From a minor scratch to a major injury, an encounter with pain can happen at any moment. You can't have control in that. But, there's something you can have control on and that is the way you feel pain, yes your mind.Our mind is a great player. It can trick us surprisingly well. But, guess what, we too can trick it for good. The pain is all in our mind but that doesn't mean it is unreal. The pain that we feel is produced by the brain which is then processed to the body, where it notes the location and intensity, and emotionally dictates your reaction. Since pain involves both the mind and the body, certain mind-body therapies can help reduce the levels of stress hormones in the body, allowing the immune system to be better able to fight off the pain. The sensation of pain is influenced by our genetic makeup, emotions, personality, and lifestyle. Even our past experience can trigger pain because it happens that the brain rewires itself to perceive pain signals even after the signals aren't being sent anymore. Whatever the reason may be, you can trick your brain with the following pain control techniques.
- Fantasize food
When in pain, trick your brain to imagine a warm, gooey chocolate brownie or a cheese burst pizza maybe? Why? Because fantasizing about food can stimulate the production of pain-fighting chemicals in the body.- Breathe in, breathe out
Deep breathing is something you can practice anytime. Focus on the diaphragms and make your normal breathing quite deeper by breathing from the belly rather than shallow inhaling and exhaling from the chest and block your pain signals to a great extent. You can pair it up with some music to help maintain breathing rhythms.- Activate your chakra
Our body consists of many interlinking nerves and energy fields. Activating suchpressure points will improve the blood flow and stimulate the pain-numbing response well.- Mindful meditation
One of the best answers to the question, “how to control pain?” An unattended mind is the breeding ground of half of our problems and one way to keep it calm is mindful meditation. Meditating with the entire focus on breath and wild imagination. Visualize the pain is shrinking or melting away from your body. Picturise a nice waterfall or a garden full of fresh flowers to relax and ease your pain.- Laugh out loud
Laughter is undoubtedly nature's own analgesic. Laughing will release the pain-fighting chemical endorphins in your body and will also enhance your immune system.- Get creative
Let the creativity flow. Art therapy is believed to relieve the physical and psychological symptoms of pain. Engage yourself with crafts, clay, yarn, colored pencils, and other art supplies to fight against pain.- Groove to music
Yes, music heals. Listening to your favourite tracks can subdue pain, depression, and discomfort associated with pain.- Write it down
Negative thoughts can worsen the pain further. Writing whatever you are feeling on a paper can reduce the intensity of pain extremely well.- Think positive
Needless to say, positive thoughts has pain-relieving benefits. Never get too emotionally involved with the pain or get upset when you feel it, instead, think that your body is working on it and will heal soon.- Mantra magic
Listen to mantras or repeat a mantra—usually a sound, word, phrase, or prayer as it will keep the negative thoughts and unpleasant sensation away.- Find a distraction
Read a book, practice your hobby, watch a movie, do anything just don’t sit and curse why you are the victim.- Get some sleep
Sleep has healing properties. A good sleep will refresh and renew your body. Try to get some sleep to ward off the pain.It is true that when it pains, it not easy to trick your mind but with time and practice you can adapt your brain to deal from acute to chronic pain easily.