Using a child's imagination to conquer pain

Guided imagery and relaxation exercises are the focus of the get-your-child-to-sleep techniques in The Floppy Sleep Game Book, added to the Harried Parent's Book Club this week. But could that same strategy help children suffering from the pain and anxiety of surgery? Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center say it can. They trained young patients in guided imagery and provided them with tapes to help lead their imaginations to places far from the painful realities of surgery, and found that the children reported feeling less pain and anxiety. Whether most hospitals will be able to implement a program to adequately train children in these techniques, and whether it really makes a meaningful difference in the level of pain children feel, remains to be seen. But it may be worth looking into for parents of children who frequently undergo uncomfortable procedures, and who may be able to work with their kids at home to harness those young imaginations. ... More on medical issues