Reduce chronic pain in 8 weeks!

Opioid use—and misuse—is a major problem all over the world. 

Approximately 10 million people misuse opioids every year, and overdoses kill almost 50,000. 

In fact, 70 percent of ALL drug overdose deaths are due to opioids. 

I hate to say it, but the problem often starts with well-meaning doctors who prescribe them for pain relief. 

But these drugs are like quicksand.  

Besides the fact that they’re highly addictive, misusing opioids actually increases pain sensitivity — perpetuating this deadly cycle. 

But there’s hope. 

Researchers have identified an eight-week program that can reduce opioid misuse AND slash chronic pain. 

This study included 250 adults who were admittedly misusing opioids—and still suffering from chronic pain. 

Most of them were also clinically depressed. 

Participants were divided into two groups: One received standard supportive psychotherapy and the other was assigned to a MORE group. 

MORE stands for Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement. 

I’ll tell you more about MORE in a minute. First, let me show you the remarkable results. 

The treatment lasted for eight weeks, and consisted of weekly two-hour therapy sessions, and 15 minutes of homework per day. 

Nine months later, 45 percent of those in the MORE group were no longer misusing opioids, and 36 percent had cut their use by half or more. 

Compared to the standard therapy group, those in the MORE group were TWICE as likely to stop using opioids, plus they reported clinically significant improvements in pain and reduced symptoms of depression. 

What’s even more impressive is that the effects of the MORE therapy seem to get stronger over time.  

The study author said, “There’s nothing out there that works this well in alleviating pain and curbing opioid misuse.” 

Wow. 

So, what exactly is MORE? 

It’s a mindfulness therapy that combines mediation, cognitive-behavior therapy, and mindfulness training. It involves components like: 

• Breaking down their pain or cravings into components, and zeroing in on specifically what they’re feeling 
• Adopting the perspective of an observer 
• Savoring pleasant experiences  
• Finding the joy in adversity 

It might sound a bit simplistic, but it all comes down to this. 

When you’re in pain, it’s easy to become hyper-focused on the pain, which only serves to amplify the sensations—and the desperate need for relief. 

When you can take a step back from the pain, try to observe it objectively, and intentionally look for positive experiences, you can singlehandedly retrain your mind in a way that lessens pain signals. 

It’s not much different from distracting someone who’s getting a needle. Put your focus on something else, and your mind can get distracted from the pain. 

In fact, science has proven that mental distractions BLOCK pain signals from reaching your brain. 

Your body—and your mind—are amazing things. 

It’s time to start using them to our advantage.