Mind Over Matter
Helping to Control Pain By “Letting Go”

Mindfulness is defined as paying attention in the present moment and letting go of judgment. Using mindfulness to reduce stress and therefore decrease pain is one more approach to pain and palliative medicine.

More than 50 physicians, students and community members interested in pain and palliative care convened to learn about this approach at the year’s first meeting of the Texas Medical Center Pain and Palliative Care Grand Rounds Feb. 27. Micki Fine, a private, Houston-based psychotherapist, shared her ideas on the topic and disclosed some of the stress-reduction strategies she uses in her practice, Mindful Living.

Fine stressed that the power of the presence of one’s self brings balance, control and life participation.

“Has anyone ever been in the shower, but your mind was really on, say, the Southwest Freeway?”

Instead of thinking about activities taking place in the present, many people tend to keep their minds on what tasks lie ahead. Mindfulness allows people to live in the moment.

“The practice of paying attention to the ‘now’ is simple, but not easy,” Fine said. “It takes focus, equanimity, self trust, and compassion.”

Mindfulness affects pain by separating the physical sensation that pain brings, from emotional thoughts about pain.

Fine said healing begins when those with pain notice the physical sensation in the present, transform their thoughts about it, and let it go.

“To have pain is human,” Fine said. “However, denial and avoidance is exhausting. Acceptance allows openness and insights about ourselves and the pain we may be feeling.”

With mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, patients learn to identify their “irrational” thoughts, and by practicing, will eventually generate more creative responses to managing pain.

Fine said research has proven that mindfulness leads to a reduction in pain levels, an increased ability to cope with pain, and in the end, patients are able to cope more effectively with short- and long-term stressful situations.

“Physical and psychological symptoms decrease and the ability to relax increases,” she said. “Patients have more energy and show more enthusiasm for life.”

Classes offered at Fine’s practice include meditation, yoga, awareness exercises, group dialogue and daily home assignments.

Fine said her patients who practice the mindfulness method develop appreciation for life.

“If there is something to appreciate, we can develop a sense of joy ... everyone needs joy in their lives, and there is a lot in this world to appreciate.”

Mark your calendars. Other 2003 Pain & Palliative Care Grand Rounds dates are scheduled for May 22, Aug. 28 and Nov. 20. Anyone with a serious interest in pain and palliative medicine is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Lori Nelson at (713) 791-8800 or lnelson@texmedctr.tmc.edu.

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/04_01_03/page_04.html