Talk:Autogenic training

I plan to improve this article first by making structural changes to the article. As it is written at the moment, the “Practices and Effects” sections are merged together, but I believe it makes more sense to separate them into two distinct sections as there are a lot of information about both. Furthermore, the “Neurophysiological aspects” provide good information, but there are also other perspectives to consider autogenic training from, such as cardiovascular. Therefore, I plan to make a separate section that explains the many different mechanisms through which autogenic training benefits the body. Furthermore, the article is unnecessarily bulky and difficult to understand at certain points. I plan to address this issue by rewording sentences, and perhaps even restructuring entire paragraphs. Furthermore, I hope to bolster the section that discusses the benefits of autogenic training across many areas, because currently, the article only addresses a small portion of the benefits that autogenic training provides. I will achieve this by using many strong peer-reviewed research studies that examined the benefits in clinical settings. Finally, in the new “Methods” section that I will add in place of the “Practices and Effects,” section, I will lay out clearly how to practice autogenic training, and explain the discrepancies in the different methods. Please see my annotated bibliography in my bibliography sandbox to further examine the resources that I will be using to improve this article. Tkong22 (talk) 14:23, 5 April 2023 (UTC)Reply

How is it possible to change the categorization of this article? This is a standard relaxation method, extensively researched for 100 years now (!!!), and educated all around the world in universities, in psychology faculties. It is a technic, with a basic and understandable routine, based on biofeedback mechanism. Plenty of scientific research (https://www.evidence.nhs.uk/search?q=Autogenic+training) shows that it helps to lower stress symptoms, and physical pain as well. The category of pseudoscience devaluate this technic, putting it into a context it does not deserve. Autogenic training and conspiracy theories in the same page? This must be fixed. How is it possible to fix it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kashmir~huwiki (talk • contribs) 00:52, 19 November 2016 (UTC)Reply

There has GOT to be more on this. Look on www.google.com and search for autogenic training.

Can someone please improve the sample session? Outline the steps more clearly, give an example of "canceling," maybe include more description?FemFoison 19:47, 15 April 2007 (UTC)Reply

Just done it! 87.194.107.126 (talk) 20:58, 7 October 2009 (UTC)Reply

This looks like a good page except for that it is not clear as to how this practice is done. The page says that it is a visualization in the lede, but then later on says that the practice involved a sort of body scan and internal use of a phrase. What is cancelling? Please help if you can. makeswell (talk) 12:02, 29 July 2010 (UTC)Reply

Visualization is not the best word for describing the process, since it implies using visuals. You actually remember how it *feels* like when your arm is heavy (for example, after coming home from work, you lay down on the bed and relax, you don't want to move a limb, since they are so heavy with exhaustion), while (silently, in your head) telling yourself "my right arm is heavy." It will respond with a sensation of sinking, heaviness, as the muscles relax. In your next session you just remember that sensation of sinking/heaviness, and expect your arm to respond. You can use sensual memories for all exercises, imagine your arm is suspended in warm water while telling yourself "My right arm warm", etc.

After some sessions, the sensations spread out, then you'll feel your left arm also respond to the suggestion of heavyness, so you'll change your suggestion to "both arms are heavy". That's called generalization. A while after that, your legs will also respond, so the final version of the suggestion is "Both arms and legs are heavy" or "all limbs are heavy". Same for the suggestion of warmth.

Cancelling is done to get you back to the normal waking state. These are not suggestions, but commands, to wake you up :) but a bit difficult for me to translate ("Arme fest! Atem tief! Augen auf!" perhaps German is better suited for that ;) ) Okay, you tell yourself "stretch" as you raise your arms, make fists, stretch, etc, "breath" as you take a deep breath, and "eyes open" as you (duh!) open your eyes. That's all.

btw, this is only the first of three parts of autogenic training. the 2nd part is using affirmations, the 3rd part is meditation.. a bit like active imagination. 109.85.154.117 (talk) 09:43, 5 May 2011 (UTC)<kerstin>Reply

Studies about autogenic training are quite rare. So maybe the article should include discussions from other countries:

There is a 900-pages german book which was very influential in Germany from the midninties, Klaus Grawe - Psychotherapie im Wandel. It is a meta-analysis of 3500 respectively 900 publications till 1985 on the outcome of psychotherapy and includes about 100 studies about relaxation techniques as sole treatment (page 579). For more information on Grawe see: http://www.psychotherapyresearch.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=50

Grawe analyzed only 14 studies (there are many more but they were discarded due to methodological deficits): Only some studies showed noteworthy improvements. As there were many more studies on Progressive_muscle_relaxation which on average showed greater improvements Grawe was very skeptic about AT (pages 613-617). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.206.186.96 (talk) 02:13, 12 September 2010 (UTC)Reply

This seems like constructive discussion - could you add it to the main article perhaps? Destynova (talk) 04:24, 24 December 2010 (UTC)Reply

As a person who has experienced the benefits of Autogenic Training, it is tragic that this entry has a box next to it which totally besmirchs the technique. There is much scientific evidence to support AT's benefits. It has been endorsed by Melbourne (Australia) University's Student Wellbeing site, for example. It is not alternative quackery. Plus, there is not enough emphasis on detailing how to carry out the techniques related to AT — Preceding unsigned comment added by Leigh Plews (talk • contribs) 17:03, 30 August 2017 (UTC)Reply

Agreed. We all await your references to the scientific evidence to support AT's benefits from reputable sources so that the charges of association with quackery that you point out, can be refuted.

In this case, it's up to you to provide the summary and links to the evidence following the guidelines placed helpfully above in the Talk page

Places to go might include: 1) Google Scholar (see references here) 2) An article this article from healthline.com 3) An excellent article from goodtherapyDOTcom on autogenic training. The URL is blocked within Wikipedia, but the article is worth a read as it has a lot of detail on the history and the steps involved. Though written for therapists, the language is clear and accessible. Some academic references are also included.

As a person experienced on the patient side, perhaps you'll also be able to include the missing summaries of the method that you also note are needed. Douglas Orme 20:50, 3 October 2021 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Douglasorme (talk • contribs)

  This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 11 January 2023 and 12 May 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Tkong22 (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Tkong22 (talk) 12:05, 3 April 2023 (UTC)Reply