One of the most commonly overlooked aspects in lower back pain therapies include that of the mind-body connection. Now, it is becoming much more widely accepted as a therapeutic medium, however, how to implement it still seems to be a challenge for most back pain sufferers. Here are a few tips to make it work for you.
1. Accept your pain: The first thing you have to be aware of is HOW you FEEL about your back pain. If you are angry at your pain, that simply feeds it, due to the fact you are turning your “psychology against itself”. Pain is simply a signal from the unconscious part of your mind, that part of you that beats your heart, pumps blood through your veins, breathes for you, and does all the other wonderful things that keep you alive. That signal is telling you to pay attention to it. Something is not right in that area, or it is sending a message to you and you are not listening. So, thank that part of you for bringing your awareness to what needs to be addressed.
2. Listen to what your pain is telling you: So, if your body is sending a message to you, its probably a good idea to listen to it. Now, this may sound a little hokey to you, but who cares, as long as it works, right? Go inside your mind and talk to your pain. Ask the pain, “Ok back pain, what are you trying to tell me? What do I need to do in order for you to stop sending me pain messages?” You may be very surprised to hear the answer. Many times, in fact MOST of the time, its something we don’t want to hear! Perhaps, “Stop being afraid to stand up to your husband!,” or “Take more time to rest, and stop working so much!,” or even “Quit this horrible job, and do what you really want to do in life!” These are just a few of the types of answers that are frequently expressed by back pain sufferers when they do this little exercise.
3. TAKE ACTION: Now, its time to make an agreement with that part of your unconscious mind that is giving you that cool little reminder. Ask it that if you do what it is telling you, would it stop sending the pain messages. If it agrees, then you know what to do. Take action on it, as long as it makes sense to do so. If you feel that what it says is not in your best interests, may be illegal, or whatever, then ask it to provide a more positive action, something that would help you grow as an individual.
The true intention of this exercise is to get connected with the messages that your body sends you. Many back pain sufferers don’t feel that pain is a good thing, or may even feel victimized as a result of it. This is NOT helpful, again, as it turns our own internal resources into a poison against itself. It’s time to create more powerful meanings to our experiences in life, ones that will provide more health, wellness, enrichment, and personal power in our lives. Reframing back pain is just the beginning.
–Sam Visnic