I was asked me to write an evaluation of the CD "Good Day, Good Night". Months ago, Richard approached me about trying the CD personally. At the time I was providing lectures to the staff on Sleep Deprivation. Upon listening to the CD we found that the material on your CD and my presentation were mutually supportive and merged well.
As I listened to your CD I recognized a familiar biolateral component such as that used in EMDR. I have had exposure to EMDR and Neuro-feedback and feel it is a very powerful tool. I found the CD to be wonderfully relaxing and refreshing. After a few days of regular use I found a calming of the mind, a decline in stress, and an increase tolerance to frustration. My sleep improved.

These are the same complaints I hear from many of my patients. A large percent of my patients have PTSD, depression and/or chronic pain. I am well aware of the use of EMDR and Neuro-feedback for these disorders. I recommend my patients use this CD at the frequency schedule recommended on the CD, in addition to the treatment provided by their psychiatric providers. Some patients are sent to "the Group" class for reinforcement of the program, some I follow individually.

Patients relate to me, a subjective assessment only, that 1) the CD made me feel better, 2) the CD helped my stress, 3) the CD helped with my pain, 4) it helped them get to sleep more easily.

All of the patients who were given the CD voiced that they would use it, not store it. Upon return visits, most related they had used it ah least a few times and many reported regular use. I did not keep statistics on these numbers but I estimate having given out over 30 cd's.

I also found that more patients accepted self control of their pain without the need for narcotics. The tape seemed to decrease the pain, perception of pain or tolerance to pain. Patients felt less sedated and more motivated to "own" their pain and it gave them some control of treatment. It Is well known that a better quality of sleep alone will decrease pain and stress.

I like the 50 ways to decrease stress. I teach patients many of the same techniques. I teach abdominal breathing and lead some guided imagery groups to allow patients and staff short periods of escape from the daily stress of PTSD, pain, and stress induced sleep deprivation. The CD mirrors this modality.

I have 5 patients with fibromyalgia. They ail relate that they feel the CD was helpful. They still need to learn to use it preventatively, not just as a treatment after the pain develops. We are currently working on this.

All of my staff have the CD and find it restful. They use it specifically during a particularly stressful day. They use it during or instead of lunch. The CD has the advantage of size and portability. No mentor is needed once the basics are mastered. I use it on the train ride to work, on the way home, sometimes at lunch, and then again before bed. My productivity increases after use as I am more focused.
I do thank you for sharing this VERY useful tool with me and my patients and staff and wish ail veterans had the benefit of having a tool like this to help them control their stress and pain.

I am convinced of the positive benefits of giving this CD to patients. I am
not questioning if the benefit is one of "Therapeutic Caring" as described by Jean Watson or the effect of the material on the tape. The cause is less important than the outcome and the results are evident. I hope you can continue to provide ttiese valuable cd's to Veteran's. Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Fields, ARNP-C