Harnessing the Calming Power of Guided Visualization: Research on Reducing Anxiety and Stress
Guided visualization offers a unique approach to mental well-being where the imagination is actively engaged to create vivid sensory experiences. The guided aspect, in particular, can be especially helpful for those who struggle to quiet their mind or need more structure.
Visualization is not just for daydreamers; it offers significant benefits to our mental health by reducing anxiety and stress, which then produces physical benefits. We have compiled five research studies demonstrating these mental and physical benefits of guided visualization (also called guided imagery) for people experiencing stress due to various medical causes.
Table of Contents
1. Reducing Anxiety and Depression in Hemodialysis Patients
2. Using Guided Imagery to Reduce Pre-Procedural Anxiety
3. Guided Imagery Reduces Stress and Fatigue in Cancer Patients
4. Guided Imagery Can Enhance Attentional Control
1. Reducing Anxiety and Depression in Hemodialysis Patients
Chronic renal failure is a progressive disease that ends with irreversible damage to renal function. Hemodialysis is a common course of treatment for those with chronic renal failure to increase their survival by cleaning the blood in a way that the kidneys no longer can. However, patients on hemodialysis commonly experience anxiety and depression.
Beizaee et al. investigated how guided imagery can improve patient comfort and emotional well-being as they undergo hemodialysis, addressing and remedying a common side effect of treatment.
Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure these two psychological afflictions, the researchers found that anxiety and depression levels were significantly lower in the group receiving guided imagery compared to those who didn’t. Additionally, heart and breathing rates were lower in the group receiving guided imagery, showing the calming nature of the intervention.
2. Using Guided Imagery to Reduce Pre-Procedural Anxiety
Medical procedures are understandably nerve-wracking, but guided visualization may help to reduce anxiety beforehand, making the entire experience easier and more pleasant for patients. Furthermore, with anxiety increasing the likelihood of a complication, reducing anxiety is crucial for improving health outcomes.
During a clinical trial conducted in Iran, patients receiving an endoscopy were placed into three groups: those receiving video education, those receiving guided imagery, and those receiving neither. The anxiety levels of the patients were then recorded a few hours before the procedure, and it was found that both the video education and guided imagery groups had lower levels of anxiety.
Even more interesting is that the two interventions produced the same calming effects, so no matter if you’re receiving more education on the procedure or undergoing a guided visualization exercise, your anxiety will significantly decline, leading to a greater likelihood of better procedural outcomes.
3. Guided Imagery Reduces Stress and Fatigue in Cancer Patients
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer and has become more prevalent worldwide within the past few decades. Thus, more people are receiving treatment for this disease, with the most effective treatment for thyroid cancer being a thyroidectomy, followed by radioactive iodine treatment and TSH-suppression therapy.
Being a cancer patient brings significant stress related to the diagnosis, treatment preparation, and increasing fatigue. However, those with thyroid cancer show significantly higher stress scores compared to the normal population, and similar or higher scores than other cancer patients.
Contributing to these increased stress levels is the isolation of treatment—the radioactive iodine treatment makes the patient slightly radioactive for a week, requiring them to be isolated from their friends, family members, and medical staff for this time. This isolation at a time when they need support the most can worsen the patient’s mental well-being.
Lee et al. evaluated the effects of guided imagery on stress and fatigue in thyroid cancer patients undergoing radioactive iodine therapy after thyroidectomy. The experimental group listened to a guided imagery CD daily for four weeks and saw a significant decrease in stress and fatigue. These results suggest that guided imagery is an effective intervention in thyroid cancer patients to reduce stress and fatigue that can be completed even when they are in isolation.
4. Guided Imagery Can Enhance Attentional Control
Improved attentional control has been associated with better academic and job performance and professional success. It also allows for better problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution. Interestingly, recent research has examined how techniques that reduce stress and anxiety also improve attentional control, and a study by Zemia et al. explored this relationship.
The connection between stress and attentional control centers around the type of brain wave emitted. In particular, an increase in alpha brain waves indicates a relaxed mood, with these waves declining when an individual is stressed. In addition to representing a relaxed state, the alpha frequency is associated with a higher rate of information processing.
The study by Zemia et al. examined the participant’s brainwave activity during guided imagery and found that guided imagery increases alpha wavelengths, producing a relaxed mind. In addition, participants completed attentional tests after undergoing visualization and saw an increase in performance.
The findings of this study, as one of only a few on guided visualization’s influence on attentional control, are a notable advancement in our understanding of the modality’s wide-reaching impact.
5. Guided Imagery-Induced Relaxation Improves Physical and Psychological Symptoms in Chemotherapy Patients
Breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy commonly experience physical and psychological distress, which can include insomnia, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, numbness, change in appearance, depression, and anxiety. However, complementary therapies have been shown to relieve this discomfort, with guided imagery offering the ability to reduce emotional stress and fatigue in a manner convenient for patients to employ.
A study by Chen et al. examined the effect of guided imagery-induced relaxation on the physical and psychological symptoms of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The 65 participants were randomly assigned to two groups; both groups received chemotherapy self-care education, but one also received guided imagery training alongside a disc with guided imagery that was to be completed for 20 minutes each day, the seven days after chemotherapy.
The group receiving guided visualization experienced significant decreases in pain, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, showing that just one week of guided visualization can significantly improve the well-being of breast cancer patients as they undergo life-saving treatment.
The Calming Power of Guided Visualization
Guided visualization offers a unique method of improving well-being, focused on actively imagining vivid sensory experiences. This can produce powerful results, including a reduction of pain, anxiety, and depression in people receiving hemodialysis, cancer treatment, and endoscopy procedures. Reducing stress also allows for these procedures to be more successful by lessening complications and making people more willing and likely to participate.
Furthermore, guided imagery, by reducing stress, has also been shown to improve attentional control, leading to better executive functioning. Higher attentional control has also been associated with better school and work performance.
To help best prepare for procedures and experience an easier recovery, guided visualization can be a valuable practice to try!
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Read more in our series highlighting recent research on guided visualization’s effect on health and well-being below:
References
Yaser Beizaee, Nahid Rejeh, Majideh Heravi-Karimooi, Seyed Davood Tadrisi, Griffiths, P., & Mojtaba Vaismoradi. (2018). The effect of guided imagery on anxiety, depression and vital signs in patients on hemodialysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 33, 184–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.10.008
Azam Shamekhi, Moosaalreza Tadayonfar, Sedighe Rastaghi, & Molavi, M. (2019). Comparison of the effect of video education and guided imagery on patient anxiety before endoscopy. 30(1). https://doi.org/10.35841/biomedicalresearch.30-19-036
Mi Hye Lee, Kim, D.-H., & Hak Sun Yu. (2013). The Effect of Guided Imagery on Stress and Fatigue in Patients with Thyroid Cancer Undergoing Radioactive Iodine Therapy. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/130324
Zemla, K., Grzegorz Sedek, Krzysztof Wróbel, Filip Postepski, & Wojcik, G. M. (2023). Investigating the Impact of Guided Imagery on Stress, Brain Functions, and Attention: A Randomized Trial. Sensors, 23(13), 6210–6210. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23136210
Chen, S. F., Wang, H. H., Yang, H. Y., & Chung, U. L. (2015). Effect of Relaxation With Guided Imagery on The Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal, 17(11), e31277. https://doi.org/10.5812/ircmj.31277
