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Success Stories
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Dear Aretoula,
I heartily support and agree with your premise and the need for
further research in this area. I speak from both professional and personal experience. My wife has lived with a diagnosis
of MS for over forty years and still functions very well because we have lived what you are hypothesizing as therapeutic.
Back in the late nineteen fifties and early sixties my wife gave birth to five children in seven years. This included
twins. We both were totally exhausted and she developed MS at that time and I ended up being hospitalized with a severe staph
infection. It was obvious to me how are immune systems were affected by the stress.
One example I mentioned in my writings was having a woman who was helping us quit without warning. My wife said, "I've
lost my right hand man." Within two days her right arm became paralyzed. I also know that what the neurologist predicted
would happen to her has not happened. Yes, she has some symptoms and problems but they are minor and I believe that is so
because of the life we have lived. We have worked on nutrition, alternative therapies, stress reduction and everything I thought
worth exploring. From my work with cancer patients and others with chronic and life threatening illnesses I know there is
a survivor personality that exceeds expectations. I think your work will show that those who participate in relaxation and
guided imagery are interested in being responsible participants and will benefit psychologically and physically.
Mind, body and genes are one unit and genes need to be turned on and off. Let us see if what I believe is substantiated
by your work. That stress does indeed turn on genes that lead to disease.
Sincerely, Bernie Siegel, MD
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Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Dear Aretoula,
It was a pleasure to speak with you. You gave me inspiration, knowing that I have people that understand my belief that
visualization can help you improve your health.
After having double vision and loss of balance, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on February 20, 2003. After the
diagnosis I was determined to get well and to minimize the effects of the disease.
I started working with, what I call, mental rehearsal. Mental rehearsal is known today as meditation, relaxation, or
guided imagery. As an athlete I always rehearsed the game that I was going to be playing in my mind. Many times the plays
that I imagined in my mental rehearsal happened in reality.
I work with mental rehearsal three times a day at fifteen minutes each time. During the mental rehearsal I see myself
dancing with my six year old daughter at her wedding and playing baseball with my two year old son when he is in college.
I expect those events to happen in reality.
Since I started working with mental rehearsal I have seen amazing improvements in my health. My vision is back to normal
and I am back at the gym doing Plyometrics. Plyometrics is an exercise program that challenges your balance and your core
strength. I am relaxed and sleeping a full night again. I am profitable at work, back to the full days that I am accustomed
to.
On March 1, 2003 I started my Avonex therapy. I was told to expect flu like symptoms. I rehearsed having no symptoms
from the therapy. After one month I started weaning off of the Tylenol that I was told to take to reduce the symptoms. After
2 ? months I am not taking any Tylenol to reduce symptoms. On Friday nights I get the injection and on Saturday you will
find me at the gym working out or spending a full day of activities with my family. If I was not getting an injection each
Friday, MS would not be a thought in my mind.
To benefit people that have been diagnosed with MS, please get this message out that they do not have to succumb to the
negative effects of the disease. If they focus on the positives in their lives they will achieve a great deal more than what
they think they are capable of. Three months after diagnosis I am living a fabulous life.
Very truly yours,
M. L.
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Aretoula Fullam, Ph.D.
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research
1199 Pleasant Valley Road
West Orange, NJ 07052
Monday, November 24, 2003
Dear Aretoula,
I wanted to let you know the progress I have made since my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in February 2003.
I saw my Neuro-Opthalmologist on August 26, 2003 for a six-month checkup and he told me that I am symptom free. He had
me do some things with my eyes and my balance that I was unable to do when I first saw him. He doesn't need to see me for
one year.
I then saw my MS specialist on September 11, 2003 for a six-month checkup and he told me that I now have inactive disease.
My goal when I first saw him was to have inactive disease the next time I saw him. He told me that my legs are at full strength
and that my balance and all of the tests that he gave me were excellent. He doesn't need to see me for six months.
These reports prove to me that utilizing The Silva Method of mindful meditation, guided imagery, and visualization work.
Please get the word out with your study, so you can help more people like me get better.
Best regards,
M. L.
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Subject: Health Update
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 08:24:27
Aretoula,
I just wanted to give you an update on my health. I saw my MS doctor yesterday.
I have "inactive" disease. I do not have any new lesions on my brain and the old lesions are dormant. The
doctor told me that my checkup couldn't be any better. He was thrilled with his exam of me.
He has me going to a physical therapist to improve my balance and flexibility. He said inactive disease is the primary
goal, but that is not acceptable to him. He wants to get me moving like is am 20 years old again playing hard-ball or softball.
I acheived my first goal and I am excited to strive to play ball again with confidence.
Better and better,
M
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November 2004
Subject: a small good thing
Hello Dr. Fullam,
First of all I want to thank you for all of your effort on behalf of us MS people. You have already gone to a great deal
of effort to help a group of complete strangers, and I know you will continue to expend energy on our behalf. So, thank you
again. I hope and program for your great success with proving this to be a valuable MS tool!
I had one small success last week, unrelated to MS, but a success anyway, and you did ask us to send all successes, so:
For about 3 weeks, I had been noticing that after I ate dinner, it seemed that a small piece of food was sticking in the
very back right side of my throat. There was nothing I could do (eat something else, drink something..) to get rid of that
feeling. It was quite uncomfortable. I had started to wonder if this was a new MS 'spot' of numbness, where there was really
nothing there, but it just felt 'wrong'. One day last week, I stuck my finger as far back there as I could, and found there
was some kind of a bump grown on my tongue. (Yuck.) The next day, I mentioned it to my husband, and said, I guess I'm going
to have to make an appointment with the dentist or internist, because there's a bump on my tongue, and it's been there for
a few weeks. I had brief thoughts of some kind of weird tumor or something having to be cut off of my tongue, and was not
happy.
That evening, when I did my meditation, I spent a lot of time focusing on that bump. I did the mirror of the mind, envisioning
it melting back into my tongue. I got a passionate feeling about it, really strong, and brought my mental picture back from
the screen, right into my mouth, and saw that thing just melt, melt, melt.
Well, it's gone. I went to sleep after meditating and didn't really think about it, but the next day, there was no odd
sensation. Again I did the Mirror, and again the next day. I didn't want to say anything to my husband, cause I know it sounds
weird and I didn't want to jinx the thing, but finally I mentioned to him yesterday that the bump in my mouth seems to have
gone away. (Didn't mention how!)
I'm sure you hear things like this all the time, but it was quite exciting for me.
That's it for now.
Thanks,
RU
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November 2004
Hi Dr. Fullam,
First, let me tell you how much I really liked the four sessions of The Silva Method you so graciously gave of your time
to train us. I could listen to you every week. I wish I would have taped your voice. It was so encouraging to us who have
basically been told there is no cure for MS. Having a new way of having a positive attitude (which I always thought I have
had in the past) has given me new hope. If I try to be strong and persevere I hope it will make a change in my life. NO I
should say "IT WILL MAKE A CHANGE IN MY LIFE." I do find myself using the 333, 222, 111 technique very often during
the day. Since I work full time and am working with my disability, fatigue, stress, I am using it often. Well, I am looking
forward to hearing from you. I know you are a busy person and are trying your best for us. I am truly thankful for the opportunity
to meet you and take the course. BMC
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