Dissolving Pain: Simple Brain-Training Exercises for Overcoming Chronic Pain

by Les Fehmi

For four decades, Dr. Les Fehmi has been training people to regulate their own brainwave patterns to improve their mental, emotional, and physical health. His new book focuses on the treatment of pain, and it is based on the premise that although pain is perceived to exist in a particular part of the body, pain actually arises in the brain.



Drawing on existing scientific research and on decades of clinical experience, he offers brain-training exercises that quiet the pain signal in the brain. The exercises involve altering the way we pay attention to pain, cultivating what Fehmi calls Open-Focus a relaxed form of awareness that changes the neural blood flow and increases alpha brainwave activity (associated with reduced stress and beneficial hormonal changes). These exercises are effective in the treatment of many forms of pain including back, shoulder, neck, and joint pain; headaches; muscle pain and tension; and pain from traumatic injury.



Included with the book is a 60-minute program that guides listeners through the Open-Focus exercises to help them to become pain free.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Fitness

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2010

Reviews

[Wilderness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book by the director of the Princeton Neuroscience and Bio-feedback Program. Explores the connection between the brain and pain. Lots of easy to read information about how the brain processes pain through its neuro pathways and exercises to decrease stress inducing inflammatory processes.

[Yycdaisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be useful to some people. The author tried to make the book interesting by including some case histories and information on studies done in this area, but it tended to drag the book out.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing companion to Hawkins’ Letting Go book!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRAIN TRAINING explains a practice"open focus" which When learned and utilized helps manage Chronic pain. This methodology is an outgrowth of biofeedback introduced in the 1970s. It is based on proven research and clinical practice. The book is comprised of case studies, exercises as well as a variety of disciplines from different scientific fields to explain the process. It is a simple but powerful guide that in my opinion stands up next to meditation and mindfulness as a means to train the brain to use its resources to manage pain. I highly recommend it to anyone who suffers from chronic pain. Thanks Dr Fehmi.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short 166 page book describes a non invasive method for dealing with chronic pain. This method helps the individual widen their focus of attention which in turn may reduce the feeling of pain especially if stress/tension tends to amplify their pain. I liked that the author encouraged the reader to see their doctor to determine if chronic pain is the result of a treatable physical source instead of only relying on this method to deal with pain. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to reduce chronic pain that medical treatment has not fulled relieved.

[Ronald · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is the narrator Arthur Morey trying to do? Chase listeners away? After turning the volume of my iPod as low as possible, his voice still cuts into my ears like a knife. If you want to teach people exercises to train their brain (mind?), should you not use a more soothing voice? A voice that we want to follow instead of running away from?

I tried, I really did, but this narrator is among the worst!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book applies "open focus brain" techniques to pain management, but can also be generalized to any unpleasant emotional or physical state. It is a wonderful introduction to open-focus, and comes with a very helpful CD. Highly recommended for anyone in the healing arts.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

May have extrapolated one takeaway action to add to jumble of self-help improvement pile.
The extreme pauses of dead airspace on the included CD were crazy-making. I understand the point, but still, I'm just saying....

[Nancy Rector]

The topic of the mind and how it works fascinates me. This is the second book by this author on the topic of open focus and how it can effect ones body and mind in dramatic ways.

[Jo Auburne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the ability to change your life for the better if you let it.