著者

佐々木 雄二

出版者

駒澤大学文学部心理学科

雑誌

駒澤大学心理学論集 : KARP (ISSN:13493728)

巻号頁・発行日

no.3, pp.11-18, 2001-03

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Healthy people are able to learn the first and second standard exercises of Autogenic Training (AT) (the heaviness and warmth of extremities) not only through direct instructions by a trainer, or a therapist, but also through an instruction manual alone. However, Luthe (1961, 1977) has cautioned that when AT is used in the treatment of neuroses and psychosomatic disorders, the direct instructions of a therapist is needed because of the possibility of developing harmful side-effects and because of difficulties in acquiring the exercise. In spite of Luthe's caution, it is my opinion that the first two standard exercises for the treatment of neurotics can be conducted by using an instruction manual combined with instructions of a therapist through correspondence, because of the following reasons. (1) The feelings of heaviness and warmth essentially originate from the normal processes towards total psychophysiological relaxation. (2) The process of relaxation may elicit latent anxieties and fears. However, it is possible to stop the process of relaxation before anxieties become manifest. When the trainees themselves control the process of relaxation, before the anxieties become conscious, the trainees become unable to concentrate on the verbal formulas and become unable to continue the exercises, thus terminating the process of relaxation. Because of the above reasons, I decided to advance the AT that I had undertaken with the patient, Ms. N.G through correspondence. Ms.N.G. started her second standard exercise from 51st day of practice (February 24, 1993) after having mastered the first standard exercise completely by the 125th day (May 9, 1993). Generally the therapeutic effects of AT begin after patients master the first exercise. In the case of Ms.N.G., therapeutic effects were reported in a letter dated March 2. She wrote: "I tried to go out from the front door several days ago. When I was feeling sleepy after practicing AT, I felt that I was able to go out. I tried to go out and I was successful. Although I took only a few steps from my house, in my mind, it was easier to do than before. Furthermore, I realized that I was walking wonderfully well, taking wide steps, back straight and steadily moving my arms back and forth." On her letter dated May 14, 1993 she wrote, "I'd like to inform you of my latest condition. I have become able to relax even when I am practicing to go out. Although I feel tense a little, I can walk looking ahead of me. Since recently, as I have become able to keep my composure outside the house, I can see the scenery around me."