Take a mental break from pain

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cheryl

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Take a mental break from pain - Harvard Health Publishing

Mindfulness can help soothe short-term and chronic pain.

Your mind is a powerful pain remedy when given the chance. Science continues to show how mindfulness can manage pain — and it doesn't take years to master.

"Using mindfulness is a way for older adults to treat ongoing chronic pain and the occasional flare-up without having to always rely on medication," says Ellen Slawsby, director of pain services at Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine.

Shift your thinking

Mindfulness means being aware of the present moment and accepting a situation without judgment. "When pain strikes, mindfulness helps to shift your thinking away from negativity to recognize pain for what it is — something that can ease," says Slawsby.
 
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