Benji is a sensitive, active nine year old with severe asthma. The episodes are compounded by his terror as his chest becomes tighter and emptying his lungs becomes more difficult. Benji spoke of how he was beginning to see how his fears got in the way of his body gaining full benefit from his inhalant. He was highly motivated to train his body to go in relax mode when the tightenings started and to use Imagery to ease his breathing.
During the practice sessions Benji closed his eyes and rapidly floated up on a glider, where he could move on the air currents. These currents would waft into him and lift him over into the mountain valley, and just as effortlessly shift away out as he settled further into gliding. He focused on the automatic ebb and flow of the air currents coming in and lifting the plane, moving it along and easing off as he joined the eagles and hawks; he would get to the point where he could drift and the wheezing no longer hurt.
Since Benji's asthma onset was fairly rapid, he practiced using his Imagery and, significantly, didn't want it to vary in any way. His security was in the familiarity and predictability of his Imagery. His parents and respirologist reported that he handled his annual winter asthma bout with greater equanimity.
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