In the previous section, you were introduced to various ways to keep your mind occupied during an MRI scan. The key to being relaxed in the MRI scanner is to be able to keep your mind occupied for the duration of the scan. However, just “knowing” how to use such techniques may be of limited usefulness. Much more valuable is to practice at home, how to use the techniques. I call these sessions “relaxation practice” sessions.
A relaxation practice session consists of lying flat on your sofa or bed, being motionless, keeping your eyes closed and imagining that you are in the MRI scanner (I will explain more details later). As you do this, your mind may jump all over the place and you may feel waves of anxiety. You can then practice managing your mind, using techniques you learnt from the “managing your mind” section.
Initially, you may be successful only for a few minutes, but as you keep doing such sessions, you will be able to keep your mind occupied longer while putting anxiety to a side. With relaxation practice, over time, the waves of anxiety will lessen.
The idea of doing such relaxation practice at home may sound simplistic, but in reality, it is a powerful technique. I have had many MRI scans myself, and these have helped me immensely to get through them.
Apart from helping your mind practice the various techniques, relaxation practice can also help your mind gradually “get used” to the idea of having an MRI scan. When one is anxious about something such as an MRI scan, it can be tempting to not think of that subject. Not thinking about your upcoming MRI scan can of course bring immediate relief.
However, the problem with this approach is that while not thinking about the MRI scan may bring relief in the short term, it does little to help one cope with the anxiety one may develop as the day of the MRI scan gets nearer. Avoidance is often not a good approach when dealing with anxiety.
A different approach could be to, gradually over days, using one’s imagination, “expose” oneself to the idea of going through an MRI scan. As I will explain, this can be done slowly and in small steps in the comfort of your home. The human brain gets “bored” if it is repeatedly exposed to the same thing over and over again. So if one repeatedly, mentally goes through the process of having an MRI scan, eventually one’s brain will start getting used to the thought of having it. This mental exposure will over time reduce one’s anxiety about having an MRI scan and one will be less stressed on the day.
In the next section, I will explain in more detail how to do relaxation practice at home.