Dear Dr. Shalif, I have Raynaud's and have noticed how not only cold temperates bring on an attack but how it is linked with emotional stress. It was exciting to learn how biofeedback might help me to control these episodes of losing circulation in my fingers. The use of nifidipine caused me to have serious headaches so I stopped taking this medication and tried to avoid getting cold hands. Now I experience the Raynaud's during stressful negative experiences, the latest of which was one of the most severe that it frightened me because the attack lasted over 6 hours and left my right baby finger discoloured like a bruise. I hope to discover how to help myself avoid negative stress and intend to study your most gracious information. I shall contact you with any success I might have. P.... P....Hi P. P.
Ilan Shalif (Ph.D.)
*********************************************************************
On Tue, 12 Nov 96 C. J. wrote:
Sir:
My name is C... J... and I have a 10 year old son with A.D.D
(Attention Deficit Disorder). He was on Ritalin for two years
when he developed at Terret (sp) syndrome tick in his face that
escalated .......... Needless to say he was taken off that
medication fast. He now is taking Tofranil but this dosn"t seem
to do a very good job.
...................
I saw a program on television about how bio-feedback was
beening used with a lot of success with A.D.D. and A.D.H.D.
children.
I downloaded your papers on bio-feedback and would like
your opinion and any information, and or help that you might be
able to give me on treating methods that I might persue to help
my son.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
C. J.
Hi C... J...
Ilan Shalif (Ph.D.)
*********************************************************************
On Mon, 25 Nov 96 L. C. wrote:
"Please e-mail me info about your natural biofeedback technique. I read with interest the information you had at your web site. I have ADD [Attention Deficit Disorder - I.S.] and have heared that biofeedback can help. The main symptom I would like to address is the random drifting of my mind. One minute I'm thinking one thing and several minutes later I will wake up an find I have been daydreaming for 10 minutes. Can your technique help me? Please e-mail a reply to ..." Thank you
Dear L. C.
1) It solves or at least improve "unfinished emotional business". Thus lessen the power of distractors of attention.
2) Investing efforts in paying attention to the bodily sensation strengthen the willful control of attention. (Improving the regulating processes involved.)
Ilan Shalif
*********************************************************
Dear L....
On Sat, 30 Nov 1996 you wrote:
> Dear Ilan,
> My name is L...., I am 4.., divorced, I have a son who is 2..
> years old and in the United States Forces .......
> I have suffered from depression since childhood. Sometimes it
> is worse than others.
> I am writing to you to ask you if focusing can heal the "pain
> of depression". I read most of your book and tried the focusing
> described. I have few physical pains, when I focus on whatever I
> can find, it quickly disappears. But I don't understand how
> "focusing" on physical pain can help the miserable emotional feeling
> I have.
> I'm missing something here. Can you help me?
> I have gone to phyciatrists, therapists, 12 step programs, I
> guess I have made some progress because there was a time when I
> could not even admit that I was depressed even though I was
> feeling that life was senseless. But I still have a long way to
> go and I don't know how to get there.
> I know you must be busy but I would so appreciate any help or advice
> you can give me.
> Thanks so much,
L....
Ilan
On Sun, 01 Dec 1996 L.... responded: Dear Ilan Thank You for responding to my email. Until I found your page on the net I thought my life would never be any better but now I have hope. It means so much to me that you responded. I will do as you say and from time to time I will email you of my progress. Thank you for this "HOPE", L....Hi M...********************************************************
On Thu, 26 Dec 1996 M. wrote: Hi my name is M...., Will this process of biofeedback help for people with add/adhd. And can they be cured from add/adhd by using this method.
Ilan Shalif (Ph.D.)
On Thu, 26 Dec 1996 M... responded: Thank You for your reply. I really enjoy. On Mon, 30 Dec 1996 M.... wrote again: Hi what section can I read for the mind. Meaning what section can I read for to get started; people with add/adhd without reading the whole section.Hi. M...
On Mon, 30 Dec 1996 M... responded:
Thank You for helping me.
********************************************************
On Sat, 28 Dec 1996 R... P... wrote:
Is it possible to control blood glucose levels with biofeedback?
What about without instruments??
Hi R... P...
Ilan Shalif
You CAN teach old dog new tricks BUT it takes allot of effort.
So pay attention to the pleasant and unpleasant
bodily sensations... and the troubles will
start to take care of themselves.
*****************************************************
On Tue, 21 Jan 1997 S. wrote:
I enjoyed your booklet that I downloaded. I live in NYC.
Do you know any "coaches" you can recommend in this area?
Hi S.
Ilan Shalif (Psychological Ph.D.)
down-load site - http://www.etext.org/Psychology/Shalif
*****************************************************
On Sun, 26 Jan 1997 I. L. wrote
Dear Dr. Shalif, What to focus on? How do you hit a moving
target?
Whipped Around
***************************************************** On Tue, 11 Feb 1997 F. W. wrote: Dear Dr. Ilan, I just came across your article in the net about doing biofeedback without equipment. It is so kind of you to publish this kind of article in the net free. I'm new to biofeedback, I'd like to try the techniques you presented. before I start I'd like to ask if biofeedback is suitable to my situation. I have some slight tremor with both of my hand which is tolerable when not working or working alone, but will be quite difficult when I'm asked to sigh/write something before other person. can biofeedback improve my situation? did you have similar cases? I'm sorry to distrub you with my own problem, I really need some help on this as it has given a lot of inconvenience to my life. thanks, Dr. Ilan, hope to hear from you soon, bye. F. ______________________________________Dear F. W.
So pay attention to the pleasant and unpleasant
bodily sensations... and the troubles
will take care of themselves.
*****************************************************
On Fri, 04 Apr 1997 K. wrote: Maybe you can clear something up for me as far as ADD is concerned. While my mom was pregnant with me she had a thyroid problem. The doctors did X-rays and made her drink radium even though they knew she was pregnant. Several weeks later they told her to have an abortion and she refused (thanks to her strong religious back ground). In my research I have noticed minimal brain damage and ADD placed in the same category and even talked about as if they were interchangeable. How can ADD be considered as minimal brain damage if it is hereditary? I can see where I would have brain damage but where did my dad get it? He was clearly born with ADD because he exhibited the acute sense now related to ADD. When he was several years old he had Gillian Barre Syndrome which does not cause brain damage but does cause loss of motor skills. So how can ADD be considered as both hereditary and minimal brain damage? Where is the logic behind this? I'm sorry but I generally feel the need to find a logical explanation for EVERYTHING. Thanks for your time!!! K.
Ilan
So pay attention to the pleasant and unpleasant
bodily sensations... and the troubles
will take care of themselves
********************************************************
On Sun, 18 May 1997 C. W. wrote:
i downloaded your book several months ago and found it fascinating.
i had read Gendlin and found his technique hard to do. i practiced
for about three weeks and began to feel so much more relaxed. i went
from about 2 packs of cigarettes to about 9 a day. then, in my
opinion my main trash program went to work. ("trash program" a
concept from the self-help book, labeling a kind of activating
pattern of the mind/brain I. S.)
i got a very bad cold that lasted three weeks. when it was over i
found that even though i wanted to practuce focusing, something kept
me from doing it. anyway i know it is up to me to do the program and
i am slowly struggling to adopt it into my lif again.
my question and its not a problem. i just wondered what is going on.
when i focus my attention on my diaphram, it immediately begin to
yawn with every breath i take as long as my attention is there. i
guess i am just curious about what is there, even though i know that
is not important. thank you for any feedback you can give me.
sincerely, c. w.
Hi C. W. Thanks for the feedback.
***************************************************
On Tue, 3 Jun 1997 J. K. wrote: Your technology looks very promising. Do you know of any glaucoma cases that improved using your process? Thank you, J. K.Hi J. K.
***************************************************
On Mon, 16 Jun 97 I.J. K. wrote: In Nov., l993, my wife fell on her head and suffered brain stem injury which has resulted in almost constant headaches and a definite reduction of her cognitive functioning. So much so that she was forced to leave her elementary teaching position after thirty- nine years. My question is: Would biofeed- back help my wife? I would appreciate your comment and also where your book can be pur- chased Thank you. I.J. K.Hi I.J. K.
There are good news and bad news.
Ilan Shalif
***************************************************
Subject: Biofeedback, Smoking & High Blood Pressure On Thu, 19 Jun 1997 S. H. wrote: Dear Dr. Shalif: I have high BP and have to quit smoking. Not smoking creates anxity and the BP goes up. I am hoping that by using Biofeeback I will learn to reduce the anxiety and when I feel that I want to smoke I can learn to control the tension. If you have any additional suggestions for a beginner I would appreciate them. Being an artist I probably do have a more hyper personality than some others. Thank you, S. H.
How pity, there is not yet any simple instrument which measures the blood pressure continuously (with an instantaneous read out).
If you can use the available instruments to help you identify the bodily
sensations related to the high blood pressure, the task of lowering it by focusing the attention on it will be easier.
Other wise you will have to relay on the general improvement achieved
with the attending undiscriminately to all kinds of bodily sensations.
Feel free to post me any additional questions. I will be glad to receive feedback about the successes - small and big, achieved by your efforts.
Ilan Shalif (Psychological Ph.D.):
download site - http://www.etext.org/Psychology/Shalif
***************************************************
On Mon, 11 Aug 1997 U. wrote: I would just like to ask you if you think your technique would be good for me. I believe that it is stress that causing the ringing in my ears. When I wake up, the ringing is 99% gone, but as I go through the day it gets louder and at night, it's at it's peak. I have a stressful job and that's one of the reasons why the noise level I believe goes up. I have developed this problem about 3 months ago. It started when I listened to a loud speaker for about 15 to 20 min. But I don't think I was hurt that much, considering that the ringing is not even worth talking about in the morning. I believe that I have learned a very bad habit that I can't seem to get out of. Also you speak of focusing on the problem itself, do you think I should be focusing on the ringing, if so, should I do it when it gets loud or as soon as I wake up? Your answer will be greatly appreciated.Hi U.
Ilan Shalif (Alternative Psychologist)
**************************************************
On Sat, 20 AUG 1997 I responded to J. V. post:
> Dear Ilan,
> a lot of thanks for your guide through the focusing
> technique, published on the Internet. My name is J,
> I am male, Czech, 55 years old, working in the
> computer area.
> I appreciate your fight for the independence from gurus,
> "specialists" and from all other manipulators.
> Please, could you kindly give me your opinion?
> When I am focusing places of my pains or bad feelings,
> I can not help myself, I try to relax this area, to
> quiet it. According a minor problems, discomforts, they
> dissolve after that very quickly.
> But the most painful place, the pain behind my ayes,
> accompanying the headache, is very resistant. The pain
> forces me to quiet and relax this area. Is it bad, good
> or is it my choose?
> What do you think about?
> Ilan, thank you very much for your answer.
> Regards
> J.
Ilan Shalif (Alternative Psychologist)
ilan@shalif.com
http://members.tripod.com/~alternativ_psy/
http://flag.blackened.net/ishalif/anarchy.html
download site: http://www.etext.org/Psychology/Shalif
*****************************************************
On Sat, 18 Oct 1997 J.B. wrote:
Hi, My name is J. B. I have been thinking
of quitting smoking. But the problem i have right
know is that i am living with someone that smoke's.
You are probably wondering why i dont move, well
the reason for that is because i dont have that
kind of money.I really would like to stop smoking
but like i said before i am living with a friend
that smokes and when i asked him if you would stop
if i stopped he said no.The reason he said no is
because he wants to get to heaven quicker.I want to
stop smoking ,the reason for this is because;
1. I feel really weak lately
2. I cant concentrate like i used to.
3. I smoke too much like 2 to 4 packs a day.
4. I sleep ok but when i get in the morning i
feel like garbage.I dont feel refreshed.
5. I feel like i am dieing anymore.(I hope that
didn't sound strange)
6. I get headaches alot
Well those are the reasons i wish i could just stop.
I tried the Gum (Nicorete) which didnt work.When i
dont have a cigarette i get a very short Fuse.Well
thats all for now.
Signed: J. B.
*****************************************************
Dear U. You wrote:
> I have been reading your book that you published on the
> Internet; at this point I have read most of it. I have
> a ringing in the ear problem that has been going on for
> about 6 months.
Ringing in the ear(s) is very common. Most people experience it for
short periods - especially at moments of low environmental sound
stimuli (silence).
In medical vocabulary it is usually called "Tinitus". It can be caused
by medical (health) problems of various bodily systems - especially
the one involved in the (auditory) sense of hearing.
> I also have been going to stress management counciling.
> Which by the way has been helping, but I feel that your
> method would be the final answer to my predicament.
Ringing in the ear, whatever the reason for it can me influenced by
various physiological, psychosomatic and psychological factors and
processes.
ANY thing that lower stress may help to reduce stress, but, few
methods are better, less unpleasant, more efficient, etc. (and
cheaper) than others.
Biofeedback and more so biofeedback without instruments (which use the
ringing as the measure of itself) may help.
> The ringing in the ear is psychosomatic, I know this
> because, on some days the noise is completely gone.
> But it comes back, the way it's been going is two
> days good, one day bad.
Though it seems to be psychosomatic, precautions should be taken, as
there may be a physiological problem at the base of the ringing.
Medical examination is recommended, even if the ringing disappear
after short period of focusing.
> For about a week, I have been focusing, using
> your method. At this point I have not been able
> to make it disappear, by the focusing method.
> In the past I have managed to actually focus the
> noise down to nothing, but unforuanately I really
> can't put my finger on how I achieved this, and it
> was done quite by accident.
When one focus the attention on a sensation related to a problem, the
sensation may take it's time. As one is working on the sensation
indirectly - by activation and changing various processes mostly
unidentified, one can never be sure...
Sometimes minimal efforts bring fast change in a big problem...
sometimes lots of efforts dedicated to a minor problem take long time
of focusing.
> I feel I have the ability, but what my question to
> you is, during the focusing are you supposed to
> bring the sound down to zero in one sitting, or
> is this a gradual thing?
When focusing on a sensation which is not related to a severe health
problem (not related to the heart or similar ones) it is better to
prolong the focusing as long as possible. The sensation itself is like
the peak of an iceberg visible above the water while the bulk of the
mass is below the surface... While you focus on the sensation, the
mending processes are "working" on the invisible and unconscious
processes whose expression is the ringing. Thus, the longer you focus
on the ringing and other sensations the more you invest in the
improvement of the underlying processes.
> Does it slowly over time lower in volume?
> Can you give me any hints as to what I could
> be doing, either better, or what I am not
> doing properly?
You can expect that any problematic aspect you work on will improve
and every unwanted sensation will be less intense, less frequent and
even disappear for long stretches of time... But, it is hard to
predict how fast or how much efforts need each problem. (More detailed
explanations and tips you may find in the texts on my site.)
> You also mention in the book that with
> psychosomatic problems, that it could take
> sometime to achieve relief, do you think
> I'm being overly optimistic?
Usually, a beginning of relief is already felt some where during the
first three weeks of focusing. The occurrence of more significant
improvements depend on the specific problem, the amount of problems
one has to begin with and the amount of efforts invested in the
focusing endeavor.
> My current methods for focusing are, when
> the noise is loud or soft on any particular
> day I still focus, I close my eyes and zoom
> in on the noise, you mention in the book that
> it may be hard to pinpoint the target, but for
> me it's easy. Next I focus for two minutes at a
> time or maybe a little longer, is this enough time,
> should I do it for a longer time or shorter time? I
> also focus about 5 to 10 time a day, is this too
> many times or not enough?
The longer the better, the more you invest, the more will accumulate
the improvements, the faster you get rid of the recurrent ringing.
Along the years, many hundreds of trainees focussed on many problems.
Few (included me) even invested few hours a day - in time dedicated to
focusing or in parallel to other activities... no one of us suffered
from any negative result of too much focusing.
> I have great hope in your focusing technique and
> your reply will mean allot to me.
> Thank You.
Your communication is for me a significant gift, as only few of the
1500 visitors a month contact me and give feedback.
Thus, any one who do contact me is eligible for a weekly "supervision"
for the duration of the first period of focusing.
Ilan Shalif
*****************************************************
On 21 Nov 1997 U. responded and got the following answer:
Hi U.
> Thank you for writing back so soon.
> I have fairly good news, I sat in a chair by myself in the
> quite, and focused for a straight 25 minutes, once in a while
> I would loose focus, but I came right back. The volume in my
> ears was very loud, but after I guess 15 minutes, I brought it
> down about 50%. It did not last long, as I expected, but I
> was very happy that I had the capability to lower it at all.
> This was the first time I attempted to lower the volume when
> it was at it's fullest. This gives me new hope, and I think
> the overall level has gone down somewhat. I have noticed that
> if I don't have a good nights sleep, that the volume the next
> day is loud to somewhat loud.
> You cautioned me that this may not be a psychosomatic problem,
> and that it could be a medical one. Well to answer your
> question I have gone to 3 medical doctors and all 3 told me
> that medically there was nothing wrong with me. This is how
> I came to the conclusion that it's psychosomatic. And it all
> figures to be just that. I am continuing with the focusing,
> but I do notice that I have to be in a quite place in order to
> concentrate, I have not been able to focus in an area where
> people are talking, I suppose I will get to this level, but
> not right now.
> Would you say that with increased focusing, that when the
> level of noise is brought down, over time the effect of lowered
> volume would last longer than the first time which I talked
> about in this letter?
> You speak in your book about being very determined will I am
> very determined just like you and other you spoke about. I
> will beat this thing, someday, sometime.
> I hope I am not being too much of a bother to you, but I would
> like to keep touch, just until I get a good foot hold on
> focusing, and my problem. I didn't understand what you meant
> when you said, in the first period of focusing, that you would
> give me supervision, please explain.
> You are the only person I know who can give me the counseling
> I need on focusing at this time. Your patience is very much
> appreciated.
Ilan
******************************************************
On 30 Nov 1997 H. wrote:
Hi! I found your page on the web and as someone who has been into and read many self improvement things over the years, i was quite curious. As someone who loves to sing, I was especially interested when I saw a section in which you claim that it is relatively simple to improve the voice using your techniques. however, I wasn't really sure exactly what you are saying one should do to effect this change in the voice. Furthermore, most of my vocal problems seem to be due to things in my throat... phlegm, acid, or whatever that coat my vocal cords and tighten up my throat as a response. I have been taking medications for this on and off for years with little effect. Do you think that your techniques could help with this? i have dreamt to sing for a very long time but my voice is always too tight and messed up. Only when at its very very best is it good. Please write back and let me know. If you can help me with this you will have a loyal believer in your techniques :) Thanks you. H.Hi H. You wrote:
>...you claim that it is relatively simple to improve the
> voice using your techniques.
****************************************************************
On 01 Dec 1997 G. P. Wrote:
> Hi, I saw on TV that migraine headache can be treated with
> biofeedback excercises, basically working on the sympathetic
> nervous system that helps us deal with emergency situations.
> Where could I find information about it?
> Thank you,
> G. P.
Hi G. P.
Ilan Shalif (Psychological Ph.D. - Alternative Psychologist)
On 03 Dec 1997 M. M. wrote and I responded:
Hi M. M. You wrote:
> I've read your "General Sensate Focusing" book. I think it
> is very interesting, but when I tried to apply it to myself
> I've noticed a lack of physical sensations when I feel bad,...
> because my bad feelings are in cognition (bad thoughts and
> remembering bad situations in the past), but I can't locate any
> particular address of a bad sensaion.
> Am I wrong in something ? Can you help me ??
Ilan
********************************************************
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