Patient was instructed today regarding symbolic imagery technique for anxiety management as follows:
- Symbolic imagery is a technique of anxiety management, in which you train the mind to have an annoying sensation, such as loud sound of an alarm or phone ring or bright painful light, represent your anxiety.
- Make sure you have the control to change the intensity of this annoying sensation.
- After you successfully associate your anxiety with this irritating sensation, try reducing the intensity of this sensation, by reducing the volume on the alarm or by dimming the bright light.
- This mindful association of anxiety with the annoying sensation and willful diminishing of the intensity of the sensation, will help associate your mind with diminished anxiety.
- Relaxing into the diminished intensity of annoying stimulus and thereby, into the diminished intensity of anxiety, will help you experience relief with anxiety and distress, thus helping with anxiety management.
