The legendary musician Bob Dylan once said, “behind every beautiful thing, there’s been some kind of pain.” Pain is subjective, and every person faces varying thresholds. One fine example is the disparity between genders. Although it is commonly said that women are able to tolerate pain better than men due to childbirth, there have been scientific experiments that offer a different insight.
According to research, men feel greater pain than women due to their tendency of linking back to an earlier pain episode. Such pain regressions are less pronounced or non-existence in most women.
Pain can also be distinguished between the physical and emotional. According to a scientific study, pain of both forms activate the same regions in the brain. This explains why a person down in the dumps may experience the same immobilizing effect as someone who is physically crippled.
The good news is that the human brain is a dynamic force. Neuroplasticity enables us to transfer our thoughts and emotions from a specific focal point to another – throughout our lifetime. Think of it in terms of mental energies. And one of Newton’s laws states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can, however, be transferred from one location to another and converted to and from other forms of energy.
Understanding Pain
The biggest step toward overcoming pain is to accept that it is a part of life. Pain helps us to cope with a situation, to tell our minds and bodies that something is amiss. It helps us to react. This source of pain could come in the form of a void in our lives or lingering trouble that warrants attention.
It is also essential to note that there is an intimate bond between the physical and the mental.
This is why amputees experience the debilitating effects of phantom pain (although their physical members are already long absent). We need to understand that the ancient esoteric belief – as above so below is a summary of the universal law that life is a combination of the physical and psychological. And pain is simply one manifestation of life so we should not spend too much time obsessing over it.
Treating the Body
A well-rested body sustained with a balanced diet and regular exercise can do wonders in pain endurance. Pain is ultimately a response. A body that heals and regenerates quickly will provide improved energy and determination in facing and overcoming an obstacle – be it physical or mental.
Treating the Mind
The mind is an extremely powerful tool. This is evidenced in the placebo effect, where patients experience actual signs of recovery simply by believing that a treatment works. The same might be said for miraculous faith healings and motivational speeches that turn a life around. Belief is a powerful thing, which is why there are billions of religious people around the world. You can overcome your pain by believing that you have the means to do so.
The Power of Refocusing
Cohesive techniques such as yoga, may offer the most effective solutions to pain. This is also the reason why a vacation to a faraway land can be extremely beneficial for health. Such trips provide opportunities for you to physically wind down while taking your mind far away from the problems at the workplace.
The trick is to combine the processes of physical rehabilitation with mental relaxation. The ancient tradition of yoga has been documented to provide an improved quality of life through a therapeutic approach that releases bodily tensions and mental disturbances. Another technique is to redirect your focus on pain onto something else such as deep breathing, which has been proven to relieve nagging symptoms.
The next time you’re coping with pain, remember that knowing you can overcome it is already half the battle won. However, always be sure to seek the advice of a professional healthcare professional if you experience persistent physical pain.