Life
Dumb the pain
Three tricks to thinking less and feeling better
Childbirth. Menstrual cramps. Brazilian wax. You’d think Eve would have solved the problem of pain right after giving the apple to Adam. Instead, studies show that men handle pain better because they focus only on its physical effects. “For women, pain is not just a sensory experience,” says Dr Ed Keogh, a psychologist and leading pain researcher at the University of Bath in the UK. “Emotions and psychology all have an impact.” Translation: we over-think it. So take a tip from the blokes and stop being so thoughtful. Here are three ways to distract yourself the next time the pain sets in.
The ache: Cramps, joint pain
The relief: Rent a Chaser’s War on Everything DVD
The reason: The pain threshold of female subjects increased and remained elevated for 20 minutes after watching a funny video clip, according to a study in the International Journal of Humour Research. Like exercise, laughter releases endorphins – morphine-like molecules produced by the body to clobber pain. The more you laugh, the higher your pain tolerance.
The ache: Post-surgery, bikini wax
The relief: Listen to your iPod
The reason: In a study of 1441 women by The Cochrane Collaboration, listening to music during colposcopy – observing the cervix using a microscope – offered significantly greater reduction in anxiety and discomfort than pre-test counselling, information leaflets and videos. Listening to any music you like (“even if it’s death metal”) will relax you and ease pain, says Dr Felicity Baker, senior lecturer in music therapy at the University of Queensland. “Just pick tracks with the slowest tempos, with little volume or dynamic changes,” explains Baker.
The ache: Hospital stay, doctor’s office
The relief: Open the blinds
The reason: The brighter the room, the less pain medication patients require, a recent study found. “Light alters the brain’s chemical balance by increasing the level of serotonin, making you less aware of the pain you feel,” says Dr Bruce Rabin, professor of pathology, psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, US. Dim rooms are fine for relaxing, but when beating the pain is the main objective, let there be light.
Childbirth. Menstrual cramps. Brazilian wax. You’d think Eve would have solved the problem of pain right after giving the apple to Adam. Instead, studies show that men handle pain better because they focus only on its physical effects. “For women, pain is not just a sensory experience,” says Dr Ed Keogh, a psychologist and leading pain researcher at the University of Bath in the UK. “Emotions and psychology all have an impact.” Translation: we over-think it. So take a tip from the blokes and stop being so thoughtful. Here are three ways to distract yourself the next time the pain sets in.
The ache: Cramps, joint pain
The relief: Rent a Chaser’s War on Everything DVD
The reason: The pain threshold of female subjects increased and remained elevated for 20 minutes after watching a funny video clip, according to a study in the International Journal of Humour Research. Like exercise, laughter releases endorphins – morphine-like molecules produced by the body to clobber pain. The more you laugh, the higher your pain tolerance.
The ache: Post-surgery, bikini wax
The relief: Listen to your iPod
The reason: In a study of 1441 women by The Cochrane Collaboration, listening to music during colposcopy – observing the cervix using a microscope – offered significantly greater reduction in anxiety and discomfort than pre-test counselling, information leaflets and videos. Listening to any music you like (“even if it’s death metal”) will relax you and ease pain, says Dr Felicity Baker, senior lecturer in music therapy at the University of Queensland. “Just pick tracks with the slowest tempos, with little volume or dynamic changes,” explains Baker.
The ache: Hospital stay, doctor’s office
The relief: Open the blinds
The reason: The brighter the room, the less pain medication patients require, a recent study found. “Light alters the brain’s chemical balance by increasing the level of serotonin, making you less aware of the pain you feel,” says Dr Bruce Rabin, professor of pathology, psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, US. Dim rooms are fine for relaxing, but when beating the pain is the main objective, let there be light.
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