It is great news indeed that congresswoman Giffords is making rapid progress in her recovery. She is constantly surrounded by family and friends and doctors attribute her progress, in part, to the healing power of love. In the fascinating video link below several points are made regarding this effect.
It is believed that social support reduces levels of stress hormones. Reducing stress allows the body to focus on healing. It is a document fact that social isolation in heart patients is as unhealthy as smoking. Many say that simply having supportive relationships in a persons life can help them recover, even if those persons are not physically present.
This report reminded me not only of my many online friends and what I consider to be the healing power of the arts in general, but a specific SL project. Emile Sands and Seth Stratten run a project on Galaxy Isle to reach out to those in the hospital or nursing home who need social interaction but are not able to go out in real. They are brought, with the help of a mentor, to specific areas of SL to benefit from the visual stimulus and social interaction. This project benefits a wide range of individuals .. from critically ill children to Alzheimer's patients. Perhaps it can even be said that the social support they gain through this project helps in the healing process. Certainly it makes their days more enjoyable.
May we all touch the lives of others in a positive, uplifting and perhaps even healing way.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/23843802#video=23843802
No comments:
Post a Comment