Pain & The Immune System

We know from many research studies that the way you experience pain depends on your personal situation. Research has shown that the way you feel pain, its intensity and unpleasantness all depends on what’s going on for you – and most importantly – what you think and feel about the situation.

If you expect to feel pain, your brain can actually make you feel pain

Neural Plasticity

What you focus on drives the way your brain adapts and changes. This is your brains neural plasticity. The more time that you spend worrying about all the negative thoughts and feelings surrounding your pain the more entrenched our brains gets at making us feel pain.

Ways to help your immune system

There are actually many things you can do to help yourself to buffer your immune system and improve your pain:

• Mindfulness meditation is well known to quieten your mind
• Proper nutrition is important
• Getting enough quality sleep
• Movement and exercise
• Playing – doing things that you enjoy

References

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