Research subjects have learned to control pain by applying mental pain interventions while viewing a computer image as feedback of the pain.
It is possible to reduce and control pain with your mind. Researchers at Stanford University found that people could be trained to reduce their perception of pain using mental interventions coupled with visual feedback of the pain. That's good news for the millions of people who suffer from chronic pain. For most of us, pain management is a matter of taking a couple of aspirin. But those with chronic pain find that over the counter pain medications are often insufficient and the more powerful pain medicines have potentially serious side effects.
If you've ever had a lingering pain and just "wished" it would go away, perhaps you were close to a solution and didn't realize it.
At Stanford, pain feedback was provided by a new research tool called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). An fMRI machine can provide real-time feedback by displaying a representation of the level of blood flow in the area of the brain that perceives pain.
Research subjects were taught several techniques for mental pain reduction. Using these techniques in combination with the visual feedback of their level of pain allowed them to effectively focus their intervention efforts and reduce the pain.
This most recent application of biofeedback, the ability to apply mental control over physical functions, furthers research understanding of pain, pain management, and the power of the mind.
While this doesn't mean you can lay on a bed of nails or walk barefoot on hot coals at your next party, it might offer non-drug relief for everything from your stress headache to your chronic back pain.
Of special interest is that some research subjects were able to control their pain without the benefit of the special fMRI equipment and its computer imaging of pain. Once they learned some mental interventions they were able to reduce pain without the feedback of an image of the pain.
The interventions they learned to use were:
To shift attention from the area of pain to some part of the body furthest away from the painful area.
To concentrate attention on something pleasant: favorite music, a good story, or recollection of pleasant experiences.
To relax using deep breathing and meditation techniques.
To re-calibrate the level of pain; rather than thinking of the pain as severe or debilitating, they thought of it as harmless, weak, or non-threatening.
To visualize soothing or healing processes at work on their pain.
Our minds are very powerful. Learning to harness this power can bring personal growth and development and, as we're learning, even better health.
The copyright of the article Relieve Pain With Mindpower in Personal Development is owned by Jerry Lopper. Permission to republish Relieve Pain With Mindpower must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Aug 23, 2006 2:58 AM
Jerry Lopper
:
I've had the experience of "healing" a minor ailment by refraining from focusing on it.
Have you ever experienced this?
Here's how it worked for me. I become aware of something different, an ache or pain, or maybe a swelling/itching. I notice that I'm frequently focused on it, thinking of it, touching the area, and looking at it.
Then I consciously change my focus to ignore it. Whenever I catch myself focused on the area I switch again. Soon I've forgotten about it and it seems to heal faster.
Have you had a similar experience?
Sep 15, 2006 5:41 PM
Melissa Dylan
:
I do know that whenever I'm under the weather with an illness, staying home and focusing on "healing" often makes me feel more sick than getting to work and doing other things. Though rest certainly helps, there's a dwelling on it factor that makes it mentally seem worse than it is. It's a fine balance...
Sep 16, 2006 3:20 AM
Jerry Lopper
:
Could it be that dwelling on an illness or injury sends it energy that feeds it?
Sep 23, 2006 12:18 PM
Paper Turtle
:
I've done that, and it works. This last year I returned to college, and I just plain didn't have time to be sick or slowed down by some ache or pain. I would notice a feeling that something wasn't quite right but instead of wondering or worrying I focused on what needed to be done and how best to accomplish it.
I only got sick once, with a really short-lived cold, and that was druing the break between terms.
I also have chronic back pain. Most of the time I manage quite well using meditation and relaxation techniques--and simply forgetting about it because I'm involved doing something more interesting.
peace and love, Paper Turtle
Sep 24, 2006 3:52 AM
Jerry Lopper
:
That's a terrific example. My wife often does the same when her throat starts feeling sore or a cold is coming on she says "I just don't have time for this now and I'm not going there." The symptoms disappear. Mind over matter.
Sep 27, 2006 5:48 PM
Jolinda Cary
:
I saw John Zulli (author of "The Mind Rules" speak recently, and what he says is sort of like the "don't think of an elephant" mind game.
If you tell someone not to think of an elephant, they immediately will. If you think about the pain, there will be pain. If you think about the healing, the mind will be "tricked" into healing.
This is an oversimplification, of course, but I think the bottom line is that our minds/brains have an incredibly powerful impact on the rest of our bodies - a connection that we are really just beginning to understand!
Sep 29, 2006 4:56 AM
Jerry Lopper
:
The "don't think of an elephant" is a great analogy. We can control our bodies, more than we'd ever believe.
Before my latest physical exam I repeated an affirmation that went something like this: my blood pressure is xxx/yyy. These numbers were modest, but significant improvements over "normal" bp results.
The resulting bp reading was very, very close to the numbers I affirmed. Interesting.
Oct 2, 2006 7:51 AM
Judy M Merrill
:
You have just focused in on why the history of wellness and medicine is rife with it being a religious and/or spiritual matter. It is not just the mind, but the spirit as well, that will heal what troubles the physical/material body.
God bless, J
Oct 3, 2006 4:25 AM
Jerry Lopper
:
The Abraham material, by Jerry and Esther Hicks, makes the point that wellness is our inherent condition and being open and allowing supports good health.
Sounds easy, but sometimes is difficult.
Oct 3, 2006 7:30 AM
Judy M Merrill
:
Spiritual Healing as a method is prayer and the laying on of hands. Both work to soothe and heal with energy. The healing must come from the one who is dis-eased. There is nothing outside ourselves (pill, potion, liquid) that will allow any disease to cure. Wellness comes from our own body, mind, spirit.
