Mental pain control?!


Question: For many years now, I have been able to control certain types of mild pain by thought alone! I used to practice controlling a localized itchy sensation this way, and it seems to be the same mechanism involved!

Only the mild throbbing type pain affords itself to this method. And only if it is a 'wave' like throbbing sensation with predictable 'peaks and valleys'. I train my mind to image a sine wave type formation which has its peak superimposed over the pain's wave pattern, such that the peak occurs when the pain is in a 'valley'. They seem to cancel off and the pain disappears! However, it is quite draining in that it seems to draw a lot of mental energy. My questions are:

Am I imagining this, (tee-hee, I guess it is, indeed all in my head ) and has anyone else experienced this phenomenon?


Answers: For many years now, I have been able to control certain types of mild pain by thought alone! I used to practice controlling a localized itchy sensation this way, and it seems to be the same mechanism involved!

Only the mild throbbing type pain affords itself to this method. And only if it is a 'wave' like throbbing sensation with predictable 'peaks and valleys'. I train my mind to image a sine wave type formation which has its peak superimposed over the pain's wave pattern, such that the peak occurs when the pain is in a 'valley'. They seem to cancel off and the pain disappears! However, it is quite draining in that it seems to draw a lot of mental energy. My questions are:

Am I imagining this, (tee-hee, I guess it is, indeed all in my head ) and has anyone else experienced this phenomenon?

These types of controls have been used for many years by many doctors, therapists and eastern medicine techniques. One that was popular here in the 70's and 80's was one where you made mental images of the pain and what would it look like if you drew a picture of it. The remedy to this picture was another picture that would alleviate the sensation.

It works something like this: You have back pain which is sharp in some places, dull in others and here and there places that have a fiery hot and stabbing sensation. I drew a picture of a pathway lined on each side with pine trees which had dropped needles to the ground and some of which were on fire. As I walked through this forest there were needles under my feet that were pointed and sharp and there were pieces of the trees on fire that were falling to the ground as I passed. I could feel the sensations in my back and legs as I walked.

The remedy picture was one of me riding a horse through the same pathway and the trees were no longer on fire. They were covered with snow and the pathway was as well. As I pictured the remedy to that first picture I would actually feel better after experiencing the mind mechanisms that were at play and how I was controlling them. You draw as many pictures as you need to depict the pain and as many as you need to counteract the pain.

It was a fascinating experience.

go to the Doctor

You both are, and are not truly experiencing it. The mind is a powerful tool, and is capable of a great many things. For example, consider the healing power of a "sugar pill" which patients believe will "cure" then. In many instances, situations improve merely because of mental confidence and pain relief.

Dr. James Jeah MD

Try to get in touch with your feelings. Sound like you spend a lot of time in your head. Feelings, especially ones you don't like, can make your body act abnormally if you don't deal with them.

you can ease the pain of child birth by concentrating on other things but this is a conscious effort and is not for everyone.
if you do not have a good attention span its not going to work for you.

Our body and it's senses, are just a material fact. When we feel pain, it's just a warning. We understand this and take good care of it.
Our body can be seen as the computer and our mind as the register. All the physical matters are the outcome of the programme of the hard-disc, the registered thoughts.
It means that our thoughts decide what will happen physically.

I give Dr. James a thumbs up, and yes, I can attest to similar experience - though from my perspective more of a spiritual tone than a mind over matter approach. But then again, doesn't faith and spirituality live first in the mind... ?

From one head-case to another: no pain, yes gain.

Wait, I have a headache - I'm thinking too hard. gotta go take some Bufferin.





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