The saying, "mind over matter" is the idea that the way we think can have an effect on our physical state. Important new research conducted at the Barrow Neurological Institute and the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University, studied the effects of using slow breathing to alleviate symptoms of pain. The research showed that when it comes to what our bodies experience, our minds play a major role.
In this study, two groups of women ages 45-65 -- one suffering from the widespread body pains of fibromyalgia, and the other healthy -- were subjected to moderately painful pulses of heat on the palms of their hands. The pulses were administered as the recipients breathed normally and again when they reduced their breathing rates by 50 percent. To classify the pain, they were asked to report three characteristics: pain intensity, how uncomfortable it was, and their general disposition.
The researchers analyzed the results and found an overall reduction in reported pain when the healthy participants were breathing slowly. However, the only women with fibromyalgia who benefited from slow breathing were those who also reported having strong positive energy as a personality trait. Because depression is one of the hallmarks of fibromyalgia, slow breathing appears to reduce pain only for those who are not also fighting against the negative energy of depression.
These results, which were recently published in PAIN, the journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, highlight the role that a person's outlook can have on their perceptions of pain, and their ability to regulate those perceptions.
