Autogenic Training and Stress Management Strategies - Coursework Example

AUTOGENIC TRAINING The purpose of the present study is to measure the history and nature of autogenetic training on the one hand and its significance and relevant strategies applied during the technique on the other. The study has elaborated how different techniques are applied to cure and relax the individuals from anxiety and nervous strain in a systematic way and how the strategic plans are developed while examining the nature and condition of different individuals. Methods of autogenic therapy have also been elaborated in the study. The theories articulated, researches made and the discussions conducted in this regard are also the part of the present paper. The effectiveness of the technique and its popularity in the modern age are also the part of the paper under discussion. Before embarking upon the topic under study, it would be appropriate to define some terms used in the present paper. Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis is a method for the investigation of mental processes inaccessible by other means. At the same time, psychoanalysis is also a therapeutic method for neurotic disorders. (freudfile.org/psychoanalysis/definition.html). In other words, psychoanalysis simply means application of an in-depth analysis of human mind and emotions which are helpful in exploring fears, dreams, wishes and anxieties hidden in his subconscious. Stress: Stress is the bodys response to any demand or pressure. (Smith & Pergola). In other words, stress is the reaction of any unpleasant load out of fear and anxiety that tells upon mind and body resulting into imbalance and uneven mental condition of the individual. Mental unevenness paves the way towards physical sickness and ailment. Strategy: Strategy is the term that signifies policy making and planning in order to achieve some specific goals. It serves as a guideline while solving the problems and meeting with the goals. Similarly, therapeutic strategic management defines the systematic way of managing the outline leading towards ultimate relaxation free from mental and physical stress and retardations. INTRODUCTION The contemporary world is the world of explorations and scientific revolutions in all professional fields, which has introduced various methods and procedures to make life more and more comfortable and relaxed one. Professionalism in every department and inclusion of specialists in all areas has provided the individuals with opportunities of broad and comprehensive counseling related to both their private and professional life. The services of experienced professionals are sought out for the solution of problems and even while selecting the career and seeking medical cure. Trained counselors and practitioners help an individual, group of individuals and family members gain self-understanding and understanding of others in order to solve problems more effectively and resolve conflicts in everyday living. (Nugent, 1990:3) The developments in the fields of health and medical treatment are also noteworthy in this regard. As Nature has gifted man with countless capabilities of head and heart, which he applies to bring improvements in his health and fitness for leading calm and organized life, a variety of methods have been devised and plenty of techniques have been introduced for the mental and physical wellbeing of the people at large. Professional counseling and therapeutic devices are also the part of this process, which support individuals maintain their fitness and improve their health. Autogenic training is also one of these strategies and devices of utmost worth. Autogenic training refers to the relaxation methodology that is applied to the patients and individuals undergoing mental and physical exertion in order to support them manage and maintain balance between their mind and body and soothe themselves to work and perform their obligations of everyday routine life properly. The foundation of the training rests on Prof Vogt’s researches on mental and emotional problems faced by the individuals, which state that verbal exercises can be beneficial in mitigating mental and physical disorders. Developed in the early 20th century, autogenetic technique is based upon passive concentration and awareness of body sensations. Through repetition of so-called autogenic "formulas" one focuses upon different sensations, such as warmth or heaviness, in different regions of the body. (Medicinenet.com) The autogenetic therapeutic technique is attributed to German psychiatrist Johannes Schultz, who exercised the methodology on the patterns of hypnotism in 1920 and brought to the limelight in 1932 when the technique was first published. Dr Shultz went on to develop a series of six Standard Autogenic Formulae - which still form the core of Autogenic Training and Therapy today. A book was published in 1932, and the training of teacher grew from there. (Complementary Health and Alternative Medicine.htm) Autogenetic therapy lays stress on soothing the mind by light exercises and relaxation strategies. It suggests methods of acquiring satisfaction and relief by remaining alone for 15 to 20 minutes in some lonely place focusing concentration on one specific point and feeling that some region of the body is going warmer or heavier in comparison with other parts of body. The training sessions may be once a day or more even. The studies also propose lonely traveling and walk etc as the part of the autogenetic stress relief formula. The main objective behind the philosophy is to relieve the mind from tensions and turmoil of different kinds. As it is brain that commands, controls and regulates the activities and performances of all the physical organs, thus in order to remain the body strong and active, the most imperative thing is keeping the mind cheerful, relaxed and happy. The therapists, during autogenic therapeutic procedure, suggest different physical positions, including lying and sitting in an extremely relaxed form by loosening all limbs and meditating in loneliness as well as in group. Autogenetic therapy, according to Wikipedia Encyclopedia, consists of one on one as well as group of six to eight people which are given same or different commands to stay and get relief. This strategy is effective in making connection between mind and body in such a way that brain gets complete relaxation and its influence turns the whole body calm, unperturbed and steady in a pleasant way. Increase in domestic tensions, change in family life-style, unbalance population ratio, growing rates of unemployment, divorce and crime, and presence of multicultural societies leading towards religious, racial, cultural and regional conflicts have enhanced the mental retardation causing unabated mental stress and physical ailments. Social and financial organizations lay stress on the mental health and fitness of the individuals and workers. It has boosted up the significance of autogenetic training, where individuals can attain relaxation and relief in a friendly and natural environment. People are in more need of consulting psychoanalysts and mental health practitioners to obtain relief from their anxieties and frustrations. Telepathy, yoga, hypnotism, reiki, and others are also the schemes recommended by autogenesis methodology. Autogenetic therapy demands for a calm and peaceful place to meditate and relax for nearly half an hour during one session. This therapeutic relationship is based on self generating schemes inviting the individuals searching out the matters telling upon their nerves and challenging their concentration. Autogenetic therapist tries to relax the individuals by finding out anxieties and emotional condition an individual is suffering from. “A therapeutic relationship”, Potter & Perry view, “develops over time, has an emotional connection, is a deliberate, planned professional nursing and psychoanalysis intervention and is reciprocal.” (1997:233). In other words, therapeutic relationship exists between clinical staff and individuals for the recovery of the latter to normal health situation. Techniques have been devised and methods have been formulated to soothe the stressed and rehabilitate the addicts so that not only the sufferers and their families can lead a respectable and peaceful life, but also society can be protected from crimes, deviancies, perversion and turmoil. The services of professional medical specialists and psychiatrists are acquired and therapeutic practices are sought in this respect. STRATEGIES AND METHODS FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT Autogenetic training has introduced some specific methods and strategies to manage and evade stress and frustration. Researches have shown the facts that stress, strain and mental frustrations can be combated properly if all such uneven situations are planned and managed in an effective way. Autogenetic therapy presents some suggestions to enable individuals manage the stresses and get rid of them with the help of techniques used in the process. While elaborating different methods of autogenic therapy, biofeedback, neurofeedback and pranayama are proposed the best methods of autogenetic therapy. In biofeedback therapy, the practitioner is urged to get mental and physical relief by acquiring signals from his body. Biofeedback ought to be inspiring for both clinicians and clients, and biofeedback instruments need to be entertaining, challenging, supportive, and flexible. (Wall, 1997) Biofeedback helps the practitioners in respect of maintain command over physical processes, while neurofeedback is highly supportive in regulating nerves and muscles of the body. Though the methodology requires quiet and peaceful atmosphere to work on, yet journey of bus and train can also be experienced provided individual maintains command over closing his eyes and thinking upon some specific area of interest without interruption or disturbance. In autogenetic methodology, deep breathing, slow inhaling and exhaling and pondering on ones previous experiences are recommended. Autogenetic methods manage to regulate the thoughts of the individuals in such a way that he can get control over ignoring unwanted and unnecessary things from his mind. Regular exercises of meditation help him mitigate negative emotions and disappointment from the mind. The first and foremost thing to get relief from mental disturbance, according to this technique, is to find out the nature and cause of the tension. A problem assessed is half redressed. Researches declare both internal and external factors causing mental disturbance, stress and frustration. Light physical exercise and walk is considered as an effective technique to reduce anxiety. Sitting in an autogenic session in a contemplative way focuses mans concentration and he can find out the basic reasons hurting his mind and detracting his focus. During the autogenic session, some repetitive commands force man feel regarding some specific par of his body warmer or heavier. Such practices and training sessions help the individuals overcome the causes of stress and tension. Johri considers it a primary thing to determine which thing stresses a person. He also indicates the major reasons of stress an overwhelming majority usually undergoes. Time pressure, competition, financial problems, noise and disappointment are, according to him, include basic causes of frustration among the masses. (2007) He also points out solutions for the management of mental frustrations. Awareness of root-cause leading towards stress and analysis of changes bring about in order to evade the tensions are effective methods in this regard. Autogenetic therapy offers a comprehensive scheme to adopt both the ways in a relaxed atmosphere under the supervision of the specialist in respect of attaining satisfaction and avoiding tensions. Atkins has specified easy ways to attain relief from anxiety. She views traveling by bus or train a useful strategy of seeking relief. Your daily commute by public transport can become a blissful experience. (Atkins, 2007) Moreover, walk, mental brooding, sports and light exercises are also recommended methods of autogenetic therapy. Individuals mind is a complex whole and maintains amalgamation of countless worries. These worries may haunt the mind especially in loneliness. It is therefore studies look for the company of individuals favorite people where he can exchange his views and share the ideas prevailing in his heart and inducing his mind. Individuals may seek the persons and atmosphere of their own interest to be forgetful of the tensions haunting their minds. It is therefore there should be no hesitation while revealing the causes of stress to the therapist. The relationship between the counselor and patient is one of the most important things in the rehabilitation process. Bell and Montoya (1997) compare it to the relationship between child and his parents. (Quoted in Doweiko, 2006:365). CONCLUSION Psychology is one of the ancient most disciplines of knowledge and learning which seeks its roots in ancient logic and philosophy. It is the in-depth and systematic study of soul and mind In other words, the subject discusses the nature and emotions of human mind. The subject has observed long historical development process and elaborated various aspects of human soul and mind as well. Since autogenetic therapy is part of psychology, it aims at alleviating distress and turmoil from minds of the individuals. Mild, soft and curative techniques make it an easy and acceptable method of getting mental relief from stress and disturbances. But long patience and regular exercises of self generating methodology are necessary for the successful performance of the therapy. The autogenetic methods sought remarkable popularity and fame all over the globe. Individuals are fed up of hard exercises and side effects of medicines of high potency, which may jeopardize the health of their stomach, kidneys and other parts by decreasing immunity and natural efficiency of health control. It is therefore they look for such light and easy physical exercises suggested and advised by the autogenetic clinicians and therapists. BIBLIOGRAPHY Fiona Atkins. Turn Your Daily Commute Into Your Daily Meditation (Quoted in chisuk.org.uk/articles/result.php?key=295) Frank A. Nugent. An Introduction to the Professional Counseling. Merrill Publishing Company. Columbus. 1990 P. Potter & A. Perry. Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice, (4t h edition) St. Louis, MO: Mosby Yearbook, (1997). Stephen E. Wall. Looking Ahead New Frontiers in Biofeedback. (1997) (Quoted in.7hz.com/3Frontiers.html) Madhup Johri. Stress Management Strategy and Techniques. 2007 (Quoted in http://www.csbsju.edu/academicadvising/help/stresmgt.htm) D.C Bell, I.D Montoya, & J.S. Atkinson Protecting Oneself from Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Are Prevention Messages Being Heard? the University of Chicago Press(1997) Harold E. Doweiko. Concepts of Chemical Dependency Wadsworth Pub Co. ISBN: 053463284X (2006). http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000001-d000100/d000008/d000008.html http://www.humanlinks.com/manres/articles/stress_management.htm Read More