Imagine something different

This is a 12-year-old boy here for a follow-up visit with you," reported Dr M. It was the first day of the second year of her pediatrics residency. "He was here for a complete checkup in May, was having really bad headaches at the time, and is here for follow-up. He says you taught him some relaxation technique where he holds his fingers up and looks at them, and now he's better." She went on to describe the results of his physical, funduscopic, and neurologic examinations, which were all normal, as they had been in May when I had diagnosed migraines. This being her first day of working with me clinically, I admired Dr M's cool composure at learning that her attending physician had taught this patient self-hypnosis.