Wayne Martin, LCSW, BCIAC
Baylor All Saints Hospital
1400 Eighth Ave., Suite C6
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817-922-2060
Transcript: How relaxation techniques help
The question is “How does something like a relaxation technique help someone who has trigeminal neuralgia?” Relaxation techniques or meditation strategies/biofeedback are not likely to take the pain away by themselves. Where they come in as greatly helpful is in the aftermath of the attack.
When a wave or a jolt of pain hits a person, it is overwhelming to the system. Mind and body go on high alert. And we know from studies that there are grave consequences to living in a constant state of high alert like that. It erodes your physical and your mental health.
Where these techniques come into play and are very useful are in recovering from that jolt, recovering from that wave of pain, restoring some balance to the mind and to the body, to your entire physiology. And so techniques like breathing to recover the pain often takes your breath away and so some deep relaxing breathing can really be powerful in helping your body to come back to a state of normal.