Priyanka Ganwani
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The latest programme, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) has been developed to help reduce the addiction and dependence on drugs, often an issue with chronic pain patients. The MORE programme helps deal with the chronic pain better without having to resort to substances as a coping mechanism.
'The findings are scientifically important because over time, drug abusers become dulled to the experience of joy in everyday life and this pushes them to use higher doses of drugs to feel happiness,' explained Eric L. Garland, associate professor at University of Utah College of Social Work, in the US.
How does this programme help?
Participants were given a good 8 weeks of to applying the mindfulness-oriented techniques to help themselves release the pain and craving for drugs. Positive emotions are worked on for a better meaning to life and help oneself heal from the often excruciating pain. They were taught a 'mindful savouring practice' in which they focused attention on pleasant experiences such as a beautiful nature scene. As part of the meditation, they focused on colours, textures and scents of flowers and appreciate joy arising from the simple experience. They practiced the meditation technique as a way to understand and come in terms with other joys in life.
Having known that chronic patients may misuse opioids or have done so went through MORE, they exhibited increased brain activation to natural healthy pleasures, showed the study. This method is being tested on people who are keen on quitting smoking or even losing weight. Chronic pain could make you lethargic, read here to know more.
The study appeared in the Journal of Behavioural Medicine.
How a better night's sleep can treat chronic pain better
Having a good night's sleep is the first most step to such pain management. As per a research (March, 2014), by University of Warwick, sleep is a must for resolving or managing chronic pain and pain-related insomnia.
Very often, clinicians would prescribe exercise classes, physiotherapy, walking and cycling programmes as part of the treatment but who would like to engage in these activities when they feel like a zombie? lead author Nicole Tang argued. (Read: 10 things your brain and body goes through when you sleep) This research revealed how sleep can help the patients be more physically active and contribute in productive day functioning as well as better quality of life, eventually. Also read more on how a Chinese medicine could help fight chronic pain.
Image source: Getty Images
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