Meditation for Pain Relief
Apr 16, 2026
At my free weekly meditation group last night, everyone in attendance experienced chronic pain. As someone who has experienced tremendous pain relief from meditating, I went down a research rabbit hole to send a follow-up email to the participants. I thought I’d share some of what I learned here!
Research has shown the following when it comes to meditation & pain:
Meditation has been shown to lower cortisol levels, the main stress hormone, which contributes to reducing pain. Read more here
Brain imaging studies reveal that mindfulness meditation engages distinct neural mechanisms that reduce pain perception differently from placebo effects, indicating a genuine psychological impact on pain processing. Read more here
Research demonstrates that after meditation training, mindful attention to the breath significantly reduced pain intensity by about 40% and pain unpleasantness by 57%, showing substantial pain relief compared to resting conditions. Read more here
I started a folder on Insight Timer with a couple of meditations focused on pain relief. When I used to get multiple migraines a month, I primarily relied on visualizations for pain relief, so that’s most of what I’ve attached in this folder. I promise this post isn’t sponsored by Insight Timer, I just think they are an incredible free resource!
If you're over 16, in California, and interested in individual/relationship therapy, I am currently accepting clients at my practice. The best way to contact me is via email at jayklyman@proton.me. You can also text me at 510-255-5702. I have information about all of my offerings on my website www.jayklymantherapy.com