Overcomingpain App Based on EMDR
By Mark Grant MA
Overcomingpain uses recent discoveries from brain science to change the brain activity that maintains chronic pain. More than just words, the meditations and exercises in this app incorporate a unique combination of bilateral stimulation focused attention and sensory-emotional stimulus. Bilateral stimulation is a treatment element of EMDR and uses sensory stimulation to change physical emotional and cognitive processes associated with chronic pain. For example, brain scans have found changes in brain activity associated with stress and emotional regulation in EMDR recipients. Users can expect to feel less stressed, more in control and even reduced pain.
The app comprises three playlists for controlling pain and associated stress that can maintain pain;
1. Mental Healing strategies,
2. Sensory Healing strategies and
3. Stress Management.
The first two playlists use ascending and descending pain pathway strategies.
Mental Healing strategies (playlist 1) relies on brain-based descending pain pathways with strategies such as guided imagery, bilateral stimulation and sensory processing to alleviate physical discomfort. Descending pain pathways stimulate the body’s natural opioid system (endorphins and enkephalins) to alleviate pain. Descending pain pathway strategies draw on mental abilities such as focused attention and memory.
Sensory healing strategies (playlist 2) is for when you are too tired, sore or distressed to employ descending strategies. Sensory healing relies on ascending pain pathway strategies such as touch or hot and cold stimulation (see fig.1.1). The ascending pain pathway works by stimulating inhibitory neurons (substance P) and decreasing excitatory neurons (glutamate).
Stress management (playlist 3) aims to help you reduce the stressful feelings that can maintain and exacerbate chronic pain. We know that chronic pain sufferers’ nervous systems are in a state of elevated arousal which maintains pain through increased stress hormones and decreased sleep and immune functioning. Stress management strategies such as meditation lowers these arousal levels and augments the body’s ability to resist pain.
Available now on Android and IOS (iphone and ipad). US5.99
References
Grant M (2014) The use of an app to manage carpal tunnel syndrome. OA Behavioral Medicine. 2014. Mar. 20;2(1):3.
Lansing, K., Amen, D.G., Hanks, C. & Rudy, L. (2005). High resolution brain SPECT imaging and EMDR in police officers with PTSD. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 17, 526-532.
Pagani M, Di Lorenzo G, Verardo AR, Nicolais G, Monaco L, et al. (2012). Neurobiological Correlates of EMDR Monitoring – An EEG Study. PLoS ONE 7(9): 45753. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045753
Read Reviews
Review from Pain Resource:
https://painresource.com/chronic-pain/review-overcoming-pain-based-on-emdr-app/