Experience of compassion-based practice in mindfulness for health for individuals with persistent pain.
Br J Pain February 23, 2024 Callum Gray, Fergal Jones, Alessio Agostinis et al. 1 citation
People with persistent pain may find compassion-based meditation practices challenging as well as beneficial. In interviews with eight participants who completed the Mindfulness for Health program, five key themes emerged: turning away from the painful self, experiencing the painful self as shameful, facilitating change, turning toward the painful self, and accepting the self. Participants reported both positive changes and difficult emotional experiences linked to compassion in their past and present lives. Developing compassion is a valuable but sometimes difficult part of the program; mindfulness skills, group support, and modeling compassion help overcome personal barriers.