If you are a chronic sufferer, you know how miserable pain can be. Your initial reaction might be to take a pill or fight the experience with all you’ve got; however, the next time pain spikes, might want to try something different.

When the pain increases, stop what you’re doing and take a deep breath. Feel your feet on the ground or your back against the backrest. Look around and find something right now, that you’re grateful for. It may be as simple as “I’m grateful I can drink water,” “I’m grateful I can hear,” I’m grateful I can speak,” “I’m grateful for the my friends and loved ones.”

Another technique is to notice if you feel any resistance to the pain whether mental or emotional, and ask if that resistance is necessary. Ask yourself, “Can I let go of resisting this pain for this moment? Just for this moment,” and notice what happens.

John Chitty, co-founder of the Colorado School of Energy Studies and Biodynamic Craniosacral therapist, uses the following method to calm the sympathetic nervous system, better known as the fight-or-flight response. When you feel a spike in your pain, focus on your body. Put away thoughts of the past or the future and bring yourself to the present moment. Can you you draw a border around your pain? Where are its limits? Direct your attention to the lowest border of pain. How would you describe the sensation that you’re feeling at the lowest border of your pain?

Now, direct your attention to a place in your body that is not in pain and hold it there for one minute. Then direct your attention back to the area in pain. Repeat this process slowly. After doing this a few times, compare the pain you are feeling now tot he original pain, as you remember feeling it. Has it changed in any way?

You may have to repeat these techniques 10, 20, maybe 100 times a day. That’s fine. Slowly a new road is being paved. A new thought process is being created, which will help you cope with your pain.