Affirmations for persistent pain

“My pain will always be like this”

“I am going to get worse as I age”

“My body is broken”

A lot of people have unhelpful thoughts when in pain, and in particular persistent pain (pain that has lasted more than 3 months).  How we choose to speak to ourselves affects how we feel, and in turn affects pain levels.

When doing exercises, we repeat the exercises to try and make a change in the muscles and joints. Affirmations work in a similar way. The more we repeat positive affirmations, it can help change our thinking patterns and mindset.

What are affirmations? 

Affirmations are positive statements that can help you overcome unhelpful and self-sabotaging thoughts.

Affirmations can be a great way to connect your mind with the movement that you are doing. Saying affirmations while you do a breathing exercise or do a movement can be helpful. 

Some examples of affirmations are:

• My body is safe

• I am healing everyday

• I am patient with the healing process 

• My nerves are healthy

• My muscles are healthy

• My posture is healthy

Affirmations can be specific with what you are dealing with. You can go a step further by writing an affirmation on a sticky note and placing it somewhere you see everyday, such as the bathroom mirror, or on your desk at work. 

With persistent pain, the brain gets used to certain pathways and thoughts. Affirmations are a tool to help us make new connections. With time and practice, we can override the negative thoughts. 

How to start with writing affirmations

• Turn negatives into positives
  
  Try not to use negative language when writing affirmations. For example, instead of “my back is not painful”, use “my back is healthy and strong”

• Use the present tense
  
  Write and speak the affirmations like they are happening at this very moment. This helps you believe that it is true right now.

• Say it like you mean it
  
  Affirmations are more effective when they are linked to emotions.

Affirmations don’t need to be all about the body. Here are some general examples:

• I am resilient

• I am proud of myself

• I am lucky to be healthy

• I am bringing a positive attitude to work everyday

• I am showing up as the best version of myself

• I am honest in my life and my work

Affirmations might not feel like they are for you, but why not give it a try!

Pooja Guria, Osteopath