It must be incredibly frustrating to experience uncomfortable sensations in the body such as pain and not have a clear explanation for it and therefore not have a clear solution for it.
People often worry about pain as a way to feel some sense of control, even if it’s just an illusion. This is referred to as the “illusion of control”.
When we approach pain not with the mindset of trying to outthink it, but with calmness and acceptance, we send a message to the brain, “I am safe”.
Over time the messages of no longer attempting to escape pain but to pursuing desired goals in life leads to the brain rewiring.
No one is being asked to ignore their pain or pretend that everything is fine, but it is about experiencing discomforts yet consciously focusing on thoughts and actions that make one feel safe.
Instead of asking, “How can I get rid of pain?”
Ask, “What is pain trying to tell me? What feels threatening to my brain right now?”
Instead of repeatedly asking, “What is wrong with me?”
Ask, “What can I do right now to feel safer?” (…which is our job as PTs)
The fact is that constant problem-solving keeps the nervous system on alert. To counteract this default mode, one requires to consciously and intentionally focus on brief moments of presence and trust to start turning the alarm down.
Chronic pain is a condition of uncertainty.
Why is this happening to me?
Who can help me?
When will this pain go away?
The solution is ironically letting go of attempting to answer all the questions above, which can be daunting – as if giving up. However, this letting go of search for answers may be accomplished by simply figuring out how to feel a little bit safer at this very moment.
If this search for feeling safety is repeated again and again it can reverse over-thinking.
As PTs, we must teach our patients how to feel safer right now, even when the brain is stuck on over-analyzing. This is pretty much the essence of the Pain Truth program on www.ThePainTruth.org and I am teaching the course on it in Toronto on Sun. Jan. 25.
I hope that this short video will help patients!