Got Pain? Get Pain Relief With Easy Mindful Awareness

In this episode of the, "Mind Over Stress" podcast, you learn about two important research studies establishing the effectiveness of mindfulness in reducing the intensity of physical pain and the emotional disturbance that often accompanies physical pain. 

Commenting on the most recent study, lead researcher Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the medical school associated with Baptist Medical Center, said,

 "We now know that some people are more mindful than others, and those people seemingly feel less pain."

Can Mindful Awareness be Learned?

Can mindful awareness be learned? In our experience at Stress Solutions, LLC, the answer is absolutely yes.

In this "Mind Over Stress" podcast, you specifically will:

• Discover where in the brain mindfulness works to reduce the felt pain experience;

• Discover how exactly to begin a pain reduction mindfulness practice; and,

• Experience a 10-minute Mindful Awareness guided meditation you can apply to help reduce the felt sense of pain.

Here is the link to listen to this podcast episode including the 10-minute Mindful Awareness guided meditation.

If you're not seeing the audio player, click https://podcastplayer.io/podcast/stephencarter/62 to listen to the podcast episode.

Stephen Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC | www.EFT-MD.com | Podcast Website: www.MindOverStress.us


Important Note: The information in any blog post on this site or any podcast episode mentioned in any blog post is not intended to offer advice or recommendations on treatment or prevention of any medical or psychological condition. This blog and podcast episode is provided for informational purposes only. Consult your licensed medical doctor for any and all medical or psychological conditions.

Resource Citations:

'Mindful people' feel less pain; MRI imaging pinpoints supporting brain activity.

September 7, 2018, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-mindful-people-pain-mri-imaging.html

utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

Mindfulness meditation trumps placebo in pain reduction.  November 11, 2015, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: 

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-11-mindfulness-meditation-trumps-placebo-pain.html#nRlv

Good Stress, Bad Stress, and No Stress With Mindful Breathing

Important Note: To listen to the "Mind Over Stress" podcast episode related to this blog post, click the audio player at the bottom of this post. Because some phones and tablets may not show the player, you can also listen on our "Mind Over Stress" website home page at http://MindOverStress.us.

Is There Such a Thing as "Good Stress"?

It's important to make a distinction between a stress experience that can be positive and another that can be problematic - and how to deal with the latter.

The Eustress Experience

A visit to http://Dictionary.com tells us that a type of stress called "Eustress" is defined as, "stress that is deemed healthful or giving one the feeling of fulfillment". 

Examples include situations such as learning a new skill, preparing for your wedding, or those "butterflies" that come just before you're about to make a presentation. Eustress is episodic rather than chronic; it is typically associated with a positive change or experience.

The Distress Experience

Dictionary.com tells us that "Distress" the "other" stress experience - includes, "great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble". 

While there are an array of differences between eustress and distress, two of the most important are the duration and the meaning we give to the stress sensations. Typically, eustress situations are short lived (example: going on that "first date") and have an element of fun or positive excitement.

Distressful situations typically drag on for what seems like forever. Examples include working for a nasty boss, a lack of money to pay the bills every month, or being the caregiver for a seriously ill family member. There is no sense of fun, adventure, or positive excitement when we experience distress.

How Much Stress is Too Much?

One good way to determine when we are in a chronically distressed state is to monitor thoughts, emotions, and energy. Chronic distress wears on our sense of well-being and robs us of vitality. Our thoughts, mood, and general disposition turn negative. 

If your mood and sense of physical and emotional well-being turn south and you recognize your relationships are suffering, it's time to take action to manage and ultimately master the chronic distress experience called the Stress Repose.

How Do I Begin to Master Stress?

There are countless ways to mitigate and ultimately master the Stress Response. One of the easiest ways is to build short, mindful breathing breaks into your daily routine. This does not require you to sit on a cushion, OM, or spend hours in meditation. For most people, extended daily meditation isn't an option.

3-Step Mindful Breathing Practice

As a start toward your Stress Mastery way of living, I suggest doing the following simple Mindful Breathing practice.

• Set a timer or email reminders to alert you at least once an hour (once every 30-minutes is better) that it's time to take a break.

• Close your eyes for 60 - 90 seconds and simply breathe. As you breathe say in mind or out loud, "In" as you breathe in and then say "Out" as you exhale. The idea is to give your attention to the breath as you breathe in and out.

• If your attention drifts toward thoughts or physical sensations other than your breath, as soon as you notice the change, simply return your attention to your breathing.

After completing your 60 to 90-seconds of Mindful Breathing, open your eyes, stretch, yawn and return to your activities renewed and refreshed.

When you complete your first Mindful Breathing practice, congratulate yourself! You've taken an important step towards a practice of Mindfulness Meditation and a calmer, healthier you.

Improved Well-being With Each Day of Mindful Breathing Practice

You'll begin to notice positive brain | mind | body benefits of Mindful Breathing practice within a couple of days. Those emotional and psychical benefits will grow with each day of practice. Aim for at least 10 to 15-minutes of Mindful Breathing in total each day, accumulated one to two minutes at a time. 

If you would like to practice Mindful Breathing for more time each day, so much the better. 

Podcast Episode for This Post

Listen to the "Mind Over Stress" podcast episode that leads you through the easy 3-step Mindful Breathing method by clicking the player below. 

If you don't see the player, go directly to the Mind Over Stress podcast website at http://MindOverStress.us. 

This episode is available on the site's homepage. 

Blessings, light, and peace,

Steve Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC | www.EFT-MD.com | Mind Over Stress Podcast: http://MindOverStress.us 

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Create a Moment of Calm and Peace

In this video you'll be led through a short 2 minute 34 second breath and intention meditation to create a calm and peaceful state of mind and body. You can apply this meditation periodically throughout the day to enhance emotional and physical well-being.

For other Stress Mastery videos, visit us at http://www.EFT-MD.com.

Blessings,

Steve Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC | http://www.EFT-MD.com | http://StressMastery.blogspot.com

Stress Eating and How to Stop the Habit

Two recent studies published in the journal "Neuron", report on findings related to stress and food choices. Links to those two articles mentioned in the podcast are below.

Bottom Line Regarding Stress and Diet

The bottom line for those who are choosing to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is to recognize and account for the role stress plays in our choices about what we eat.

By clicking on the special episode audio podcast link below, you'll learn how to combine two easily done, simple methods that will dissolve stress and place you back in the captain's chair of control when making food choices.

To listen to the 5-minute audio, click:


http://www.audioacrobat.com/email/EDlF9PfRW




To download the MP3 audio file to listen on your smartphone or computer anytime, click HERE.

Key Points:

• Stress affects our ability to make good food choices.
• Stress chemicals can remain in the body up to several hours after a stress inducing event.
• A three-step stress mastering process done before you make a food choice can help you make healthier choices.
• How to apply the three-step stress mastering process:

1. Identify where in your body stress / tension / uncomfortable sensations are located. If possible, touch those areas and really connect with your awareness.
2. Say "Yes to the Stress!" Acknowledge "what is" without resistance or desire to feel any differently.
3. Use Bi-Lateral foot tapping and voice (out loud or in mind) the command to, "Release and let it go... Let all of the stress dissolve and release."

Using this three-step process, you are now ready to make food choices from a place of more physical, emotional, and mental balance that supports better, healthier food choice decisions.

Blessings,

Steve

Stephen Carter Stress Solutions, LLC p:804-677-6772 | e:CarterMethod@gmail.com | w:http://www.EFT-MD.com

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail!

Important Note: This and all other postings to this blog along with any statement or statements made in any podcast, audio, or video associated with this site are for informational purposes only. This and all other posts and statements in any audio or video recording associated with this blog, Stress Solutions, LLC, or Stephen Carter are not intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise recommend any treatment for any medical or psychological condition. Anyone using any of the information contained in this or any other posting, audio or video recording linked to this website or associated in any way with this website does so at his or her own risk. You are urged to seek competent medical consultations with appropriate licensed medical professionals for any and all medical, psychological, or physical conditions.

For more information about the studies mentioned in the podcast and intro above, click the links below.

Scientists scan the brain to see how stress undermines your diet

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-08-scientists-scan-brain-stress-undermines.html

How stress can tweak the brain to sabotage self-control

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-08-stress-tweak-brain-sabotage-self-control.html