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Pain in the Brain: How Mindfulness Can Tame Chronic Pain
Meditation isn’t just for monks — it can help you feel better, even if your body doesn’t
Chronic pain impacts the lives of millions globally, robbing people of mobility, sleep, and joy. In fact, nearly 20% of adults live with some form of chronic pain, which often leads to emotional distress and a diminished quality of life. While traditional treatments — medications, surgeries, or physical therapies — remain the frontline solutions, they don’t always address the underlying complexity of chronic pain. Enter mindfulness and meditation, a powerful and underutilized tool that can alter how the brain processes pain. But how does it work, and can it truly offer relief? This article explores the scientific basis of mindfulness, its impact on chronic pain, and how it’s being integrated into therapeutic approaches.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is defined as any pain lasting more than three months, often continuing long after the initial cause heals. While it can result from an injury or illness, sometimes chronic pain persists without any identifiable cause. Pain, however, isn’t just a physical experience; it’s deeply intertwined with emotions, memory, and the nervous system.
