The sensation of pain that we feel is a result of how our brain transmits the signals that it receives, so it makes sense to assume that our brains can influence and manage the level of pain we feel should we decide to attempt to employ it as an effective chronic pain control tool.
There are several visualisation techniques that we can try that may help with pain control.
Visualisation, also known as guided imagery, is used and encouraged by medical professionals in the treatment of many illnesses, including cancer, where the patient may imagine themselves in idyllic and peaceful surroundings feeling unbelievably well and healthy or take an imaginary journey through the inside of their body in order to fight and destroy the cancer cells.
To begin the process of visualisation the body and mind needs to be in a relaxed state.
However, when we are in the grip of chronic pain and anxiety it is hard to focus on anything let alone relax, so here are some methods to practice to get you in the right frame of mind to begin.
Lie down in a dimly lit room with your eyes closed or alternatively focus on something in the room.
Slow down your breathing and breathe in and out becoming aware of each breath and imagining the air coming in and out of your lungs and your diaphragm moving up and down.
Once you are feeling relaxed try to focus on a part of your body for instance a hand, any part that is not the source of the pain as this will then detract from the pain.
Imagine that your hand is getting warmer, try to actually feel the heat.
Now place the heated hand on the source of pain so that the sensation of warmth is transferred to the painful area, feel in your mind how comforting this is.
Now imagine that you are about to be given an injection of morphine to relieve your symptoms, image the doctor swabbing the painful area and feel the sensation of the drug going into your system, numbing the pain and flooding your body with a feeling of well being.
Another technique is to actually move the pain around your body using your powers of visualisation, try to transfer the pain to a part of your body that can cope better with it, if you can do this you may even be able to move the pain away from your body entirely, flinging it out into the air.
These techniques will take a bit of practice, but they don't entail a trip to your doctor or have a monetary cost.
You will be relaxed and focused and you will at least feel that you have some power over the pain you are suffering where previously you have been powerless.