When we experience physical pain, we naturally think of that pain as existing solely in that hurting part of our body. If we have back pain, the problem is in our back. If we have stomach pain, the problem is our stomach. Though true in many ways, our experience of pain is slightly more complex. It is the nerves in our back or stomach that send a signal to our brains and then our brains interpret that signal as pain. Because of this intermediary step in our brains, it is possible for us to exert some influence over how much pain we experience by influencing the way our mind interprets those pain signals from other parts of our body.
A recent study examined how mindfulness might impact our subjective experience of pain. The researchers recruited 200 participants suffering from chronic pain and had them complete measures of mindfulness, experience of pain, emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize, regulate, and cope with one’s emotions), and pain management self-efficacy (our belief and confidence in our ability to cope with our pain). What they found was that those who were more mindful reported experiencing less physical pain, and scored higher on the measures of emotional intelligence and pain management self-efficacy. Upon further analysis, they found that it was the increased emotional intelligence and pain management self-efficacy that led to the relationship between mindfulness and experience of pain. In other words, mindfulness helps us feel more secure about being able to handle our pain and helps us better recognize and regulate our emotions. These two things, in turn, help to reduce our actual experience of physical pain. Researchers note that this relationship between mindfulness and subjective experience of pain could be a purely psychological one, or perhaps this increased capacity to handle or emotions, and belief in our ability to handle pain could prompt us to actually change our behavior in ways that help to minimize the pain.
Keryn Breiterman-Loader
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