Connecting with co-sufferers
Scientific research has found that the death rate in a group that does not receive group therapy is twice that of groups that meet every week.
In-depth studies have been made between patients who are suffering from a disease, who are isolated, and those who are allowed to meet with others who have the same problem.
For example, when a patient has cancer, would it be more appropriate, and offer better and speedier healing if she is interacting with other patients along with the treatment.
Dr. David Spiegel at Stanford University performed this experiment with groups of women who had breast cancer, and were designated as terminally ill. One group was given the usual medical treatment. But the other one was given, along with the usual medical treatment, a session of group therapy once a week, for a year.
This was done with a view to discovering the effects of buffering the stress by meeting, and co-ordinating with others in the same condition. The groups spoke about their feelings and reactions to the disease, and what effects it was having on their loved ones. They were taught self-hypnosis to relieve the pain, and it was found that they offered each other a lot of sympathy and power to deal with their disease.
The death rate of both groups showed a marked difference. Those who had participated in the group therapy sessions lived longer than the other group. After ten years it was found that the death rate in the group who did not receive group therapy was twice that of the ones that met every week.
It is salient to remember here that the groups that met and interacted weekly, found it very easy to empathize with someone in the same condition as their own. So they sent out positive vibrations to each other, completing a cycle of synergy, that was much more powerful than any patient could have ever received alone at home, however loving their families and care givers might have been. The depressed auras of the patients were actually fluffed up, and a more positive attitude resulted in combating the problem. Inner strength is gained when this synergistic energy is pumped into the auras.
Besides this, each one also provides a few tips to live better, longer, and more positively to the group. Fully charged with this weekly recharging of their vibratory batteries kept them in control of their affliction.
They soon learnt that they may have cancer, but cancer did not have them! This has been the basis of the meetings of cancer patients, sponsored by Cancer Societies.
The more we find scientific research confirming and validating the strong connection between emotions and health, the more we can be convinced of this acceleration of the healing process, through the positive vibrational power of sharing and empathy.