Imagining Pain as Something Else
I've heard of a tip before, but whenever my pain gets bad of course I can't even think of this to try out. Would love to hear if this works for anyone else!
I have heard of imaging your pain as a sensation of something other than pain. When it's acting up, think of it as being heat, or cold, or pressure. It can also be something other than a sensation, such as light or a colour.
If you ever see me complaining of pain, I would also appreciate it if you reminded me of this tip so I can try it out for myself!
@AffyAvo hope you are managing all your pain in some way. It must be so challenging.
There are many tips for managing pain. Some people run an icecube down their arm or belly so the pain of the ice cube takes their attention away from the original pain. I have tried this with some success.
I think the mind may be the most effective tool for coping with sensations. Labeling can be a help. When you feel the pain, silently think "Pain" or "that is a pain" and then let it go. What we need to let go of is the body's urging to take action. The fight or flight response is often what gets us so preoccupied with pain. It is how the body warns us of impending danger.
If we know the pain is not a threat and there is nothing we can do about it then identifying it even validating it will show the body it has done its job and it may stop sending warnings of pain. And we can just keep identifying it is not a threat.
The other thing that helps me to focus on something else is this simple exercise of silently counting breaths.
While breathing naturally, silently count one on the inhale. One on the exhale, two on the inhale, two on the exhale...continuing up to 10. Then start at one again. Allow the breath to be naturally but belly breathing can be more relaxing if that is natural.
It is difficult for mind to focus on more than 1-2 things so often the pain fades into the background.
Helping others gives me a sense of a greater work and purpose so the pain is of a lower priority. Please let me know if any of these works for you.