Mindfulness Groups for Chronic Pain Management

     When someone scoffs at an injury and says, “the pain is in your head”, that person is rarely speaking literally (or in good faith), therefore, it is of no wonder that many chronic pain patients bristle at these words. The pain they feel is very real and ongoing. And on only a technicality, it is “in their heads”. This is to say that all sensation is perceived by our brains. Sight, touch, sound, and smell are all technically “in our heads” but no one would claim that they are not real.

     As a psychotherapist invited to work with chronic pain patients, I am conscious of my role as an interloper. How might psychological techniques help mitigate a medical condition? It is a fair question, and luckily one substantiated by science.

     First, it is false to assume that the brain and body are two separate entities. Scientists in the last century have introduced the hyphenate “mind-body” to try to capture the intertwined nature of our mental and physical health. In many ways this is a return to form. It is necessary to re-learn what Indigenous knowledge held for centuries before Decartes introduced the concept of Dualism. Our mind and body are two sides of the same coin. Though I work in mental health care, much of my work is with the body, including how I approach chronic pain.

     On the other hand, we can also turn to neuroscience to support this “mind-body” connection. Pain perception in the brain is tied up in our emotional and memory processing centres. Over time, chronic pain signals can lead this part of our brain to take over, and our frontal cortex (the sight of inhibition) to go offline. As our pain becomes worse, our emotions become more difficult to manage. In contrast, mindfulness techniques have been shown to re-activate the frontal cortex when practiced over time.

     In this way research supports the use of “mind-body” techniques for the management of chronic pain. The four core principles of mindfulness: non-judgement, patience, trust, and beginner’s mind also help mood. As these two feedback systems work together, it can become easier to manage symptoms over time.

     Finally, group therapy may be a special tool in fighting pain symptoms. It is important to have our experiences validated, normalized, and seen. Working in a group can increase feelings of connection and release oxytocin, a natural analgesic.

     If you are interested in participating in a future mindfulness for chronic pain management group, please contact me at Jennifer@homebodycounselling.ca.

 Reference

Gardner-Nix, J & Costin-Hall, (2009) The Mindfulness Solution to Pain: Step-by-Step Techniques for Chronic Pain Management. New Harbinger Publication.