Can Positive Emotions Actually Help Reduce Pain?
Pain and Mood
Pain and mood often go hand in hand. When pain is worse, we tend to feel worse, and when pain is a little better, we often feel a little better too. Similarly, many have found that depressed or lower moods can also worsen pain. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, pain is both a physical and emotional experience. This is true of all pain experiences, whether acute or chronic, and regardless of diagnosis.
But is the opposite pattern true? If depressed mood can worsen pain, can positive emotions lessen pain?
It can seem idealistic or impossible, but a group of researchers (Finan et al. 2024, recently published in the Journal of Pain, see reference below) decided to investigate. They thought there was a strong theoretical reason why it should be true. In previous experimental studies, increasing participants’ positive emotions reduced their experiences of pain in a lab.
However, would this be true in individuals with chronic pain?
Could a positive emotion enhancing intervention reduce pain- in people with chronic pain?
The researchers recruited a group of 44 adults with rheumatoid arthritis. They ranged in age from 30-70 years old, and were on average 50.
Participants were randomized to two different treatments:
Savoring meditation: This involved a meditation focused on recalling a memory associated with positive emotions, and paying attention to multi-sensory changes that occurred in the body while remembering.
Slow breathing: This was the “active placebo” that served as the comparison group. This group was given instructions on slow breathing, but no other instructions on what to do with their attention, thoughts or emotions.
Participants in both groups got 4 treatment sessions where they practiced these meditations.
Then, they were guided to do their meditation (savoring or slow breathing) while experiencing a painful stimulus in the lab, and they rated the intensity and unpleasantness of their pain.
What did they find?
They found that BOTH groups had lower pain intensity when they were meditating (savoring or slow breathing) compared to rest. However, the participants who were Savoring had the biggest reductions in pain scores.
Surprisingly, the Savoring group also rated their pain as lower even when they were not actively meditating. The authors believe this shows that there is a “carryover” effect, where Savoring seems to reduce overall sensitivity to pain.
How did this work? Positive emotions and pain in the brain
The researchers actually had their participants complete these tasks while in an fMRI scanner. fMRI, or functional magnetic resonance imaging, allows researchers to look at what parts of the brain are more active during different tasks.
In this study, the participants who were Savoring had more brain activation in areas that are known to be associated with cognitive and emotional regulation of pain. This included greater activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and more functional connectivity between this area and the caudate when participants were using savoring during the painful stimulus. This activation was greater in comparison to the individuals who were using the Slow Breathing technique.
What can we learn from this?
Positive emotions are not always the opposite of negative emotions. Even if our negative emotions reduce, does not mean that we automatically get more positive emotions. That also means that even if we have negative or depressed moods, we can still benefit from developing our positive emotions at the same time.
This study was done in adults with arthritis, so we need to be careful when making assumptions about younger people or those with other chronic painful conditions.
The authors caution that this may not be the best technique for everyone, but it may be most helpful for those with chronic pain who are experiencing concerns such as lack of interest or pleasure, unbalanced emotions, or sleep problems.
The participants in this study practiced their skills at least 4 times before the researchers examined its effects. In real life, practice and repetition is crucial to see the most benefit.
Unlike medications, trying positive emotion enhancing techniques rarely have side effects! Even if it does not dramatically change pain, it usually has a positive impact on wellbeing and resilience for life. Positive emotions are still really important for anyone living in today’s world, but especially those dealing with chronic pain and illness.
Interested in learning positive emotion enhancing techniques for you or your child? Click the Get Started button at the top of your screen for a free consultation call and learn more about personalized services with Dr. Emily Foxen-Craft at Pediatric Pain and Behavioral Health.
Reference
Finan, P. H., Hunt, C., Keaser, M. L., Smith, K., Lerman, S., Bingham, C. O., ... & Seminowicz, D. A. (2024). Effects of Savoring Meditation on Positive Emotions and Pain-Related Brain Function: A Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial in People With Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Journal of Pain.