Do you suffer from chronic pain? If so then you will know the control that pain can have over your lives. Many people do not want to take medication as it can become addictive and greater doses are required over time. For that reason you may want an alternative and in this article we will look at how meditation can help you.
Pain is felt differently by all people and can occur at any point in your body. Many people suffer from acute pain which is usually due to an injury and will quickly clear up. However there are a large proportion of the population that suffer from chronic pain. This can make everyday activities difficult and leave people’s lives in ruins. Surprisingly enough mind-body medicine is one of the most popular alternative treatments. We are going to look at various meditation techniques and how they can help relieve your pain.
Meditation methods
There are a large number of different meditation methods however they can generally be split into 4 categories and we have detailed them below:
1. Breathing - this form of meditation involves focusing on the breath. It may use various different breathing techniques but the main aims are to slow the breathing down. As the breathing slows the body relax and a person will feel calm. Many people will find that the more relaxed they are the less pain they feel.
2. Mindfulness - this form of meditation still utilises the breath but also asks a person to consider their life. They are often ask to consider what reality is, who they really are among other things. The idea is that by considering these questions they can begin to transform their view of themselves. It often leads to a feeling of inner peace and acceptance for the life they have. Often this change of attitude can help to reduce physical symptoms including pain.
3. Visualisation - this form of meditation involves a person visualising things that can help them. For example if you are suffering from pain you may want to visualise yourself happy and pain free. This can either be done on an individual basis or guided by another person.
4. Chi - It is thought that energy flows through our bodies, and that this energy flows through the body within a psychic nervous system composed of subtle channels. There is an intimate relationship between our mind and this subtle nervous system and we can control or direct this energy for improved well-being, such as for pain relief.
Why Meditation Relieves Pain
The body has its own natural pain killer called endorphins. When there are released they do not only reduce the feeling of pain but they can also reduce stress and improve the mood of a person. The process of meditation can be very uplifting and actually result in the release of endorphins in the brain. For this reason may people will describe feeling happy and at peace after they have experienced meditation.
It is important to say that meditation does need to be mastered and regular practise will improve your ability and also the effect of the meditation on you. It is important to set aside some time everyday to practise. Start small, just meditating for a few minutes and then gradually increase this to 30 minute sessions. Remember to enjoy the journey as well as the result.
By: Mercedes Aspland
This article has been supplied by alternative therapies directory. You can also find more information on this subject please visit our Meditation page. |
