Dr Michael Mosley recommends one simple thing you can do every day for pain relief
Chronic pain can have a disastrous impact on one’s physical and mental health and the interplay of both can exacerbate the problem. For example, the psychological toll that physical pain induces can make it more acute and vice versa. However, changing one’s psychology can also break the cycle of pain, Dr Michael Mosley reported in his podcast Just One Thing – with Michael Mosley – BBC Radio 4.
How gratitude helps
Researchers are actively investigating the science behind gratitude’s soothing impact.
Dr Mosley spoke to doctor Fuschia Sirois, a researcher at the University of Sheffield, who is investigating gratitude, self-compassion, and their role in health and wellbeing.
“A lot of the research I’ve done into gratitude has looked at the potential benefits of gratitude in ongoing stressful situations, specifically people living with chronic health conditions,” she explained.
Dr Sirois continued: “Because when you’re living with a chronic health condition it’s very much like you’re living with ongoing stress.
“You’re living with a lot of pain and you have functional limitations to deal with.”
