#56 Pain and suffering

     Mindfulness has been shown to be very effective in relieving suffering. 

       Grossman P et al. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits. A meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res 2004; 57(1): 35-43.

 

     “But the amazing thing, which you can find out only by practicing mindfulness fairly regularly over time, is that paying attention in a particular way to the very sensations, emotions, and thoughts that together constitute the experience of pain – in the present moment and nonjudgmentally as possible (which may be very judgmental a good deal of the time) – actually has within it the seeds of freedom from suffering. This is totally counterintuitive I know; nonetheless, it seems to be the case ...

     Approaching the pain itself, wherever it is most prominent in the body, with bare attention, open-heartedness, and alert interest even for very brief moments, if that is all that we can muster in any moment, can be profoundly healing, restorative, and illuminating. And if practiced over days, weeks, and months, potentially it can make a difference in the quality of your life for years and years going forward. What we are talking about is really befriending your experience at the level of the body and at the level of the mind and heart, and seeing what unfolds.”       Jon Kabat-Zinn

     Gardner-Nix, J. “The mindfulness solution to pain. Step-by-step techniques for chronic pain management.” New Harbinger Publications Inc, Oakland CA, 2009.

Steven D. Hickman PsyD on Chronic Illness (Pt 2 of 5)