Mindfulness and Pain

A mindfulness lens allows us to bring awareness to the pain, to acknowledge it and all the feelings we have as a result of it. By not labeling the pain as good or bad, but more as a neutral experience, it allows us to experience it fully and to be open to any outcome. Being patient with the pain and exploring the sensations as if we have never felt it before, and not trying to fight it but to embrace it for what it is, are other aspects of mindfulness. Ultimately, all of these mindsets help to decrease the sensitivity of the pain alarm system.

Using mindfulness techniques also helps us to reframe the pain. By staying in the present moment, we can learn to be one with the pain, which decreases our negative emotions. In fact, it helps to increase life satisfaction and reduce stress, anxiety, and low mood as well. With regular practice, being present rewires neural circuitry to increase compassion, empathy, and emotional regulation. By increasing all of these positive emotions, the pain signal is softened.