Understanding Pain Centers in the Brain

To give you some context, our brains have 16 centers dedicated to processing pain. These centers are not solely for pain; they also process other senses like smell, taste, touch, and sound. Over time, if you’re in chronic pain, these centers can become overly focused on processing pain. Typically, these centers might be 10% focused on pain and 90% on other senses. However, in extreme cases, this can shift to 50% pain and 50% sensory processing. This shift explains why everyday stimuli like bright lights or loud sounds can trigger pain.

The Brain Retraining Exercise

The exercise I practiced involves visualizing the pain centers in your brain. Here’s how you do it:

• Close Your Eyes: Find a quiet place where you can focus without distractions.
• Visualize the Pain Centers: Imagine the pain centers in your brain glowing molten red. These are the areas where you feel the most pain.
• Inhale and Exhale: As you inhale, visualize these red areas glowing more intensely. As you exhale, imagine the light dimming and the pain decreasing.
• Repeat: Continue this pattern—inhale to intensify the glow, exhale to dim it—until the red light becomes almost non-existent.

Let’s try it together:

• Close your eyes
• Inhale deeply, visualizing the pain centers glowing intensely.
• Exhale slowly, seeing the light fade away.
• Repeat this process a few times.
• You should start to feel a decrease in pain and tension. This exercise helps give your brain a sense of control over the pain, gradually rewiring it to process less pain and more of the other senses.

The Science Behind It

Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s research on chronic pain emphasizes the need to see every episode of pain as an opportunity to rewire the brain. For lasting results, brain retraining for chronic pain must be practiced consistently for 4 to 6 weeks, even without seeing immediate results. This dedication is crucial to break the chronic pain pattern.

My Personal Experience

When I first learned this exercise in the hospital, it provided immediate relief. However, the pain would often return within 30 minutes. Consistent practice over time reduced the frequency and intensity of my symptoms. Brain retraining and a change in environment played pivotal roles in my recovery. I spent time in a psychiatric ward, voluntarily, to work closely with my doctor, which was a transformative experience.

Practical Tips

Practice Regularly: The more you do this exercise, the better the results.
Use Pain Episodes: See pain as an opportunity to practice brain retraining.
Be Patient: Results take time, but consistency is key.

Conclusion

This brain retraining exercise was life-changing for me, and I hope it helps you on your recovery journey. If you found value in this video, please hit the like button, comment on what topics you’d like me to cover next, and subscribe for more content. Remember, you can recover fully by rewiring your brain to process less pain and more sensory experiences. Stay strong and keep moving forward.

If you want more personalized help, you can reach out to me on Instagram at @MiguelBautistaMedia. I’m always here to support you on your path to recovery.