Constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness … These are some of the side effects of opioids taken by people with chronic pain. But according to an American study, these opium-derived painkillers could in part be replaced by meditation sessions. Researchers from the University of Utah (USA) carried out an experiment lasting 8 weeks, with 29 participants suffering from pains chronic and treated with opioids. While 18 of them continued their treatment, the remaining 18 went through a mindful meditation program. The program of this meditation was focused on the better acceptance of pain and the reinforcement of positive feelings of everyday life.
Chronic pain decreases positive feelings
“A number of studies have shown that people with chronic pain and treated with opioids become physiologically less sensitive to the pleasures of life ”explains Eric Garland, researcher and psychotherapist. “And in the absence of positive feelings, patients suffer even more physiological and physical pain. They therefore tend to become dependent on opioids in order to feel better, ”recalls the author of the study.
Volunteers followed by a therapist learned to reinforce their positive feelings. To develop their 5 senses and to appreciate again the small pleasures of life such as a sunset, the scent of a bouquet of fresh flowers.
To measure the participants’ brain changes, the scientists subjected them to an electroencephalogram (EEG), while they observed positive images. They analyzed their level of satisfaction and pleasure. The volunteers also had to declare their need for opioids.
“As we had imagined, the results of this experiment revealed that the volunteers who followed the meditation program felt more positive emotions and had less need to take opioids,” explains Eric Garland.
These findings are important because they suggest that mindfulness meditation can help patients become more sensitive to small, everyday pleasures. And that when they learn about these satisfactions again, they can reduce their consumption of “toxic” drugs, especially opioids which increase the risk of addiction long-term.
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