Using the Power of the Mind to Combat Pain

Living with chronic pain can make you feel helpless and like you are at the mercy of medication. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that, in some cases, a person may be more in control of the pain they feel than previously thought. There are many ways of using the power of the mind to combat pain. For example, positive thinking is a powerful tool in combating physical pain, helping to dull not only the sensation of pain itself but also some of the side effects like depression and lethargy. However, there’s a lot more to positive thinking than just telling yourself that everything will turn out all right. Use some of these tips to boost your ability to manage pain using only the power of your mind.

Think about Something Pleasant

One subset of positive thinking is focusing on pleasant things to distract yourself from pain. By using the power of the mind to combat pain, your pleasant thoughts distract you from the pain felt. For example, some research suggests that fantasizing about a favorite food can dull the affects of pain in many cases.

Meditate

Meditation calms the mind and relaxes the body, offering a healthy escape from chronic pain. There are man different meditation methods, including controlled breathing and focusing on a mantra, so there is bound to be one that works for your situation.

Distract Yourself

Stress only serves to compound pain, which is why having a fun and relaxing hobby can make all the difference. Watching a movie, reading, or engaging in a creative activity are all ways to combat chronic pain.

Practice Visualization

Imagine your pain as a concrete form, then picture it floating away or being removed from you. Visualizing the outcome you want helps many people get in the right mindset to think positive.

Change Your Thought Patterns

Rather than imagining the worst that can possibly happen, think about the best. Convincing yourself of a positive outcome is a great way to ensure that you eventually get there.

Pain is the result of a signal sent from the body to the brain and back again. Positive thinking is one way to interrupt the signal enough to gain some much-needed relief.

By Dr. James  Lin
If you are reading this on any other blog than Comprehensive Pain Management Center or via my RSS Feed, it is stolen content without credit.
You can find me on Twitter via @DrJamesTLin
Come and visit our blog at http://www.compainmc.com/blog/