Conscious Breath Manages Pain

One of the major problems in dealing with pain is the automatic holding of one’s breath. We think that somehow, holding our breath will ease the pain, but any relief from this is momentary and short-lived. Eventually, we must breathe, and consequently, face the pain. The second problem is that it is not simply the pain that causes us to hold our breath, but the anticipation of pain.

Chronic or acute pain can be reduced, and even eliminated, through conscious breathing activities. The trick is this: Take slow, deep abdominal breaths, and focus your mind directly on the pain and anything directly related to it. Keep your mind on the here and now, zeroing your attention on all the sensations of the moment. Get to know your pain. Is it sharp, stabbing, dull around the edges... ? What is happening to the muscles adjacent to the painful area?Draw your attention to these muscles and deliberately relax them.

If your mind wanders, bring your attention lightly back to your breath, get yourself into a deep, slow rhythm again, and examine your pain some more. Every time you re-establish this deep breathing pattern, use your inhalation to join yourself with all other people on the earth who are experiencing similar pain, and your exhalation to send relief and balance to yourself and all those kindred souls.

Conscious breathing is not the end all and ultimate answer to pain sufferers. It can give people a sense of control over their pain, something that they may have thought would never be possible. It can bring about relief without the excessive use of pain medications and allow the body to work its wonders of self healing.

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