ANSSR Method

     ANSSR therapy facilitates a distinct state of relaxation wherein autonomic nervous system (ANS) healing responses are spontaneously deployed, i.e. the ANSSR healing process. Since 1995, these healing responses have consistently eliminated various types of chronic pain. No familiar procedures are used to achieve this critical state of relaxation.

     The ANS gives us the involuntary body contraction and expansion functions, e.g. stress response and relaxation response. Musculoskeletal pain is produced by a severe stress response, e.g. painful muscle spasm. Therefore, all pain relief methods must reduce the stress response to the point where pain stops.

     Stress and relaxation responses are inversely proportional, i.e. as one increases, the other decreases. All pain relief methods, including drugs and surgery, reduce the stress response by increasing relaxation response. Most methods are anatomical manipulation, which means they force a change in various parts of our anatomy—musculoskeletal system, meridian system, biochemistry—hoping for a secondary relaxation response in the autonomic nervous system when the body experiences physical comfort. For example, a chiropractic adjustment helps the body relax by pushing the skeleton back into comfortable, normal alignment. Anatomical manipulation is usually symptomatic treatment, which explains why we have a thriving pain management industry. 

     In contrast, behavior-oriented pain relief methods—various relaxation exercises, CBT, hypnosis, virtual reality, Swedish massage (as opposed to "medical massage"), Dr. John Sarno's method, ANSSR therapy, etc—do not force anatomical changes. Instead, they invite relaxation directly by supporting healthy, effective behavior. See the Method video for a broader introduction. Since biological relaxation occurs automatically as a result of effective behavior, behavior methods relieve pain to the extent that they access effective behavior.

     ANSSR therapy is a pure behavior method, which means there is no anatomical manipulation of any kind, no energy medicine, and no familiar hands-on procedures. A unique feature of ANSSR therapy is that it provides holistic behavior support, i.e. comprehensive support for all nine behavior functions. These are agreement, separation, safety, contact, expression, imagery, work, enjoyment, and physical comfort, each of which consists of multiple, related aspects.

     ANSSR therapy is the only method that predictably launches the ANSSR healing process because it is the only method that provides holistic behavior support. This fact explains why all ANS healing responses are ANSSR therapy discoveries. In other words, ANSSR therapy affords actual healing without forcing any symptomatic changes—a radical departure from the prevailing medical paradigm of attacking symptoms as if the human body were incapable of healing chronic health problems.

     Despite being a pure behavior method, ANSSR therapy does not incorporate psychotherapy, hypnosis, guided imagery, or any other familiar method. It is an application of Andrew Arneson's new science of behavior mechanics. No talking or conscious awareness of behavior is needed. Rather, careful attention to emotional needs (behavior functions) allows the client's organism to correct its ineffective behavior of the moment, i.e. habitual patterns of thinking and conduct that maintain a chronic stress response, anxiety, and pain. (The word "organism" means the human body and its many types of awareness, both conscious and unconscious.)

     For example, the practitioner senses the client's ineffective attempt to separate from stressful situations elsewhere, i.e. ineffective separation behavior. Without discussion or instruction, the practitioner places his attention on the client's natural boundary function, thereby permitting the client's organism to effortlessly create a solid, effective boundary. This new behavior provides immediate, profound relief and relaxation. The client remains unaware of the separation support provided by the practitioner. The client notices only comfort and the ANS healing responses that are suddenly mobilized.

     As implied above, the therapeutic process is very subtle, yet powerful enough to launch the ANSSR healing process. When the client's behavior is consistently supported in every minute of the treatment, the result is absolute comfort, which means that the client experiences deep relaxation both systemically and locally, in areas of pathology. While systemic relaxation is relatively easy to achieve, local relaxation in areas of chronic pain and disease is a serious challenge for pain relief methods in general.

     Hundreds of distinct procedures comprise ANSSR therapy, all of which pertain to the nine behavior functions. Individual needs determine which procedures are used and when. Most are completely unnoticeable, and therefore noninvasive and dignified.

     The automatic effects of healthy, effective behavior are self-esteem, neutrality towards irritating people and stimuli, a sense of accomplishment, trust, increased energy level, and biological relaxation. These effects occur predictably, regardless of the client's conscious awareness of anything. The client's subjective experience of behavioral health is a deeply comfortable, yet alert state. It is a glimpse of true human nature and a pleasure to be around.

     It is possible that other practitioners could acquire the skillset necessary for ANSSR therapy, but this would be a long and impractical endeavor. Therefore, the only way to standardize ANSSR therapy benefits and provide them worldwide is with technology—medical devices that engage the client's own awareness, both conscious and unconscious, as opposed to relying on the practitioner's ability to perceive active behavior functions and emotional needs.