Mindfulness helps the body achieve a homeostasis that helps to weather the storms and build resilience by shifting the activation centres of the brain.
We know that thoughts and emotions influence pain. Mindfulness allows space for “de-centering”. We sit with our own thoughts and reconceptualize it by looking at it from different angles, opening up more possible realities. By de-centering, we can reframe our own unhelpful thoughts to relate to them differently.
Mindfulness has been shown to activate natural opioid and anti-inflammatory responses in the body which help to guide our attention to nociceptive input, making us look at our bodily sensations differently.
To benefit from mindfulness, all you need is 5 minutes! In 5 minutes of meditation, the activation centres of the brain are already changing. To decrease pain intensity by 40% and pain unpleasantness by 57%, 20mins a day 4x/wk is required. 10 hours of mindfulness meditation training has been shown to see changes in the brain itself. After 1000 hours of practice, there is a shift from the prefrontal cortex to the somatosensory cortical region of the brain!
Other Resources
- A Different Approach To Pain Management: Mindfulness Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLQJJDrbj6Q
- Hello, I’m Your Pain… Please be Mindful of Me!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKOTptHAvho
- Radical Relief: A Guide to Overcome Chronic Pain by Joe Tatta (2020) – workbook of mindfulness exercises
Against All Pains 