06/08/2025
Using the Power of the Mind to Help Manage Chronic Pain
Today I had the pleasure of speaking to the local arthritis group about managing chronic pain.
We explored how pain isn’t just about what’s happening in the body—it’s also shaped by how the brain interprets physical sensations. That’s why pain can vary so much from person to person, and even from one day to the next. The encouraging part? While the mind can contribute to pain, it can also be a powerful tool for easing it.
During the session, I guided the group through a brief hypnotherapy experience and a short EFT (tapping) session. It was wonderful to see everyone feeling more relaxed, more at ease and in many cases, with noticeably less pain. They were a warm and welcoming group, and I’m delighted that Jackie and I have been invited back in a couple of months to introduce Reiki and perhaps teach some self-hypnosis techniques.
Chronic pain presents a significant challenge for both individuals and doctors. While medication has its place, long-term use can lead to issues like tolerance, side effects, and in the case of opioids, dependency.
To be clear: this isn’t about stopping medication. There are many benefits to pharmaceutical pain relief. But we can expand the toolkit. Techniques like hypnosis, Reiki, and EFT have no side effects, are easy to learn, and can empower people to manage their pain more effectively, either alongside or independent of medication.
Other simple strategies like relaxation, breathing exercises, and gentle movement can also make a big difference not only in reducing pain, but in restoring a sense of control that chronic pain often takes away.
If you're working with chronic pain yourself, or supporting someone who is, know that there are more options than many people realise.
This photo is from another talk because I didn’t want to include anyone without permission. The background was messy, so I've removed it.