Pay attention to your pain?

A recent study of people (n=57) who were given a small skin prick to induce an inflammatory response found that focusing attention on the discomfort rather than distracting or ignoring it resulted in an improved immune response. Yes, a small sample size, but yet another interesting pointer at the intimate link between our mind and our body. Turning attention away from unpleasant sensations is a common habit, and even a clinical practice, used to reduce discomfort. Our results suggest that such strategies, in certain contexts, may come at a physiological cost, impairing the body’s ability to regulate inflammation. Furthermore, they raise the possibility that habitual avoidance of symptoms, whether through distraction or reliance on painkillers, could potentially contribute to the persistence of conditions such as chronic pain or inflammation, although this remains to be tested. Conversely, directing attention towards bodily sensations may support immune regulation. Attention-based…