Introduction:

Autogenic training (AT) is a relaxation technique developed by German psychiatrist Johannes Heinrich Schultz and was first published in 1932. Since that time, it has been widely used in clinical practice and research to foster the mind’s ability to produce relaxation in this reflects the ability to self-produce a relaxed feeling of warmth and heaviness throughout the body by saying various verbal phrases aimed at encouraging a state of physical relaxation and emotional calm. It is considered a form of self-hypnosis and is used to increase relaxation and restore balance in the body. It is a technique often recommended when a health issue is present and when stress is a contributing factor to producing or maintaining health issues. The body. Autogenic means self-generating, or produced from within.

Specific phases of Autogenic training:

The core of AT is standard exercises that focus on six physical manifestations of relaxation in the body:

1. Heaviness in the musculoskeletal system
2. Warmth in the circulatory system
3. Awareness of the heartbeat
4. Slowing down the breath
5. Relaxing the abdomen
6. Cooling the forehead

How is it taught?

AT can be taught in individual sessions, and it is frequently used in group treatment. Training is best done while sitting or lying in a comfortable position, as it allows the mind and body to switch off the sympathetic fight/flight/freeze stress response and restore the parasympathetic rest, recuperation, and recovery response. It is recommended that a person learn AT with a licensed professional. They can help explore positive relaxation responses experienced with AT, process any possible negative initial relaxation responses, and examine ways to enhance motivation for practice. It typically takes several training sessions to master AT, and without regular practice, it is not likely to have an effect. Success with AT requires motivation and commitment to practice regularly.

Benefits of Autogenic training:

Autogenic training could consistently and significantly reduce some symptoms of anxiety. Conditions such as social anxiety disorder (SAD), general anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, and insomnia can benefit from autogenic training, Autogenic training is also helpful in managing daily stress and it can even be helpful during panic attacks.

Drawbacks:

Autogenic training should not replace your current treatment plan. If you’re participating in psychotherapy or taking medication for anxiety, autogenic training should be used in addition to your current treatment.

Conclusion:

Autogenic training is a relaxation technique that can help lower stress levels and promote a feeling of calm in the mind and body.

Although this method is useful on its own for minor stress reduction and basic relaxation exercises, autogenic training should not replace psychotherapy or medication for mental health conditions.

Introduction:

Animal therapy or pet therapy refers to the use of animals as a way to help people cope with and recover from some physical and mental health conditions.

Animals may be able to provide comfort, alert others if someone is in danger, or even perform direct actions to help a person’s condition when they are in need. It is a type of complementary or alternative therapy. It should augment but not replace other treatments

Animal assisted therapy helps the patients by:

• reducing boredom
• increasing movement and activity through walks and play
• providing companionship and decreasing loneliness
• increasing social interactions
• improving mood and general well-being

Goals of Animal assisted therapy:

Animal therapy can have several goals, and these will determine how it works. The type of therapy and target for this therapy may change depending on the condition and the type of aid that a person needs. Some examples include:

• providing comfort and reducing levels of pain
• improving movement or motor skills
• developing social or behavioral skills
• increasing motivation toward activities such as exercise or interacting with others

Improves physical health:

Some forms of animal therapy may also help with markers of physical conditions, including:

• epilepsy
• heart failure
• pain from cancer treatment
• postoperative recovery
• recovery after a major stroke or another condition that causes a person to lose motor skills

Improves mental health

• decreasing anxiety and stress
• decreasing perceptions of pain
• reducing feelings of fear or worry
• increasing feelings of social support
• providing motivation, stimulation, and focus

Risks of animal assisted therapy:

While animal therapy may be helpful for people with certain health issues, it may not be right for everyone.

Some people may be allergic to the animals that commonly play a role in therapy.

Others may simply be uncomfortable with or afraid of the animals. They may not choose this type of therapy as it would cause them more stress.

Conclusion:

Animal therapy is a complementary treatment. It is not a basis for the treatment of any condition and should only enhance or complement other treatment. It is not a replacement for other forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy or physical therapy.

This form of therapy might not suit everyone, however. People who do not respond well to animal therapy or are not interested in trying it may ask about other options. These alternatives will vary depending on the person’s condition.

Introduction:

Bibliotherapy is a therapy where the use of literature helps people cope with emotional problems, mental illness, or changes in their lives.  The underlying foundation of bibliotherapy is that clients identify with literary characters similar to themselves, an association that helps the clients release emotions, gain new directions in life, and explore new ways of interacting. Teenage readers, for example, may feel relief that they are not the only ones facing a specific problem. They learn vicariously how to solve their problems by reflecting on how the characters in the book solve theirs

Basic stages in bibliotherapy:

Generally, activities in bibliotherapy are designed to:

• provide information
• provide insight
• stimulate discussion about problems
• communicate new values and attitudes
• create awareness that other people have similar problems
• provide realistic solutions to problems

Benefits and limitations of bibliotherapy:

In addition to the “how” of conducting bibliotherapy, practitioners also need to be aware of potential benefits and pitfalls associated with this procedure. Bibliotherapy has obvious value in that it provides the opportunity for the participants to recognize and understand themselves, their characteristics, and the complexity of human thought and behavior. It may also promote social development as well as the love of literature in general, and reading in particular.  It reduces feelings of isolation that may be felt by people with problems.

The effectiveness of bibliotherapy, however, may be limited by the accessibility of materials on certain topics, as well as the lack of client readiness and willingness to read. It may backfire when subjects project their own motives onto characters and thus reinforce their own perceptions and solutions.  In addition, participants may be defensive, thus discounting the actions of characters and failing to identify with them, or even end up using them as scapegoats.

Conclusion:
Bibliotherapy is a potentially powerful method for school teachers and counselors to use on many levels and in every school grade. In order to establish a strong bibliotherapy program in an institution, practitioners must present the procedure as a non-threatening one; by let us say calling the process biblioguidance.  They must also solicit the input and advice of colleagues, parents, and administrators. In addition, they must always be vigilant to the limitations of bibliotherapy.

Tremendous strides have been made in Genetics recently.  There has been an explosion of information regarding the D.N.A. & R.N.A. (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID AND RIBONUCLEIC ACID).  Cloning experiments have conclusively proved that all the necessary information required for the creation of the human body is stored in the Genes.  Now experiments are being done to complete the Genome mapping of the human body and a day is not far away when gene therapy will cure cancers, diabetes, collagen disorders and will identify whether an unborn fetus is likely to be a genius or an idiot and what disease it is likely to suffer from in the future. It will also be possible for creating a human race with perfect bodies.  Genetics has recognized that it is a faulty gene that causes cancers and several incurable crippling diseases and fatal diseases.

There have also been tremendous strides in HOLISITIC MEDICINE.  More and more people are taking recourse to Alternative Medicine; like Yoga, Meditation, Relaxation techniques, making diet and life style changes and there is conclusive evidence that these therapies work and scores of patients have had miraculous remissions from cancers and other serious diseases.  Of course, this makes Allopaths very uneasy, and the term spontaneous remission is commonly used to explain these so called ‘miraculous cures’.

Disease according to Holistic Medicine is an unnatural condition of the body, because Holism believes that the body was created by nature to experience bliss and not pain or suffering.  Holistic experts believe that negative emotions and living a life not in tune with nature is the main cause of disease.

The purpose of this human life is to attain liberation and bliss.  To that end both Genetics and Holistic Medicine pursue the same goal.  Although, there are no clear cut answers yet, it is clear that Holistic Medicine somehow corrects the faulty genes and compels the DNA-RNA to make the necessary changes to affect a cure. Time has come for Holistic Medicine to be taken more seriously and be integrated with Orthodox medicine so that it can be researched and practiced objectively.