In pain? Distract yourself. In other words, turn your attention away from the unpleasant stimuli. It seems that what we focus on looms larger in our minds (to use everyday vocabulary).
A new study on pain management suggests that both placebos and distraction techniques (watching a movie, gardening . . . ) work to diminish pain sensations in similar ways. Not only that, but based on experimental results, it seems neither technique requires conscious/deliberate thought processes, and when used together they have a greater effect.
Interesting. This finding brings to mind a couple of personal experiences. First, I recall taking a cat to the vet for a vaccine. Just prior to the vet inserting the needle -- likely causing what would be a sharp twinge of pain -- the veterinary assistant began thumping the cat's head with a finger. She explained that it would make the cat notice it less. And the cat did seem to overlook what was going on elsewhere on its body.
Brilliant. I imagine this technique works on two levels. First, it "floods" the brain with other sensations so the needle prick loses its relative amplitude. Second, by tapping on the cat's head in a rhythmic fashion, it may set up the expectation of subsequent taps. And with expectation comes focus.
As for my own experiences with pain, I have found that my biology does not respond to over-the-counter pain killers. Which is a bummer (the technical term). Aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen . . . I may just as well toss them over my shoulder instead of down my throat. Don't do nothing. But I have found my own semi-effective solution. For those really bad, "it feels like entire universe is splitting-in-two," headaches that can keep me from falling asleep, I have found that applying a Ben-Gay-type "hot" patch to my forehead helps.
Fortunately, no photographic evidence of those instances exists. But it does help. I don't know how to describe it, except to say that the not-pleasant sensation of heat on my forehead somehow drowns out a lot of the pain. Not completely, but enough for me to get some sleep. The brain is a weird thing. Or is it just mine?
Back to pain management and perhaps even mood management as well. The following analogy strikes me as relevant: Envision a floating, sphere-shaped compass. The viewer-window shows "S" for south. Pivot the vehicle and south is still there, but it is no longer in view.
Does consciousness work a little like this?
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