How Biofeedback Can Help Young Chronic Pain Patients: Part 5
Open Focus Technique
The Open Focus Technique is designed to improve your ability to open your focus. When the stress response occurs, your focus becomes narrower to allow you to escape danger. For example, you do not need to appreciate the flowers alongside a path if being chased by a bear. However, a narrow focus is not advantageous when you are not in a life-threatening situation, as you cannot then appreciate the whole picture. When an individual has a narrow focus, it is more challenging to create a solution, whether writing music, creating art, or answering an essay question. For example, when a student is required to solve a problem, focus may need to be open to consider all possible solutions.
When the brain’s attention is centered on pain, it brings the pain more into focus, causing it to escalate further. The more the brain is focused on the pain, the more it affects one’s ability to function, which can limit attending school, participating in sports, or enjoying life.
I have found that the Open Focus Technique works well with some adolescents who have difficulty focusing on body sensations, such as muscle relaxation or hand warming. For example, I had one client who was frustrated with the idea of concentrating on physiological sensations and did not like Progressive Relaxation or Autogenic techniques. He enjoyed fantasy fiction and video games, and as he progressed with using the Open Focus Technique, we incorporated visualization. He could imagine the elfin world, sitting in a tree and listening to the ants below in the ground, being aware of the fragrance of the tree and flowers, and the colors of the landscape surrounding him. He could incorporate a wide vision, hear the sounds, and note the physical sensation of the tree. His brain was no longer focused on pain sensations. By widening his overall focus, his pain became less intense, as the brain was no longer focused on it.
Once an individual learns to move into a more open, focused awareness, pain becomes a smaller part of their total awareness and easier to accept and dissolve. It takes practice, as most of us function in narrow focus mode. For instance, as you sit and read this blog, are you aware of the surface you are sitting on, the pictures on the walls, the sounds around you, your posture, your breath, the spaces between the words on this page?
If your child is receptive to this technique, I suggest delving further. I recommend two books: The Open-Focus Brain and Dissolving Pain, co-authored by Les Fehmi, PhD, and Jim Robbins. Further information is available at https://openfocus.com/home/.
Open Focus Technique
This technique is a bit more abstract, focusing on space, distance, and volume. Repeat the following phrases to yourself and see where it takes you!
As you breathe in…
- Can you imagine your breath coming up and behind your eyes?
- Can you imagine the distance between your ears?
- Can you imagine the space within your nostrils as you breathe in and out?
- Can you imagine the distance between the corners of your lips?
- Can you imagine the surface of your tongue?
- Can you imagine the space within your mouth?
- Can you imagine the distance between the base of your skull and your tailbone?
- Can you imagine the distance between your shoulders?
- Can you imagine your breastbone floating down between your shoulder blades as you exhale?
- Can you imagine the distance between your shoulders and elbows?
- Can you imagine the distance between your elbows and wrists?
- Can you imagine the volume of your hands?
- Can you imagine the space between your thumbs and index fingers?
- Can you imagine the distance between your elbows?
- Can you imagine the volume of your lungs as you breathe in and out?
- Can you imagine the space within your heart?
- Can you imagine the space within your belly?
- Can you imagine the distance between your hips?
- Can you imagine the distance between your hips and knees?
- Can you imagine the distance between your knees and ankles?
- Can you imagine the volume of your feet?
- Can you imagine the spaces between your toes?
- Can you imagine your breath flowing in and out of your belly?
Once you have completed the technique, see if you can be more aware of your surroundings and incorporate an open focus as you read, go for a walk, or perform simple activities such as brushing your teeth. Open your focus to the sounds, sights, and space around you. The more that you practice an open focus, the more the brain will reduce the pain.
If you missed the beginning parts of this series, you can read them below.
