation, autosuggestion is also comprised of the constant repetition of certain words. Meditation has the advantage of being a pleasant and calm method in which time is not pressing. Autosuggestion, on the other hand, conveys the message more rapidly and directly, but it lacks an organized method and supportive establishment. Both meditation and autosuggestion are techniques that are not practiced persistently, whether due to their monotonous nature, the fact that their results are not immediately apparent, the fact that daily pressures and troubles distract us from them and overtake our agenda, and whether due to the easier option of using chemical sedatives.

Medisuggestion – Combining the advantages of both methods

Medisuggestion is comprised of assembling the method of autosuggestion onto the method of mediation. The concept is very simple: instead of whispering a meaningless and empty mantra during meditation, repeatedly whisper words of suggestive content, such as: “I am peaceful and calm, I am peaceful and calm, I am always peaceful and calm”. The message will slowly permeate into your conscious mind and when you are more relaxed, so will be your body, including its autonomies.

Medisuggestion – How it works

When we are tense and upset by a significant issue that bothers us and interferes with our peace of mind, we may experience symptoms resembling a slight emotional trauma, such as sleeplessness and recurring thoughts of the same issue, overrunning the everyday routine and refusing to let up. The mind and spirit are flooded by the issue in a manner that may even interfere with our ability to function. Indeed, one can take a sedative, but such an option bear with it side effects – it interferes with concentration, causes drowsiness and may, in itself, impair proper thought processes, not to mention addiction and long term effects to the brain.

When we are in a state of medisuggestion, constantly whispering words of self relaxation, we introduce a “new player” into our mind. This player, appearing as the suggestive chant, slowly pushes aside the annoying thoughts and takes over the mind in their stead, while conveying a message of peace and serenity to the body and soul. The efficient suggestive effect is achieved in two manners: A. The direct auto suggestive message; B. The indirect method of meditation, i.e., everything surrounding us – the atmosphere, the sense of serenity and the conditioning (conditional reflex of calmness). The impact of this method increases with practice. The “new player” gains power and acquires strength. As time goes by, those temporary worries and tensions that bothered us and which medisuggestion helped us get rid of, fade away and disappear. When we once again enter a state of stress and tension, we repeat the routine and familiar words of relaxation and we perceive the temporal problems from a different perspective. The annoying and bothersome problem seems to be temporary and fleeting as compared to that “player” in our mind, who has gained experience and proven himself.

Future Effects

Another advantage of this method over meditation is in its ability to prepare us for an expected difficult and nerve-racking event, such as a charged encounter, stressful interview, difficult test, clarification discussion, trial, medical procedure, and the likes. Using this method, we can convey a personal message for the future, such as: “Tomorrow, during the interview, I will be calm and serene” through repetition. This method also provides for other future suggestions, such as: “I will be in focus” or “I will be confident”. This method increases the level of concentration when “taking the test”, unlike a sedative which might even impair concentration levels.

Application

After studying the method and growing accustomed to it, there is no need to implement it daily, but rather when it is truly necessary, and 10-20 minutes are enough for it to work. The method is especially effective when it is most needed, i.e., when waking up at night because of the annoying problem. It is at this stage, when we are neither asleep nor awake, that our subconscious is more exposed to suggestive influences, more open to receive them and more effectively influenced by them.