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The sources of the original "natural high," endorphins and ekephalins can nonetheless lose their ability to kill pain if the situation becomes chronic. Visualizations may be able to help your subconscious to send in reinforcements.

Endorphins and a sub-type of endorphins called enkephalins are a major source of pain relief in the body. Many times more powerful than morphine, they reduce pain signals in the spinal cord, the thalamus or pain processing center in the brain, and in the cerebral cortex.

Enkephalins prevent the release of acetylcholine, a brain chemical that transmits pain. They also trigger the production of GABA, which in turn is an effective neutralizer of both glutamate and substance P, the two major brain chemicals involved with chronic pain.

But if the problem of Level 2 neuron windup occurs, whereby less and less glutamate is needed to produce more and more pain, the endorphins and ekephalins can become overwhelmed and lose their power. Windup is very common when you have chronic pain.

Good Ways to Increase Endorphins and Enkephalins

Part of any balanced pain relief strategy needs to be to strengthen the supply of these potent natural painkillers. Fortunately you have many natural ways to do this. For example:

• You can laugh a lot
• You can eat spicy food
• You an engage in deep breathing, or meditate
• You can have a chiropractic adjustment or acupuncture treatment
• You can listen to the music you most enjoy
• You can eat chocolate
• You can have sex
• You can exercise

Any of these activities can increase the levels of endorphins and enkephalins in the body, giving you a general feeling of happiness. This can be true for back pain or pain in the neck or other extremities, arthritis pain, fibromyalgia pain, or neuropathic pain (nerve pain).

How Visualization Fits In

Visualization statements provide an additional way you may be able to increase these pain-relievers. These statements don't have the calories of chocolate or spicy food, can be done when you're in so much pain that you don't feel like laughing or meditating, and avoid the time and expense of a trip to the chiropractor or acupuncturist.

Visualization statements represent the specific language that your subconscious wants you to read back to it to help ease your pain. They're simple and are targeted directly at the main factors that could bring you relief.

You can obtain these statements by learning how to communicate directly with your own subconscious mind. The process is straightforward and can be done at home by working with a facilitator over the telephone. You you need no special skills and no previous experience in working with the subconscious.

Reinforcing the Positive

It's possible to work with the subconscious to obtain visualization statements aimed at increasing endorphins and enkephalins. We've found that when used with the above methods, visualization may be able to provide a background of continuous, positive reinforcement to your effort to increase these powerful pain relievers.

Ben Plumb is CEO and President of The Visualization Group, Inc. The company's service is delivered by people like himself who personally suffered from years of chronic pain, and used the visualization method described in this article to obtain relief when nothing else worked.