Pain Management

Pain Management

Pain is a complex experience that varies widely among individuals. It can arise from various conditions, ranging from those with specific physical origins, such as endometriosis or migraines, to more diffuse syndromes like fibromyalgia. Beyond its physical sensations, pain profoundly impacts your mental, emotional, and overall well-being.

The Experience of Pain

Pain extends beyond its physical manifestations, deeply affecting individuals in various ways, some of these are:

Emotional Symptoms: Chronic pain frequently leads to frustration, feelings of hopelessness, depression, or anxiety about the future.

Cognitive Symptoms: Impairments in concentration, memory, and decision-making can significantly impact everyday functionality and quality of life.

Behavioral Symptoms: People might withdraw from social and physical activities, rely more on medications, and experience changes in their sleep patterns.

The Importance of Addressing the Psychological Aspect of Pain

As mentioned before, pain is not just a physical experience; it’s deeply intertwined with emotional and mental health. Chronic pain can lead to a vicious cycle where pain exacerbates stress, anxiety, and depression, which in turn can increase the perception of pain. Crucially, this relationship is bidirectional: stress and psychological conditions can also worsen chronic pain symptoms.

Understanding and addressing these psychological elements can significantly reduce the overall experience of pain, enhance quality of life, and enable more effective coping strategies.

Pain Perception in the Brain

  1. An online brief mindfulness intervention tailored for fibromyalgia— insights from a single-arm open-label study. P Ramasawmy, LC Heim, E Fechner, SE Schumann, TT Mai, O Moschner, Y Jiang, X Guo, A Lesani, F Petzke, A Antal, OL Gamboa (Under Review).
  2. Pairing anodal transcranial direct current stimulation with mindfulness meditation abolishes mindfulness-induced improvements in emotion regulation in fibromyalgia: a responder analysis. P Ramasawmy, A Antal, OL Gamboa, F Petzke, A Kästner. (Under Review).
  3. No add-on therapeutic benefit of at-home anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex to mindfulness meditation in patients with fibromyalgia. P Ramasawmy, OL Gamboa, LC Heim, TT Mai, SE Schumann, E Fechner, O Moschner, Y Jiang, A Lesani, I Chakalov, M Bähr, F Petzke, A Antal. Clinical Neurophysiology (2024).
  4. Daily interaction between meditation and endometriosis pain and the mindfulness effect on pain interference in activities throughout a brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention. Franca M, OL Gamboa, M.A. Pinho Oliveira. Archives of Women’s Mental Health (2024).
  5. Mindfulness intervention effect on endometriosis-related pain dimensions and its mediator role on stress and vitality: A path analysis approach. Franca M, OL Gamboa, M.A. Pinho Oliveira. Archives of Women’s Mental Health (2024).
  6. Mindfulness-Based Intervention effect on the psychophysiological marker of self-regulation in women with endometriosis. M. Franca M, OL Gamboa, M.A. Pinho Oliveira. European Journal of Pain (2024). doi:1016/j.jpain.2023.07.026
  7. Cognitive-affective changes mediates the Mindfulness-Based Intervention effect on endometriosis-related pain and mental health: A path analysis approach. Franca M, OL Gamboa, M.A. Pinho Oliveira. European Journal of Pain (2023). doi: 10.1002/ejp.2149
  8. A Single-blind, randomized, pilot study of a brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention for the endometriosis-related pain management. M. Franca M, OL Gamboa, M.A. Pinho Oliveira. EJP (2022). doi:1002/ejp.1939
  9. Association between severity of pain, perceived stress and vagally-mediated heart rate variability in women with endometriosis. M. Franca M, OL Gamboa, M.A. Pinho Oliveira. Women Health. (2021). doi: 10.1080/03630242.2021.1993423.

If you are ready to increase your set of strategies to manage your pain and improve your overall wellbeing, we invite you to connect with us. 

Our sessions are designed to be open, direct, and collaborative, offering practical tools and skills to help you understand and overcome your specific challenges.

We are currently based in Sydney, Australia, and offer psythotherapy and coaching sessions both in-person and online.