Mind-body approaches to pain relief

(Wayne Jonas/ Psychology Today) –– If you have children, chances are good that when they get sick or injured you put on a favorite video, kiss their wound, rub their back, play a game or allow some extra screen time. Distraction and hands-on techniques like touch and massage are mainstays of non-drug pain relief for kids and teens. And with good reason.

Pain medication may work differently in younger people, and some medicines such as aspirin can actually harm young patients. Hospitals use mind-body techniques to relieve pain in children undergoing tests, cancer treatments, and more.

What do these pain relief methods have in common? All of them shift the focus off the pain, calm the mind, and relax the body.  Adults can also benefit from mind-body methods of pain relief. (…)

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