Tips for Stress free life  >  Expert Zone   > Alternative Health

       Alternative Health Tips by experts


Mindfulness and Pain: Just Say Ouch


What's the best way to manage pain?

Just say ouch.

That's a simplified description of the role of mindfulness in reducing the experience of pain. The secret isn't in focusing on the painful sensation itself. No, the power is in recognizing our tendency to say way more than ouch.

Here's the basic math: Suffering = Pain + Resistance. Can mindfulness reduce the sensation of pain? Not exactly, but it can markedly reduce the total suffering we experience by illuminating--and even eliminating--our resistance.

Pain is a warning. It informs and motivates us. If you're resting your hand on a hot stovetop, it's important to feel that pain in order to remove your hand quickly and avoid burns. We need the sensation of pain to protect our bodies from further injury.

Pain also teaches us new ways to move. If you are consistently hurting your back on the weekend, your pain is letting you know that 1) you need to rest and 2) you need to learn a healthier way to work or play.

Chronic pain is more difficult. It is hard to find any redeeming value in long-term pain. We've learned our lessons already, but it persists, and there's not much that can be done about it.

Mindfulness is extremely valuable in alleviating the experience of all kinds of pain but it is especially effective for those likely to hurt on a daily basis.

We feel pain. We say ouch--mentally or verbally. Then what happens? We get wrapped up in ways to resist the pain. We start a mental dialogue about how we're going to deal with it (medication, ice, heat, rest, acupuncture, massage, magnetic therapy, etc.). Then, we get caught in thoughts and emotions:

? Disappointment ("Now I can't go hiking.")

? Worry ("I hope it's nothing serious.")

? Fear ("What if it gets worse?")

? Anger ("Why is it hurting now? I already had surgery!")

? Depression ("What if I have to stop playing tennis?")

? Excitement ("I'm going into labor!")

Our resistance stirs up a lot more tension, resulting in a much more pronounced experience of the pain. Worrying about pain really does make it worse.

This is where mindfulness comes in. By paying attention to the thoughts and emotions that accompany pain, you can learn to separate these from the sensation. Once you've done that, you can actually eliminate the tension and see the pain for what it is--and no more.

By seeing the internal dialogue that comes with pain, you can learn to handle it skillfully and reduce your suffering.

The next time you feel pain, take a moment to focus on it. Watch your thoughts and emotions as they come up. Breathe. And go back to ouch.

Simple pain never felt so good.

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches eyes-wide-open ways to get calm, clear and creative. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com


MORE RESOURCES:

See the complete list of Articles on Alternative Health here

Have a look at Best Selling Books on Alternative Health

 

Google

See also : Other articles on

Depression, Grief Loss, Happiness, Humor, Inspirational, Motivation,
Positive Attitude
, Meditation, Spirituality Goal Setting, Wealth Building, Ethics, Stress Management
Yoga, Alternative Health, Build Muscle, Exercise,   Aerobics Cardio, Fitness Equipment Pregnancy  Dating, Elder Care, RelationshipAcneBeauty, Hair Loss
Cooking Tips, Recipes,Top Tips for everything Crafts Hobbies, Creativity, Fishing Photography, Pets,

Latest info on : Alternative Health


Scott Deatherage: Diesel purchase ignores alternative benefits
Dallas Morning News, TX - 12 hours ago
With this recommendation, the DART staff has rejected consideration of buses fueled by natural gas, an alternative that should be cheaper over the 15-year ...


Alternative energy in vogue
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC - 7 hours ago
No matter who wins the presidential election in November, the future looks bright for solar power and other alternative energy sources in Western North ...


Govt studying proposal for alternative highway to LDP
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 5 hours ago
By SIM LEOI LEOI SEPANG: The Government is studying a proposal for an alternative highway to the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), which has now reached ...


News 10 Now

Group raises alternative energy awareness
News 10 Now, NY - 12 hours ago
BINGHAMTON, NY -- The New York Solar Energy Society (NYSES) held a meeting Saturday to help educate the public about energy alternatives. ...
Event offers look at greener future Press & Sun-Bulletin
all 2 news articles


Credit unions alternative to banks
Dailyrecord.com, NJ - 3 hours ago
By Rich Knight • Special to the Daily Record • October 12, 2008 With banks tightening credit and the national and international finance markets in freefall, ...


Alternative car project in Singur soon, claims minister
Press Trust of India, India - 14 minutes ago
Kolkata, Oct 12 (PTI) The Tatas may have driven Nano out of Singur, but the site is soon going to be taken over by another car-manufacturing company, ...


Gallup finds ‘minimal support’ for alternative presidential candidates
Independent Political Report, MI - 6 hours ago
Frank Newport of the Gallup Poll writes, “A recent Gallup Poll in which four third-party candidates were explicitly listed for voters along with the two ...


New York Times

Funds, Too, Are Mining New Energy Sources
New York Times, United States - 2 hours ago
By J. ALEX TARQUINIO EXCHANGE-TRADED funds that focus on alternative energy have proliferated in a very short time, and many of them have been mirroring the ...


Ninemsn

Alternative energy outlook clouds up
Houston Chronicle, United States - Oct 9, 2008
"The concept of alternative energy has a lot of momentum," said Dan Pickering, head of research for Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities in Houston. ...
Walker: Oil conundrum Times Record News
all 2,922 news articles


Slacker G2 is an alternative to the iPod
Youngstown Vindicator, OH - 7 hours ago
The Slacker G2 is a compelling alternative to traditional digital music players. It plays the music you like and can be refreshed at any time with more. ...

Alternative - Google News

Why not be an expert yourself  ?

 If you can write on any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your
 articles in our database :

 Submit your article here   Our Article Area

You are here Home > Tips for Stress free Life > Expert Zone > Alternative Health


| Alternative Health Home | All articles on Alternative Health- complete list 

Main Home  | Meditation Corner

                |Health Tips  | Workplace Tips  | Soul Tips  |Expert zone |

Recommend us  |

 Books, DVDs and accessories on meditation & yoga  |

[About us] [Contact] [Privacy Policy]

Copyright 2006, Meditation is Easy.com, All rights reserved