When we’re in pain, we want it to go away. Immediately. And that’s understandable. Chronic pain is frustrating and debilitating, the last thing we want to do is pay more attention to our pain.

The Mill Bay Health Center is now offering registration for a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class for individuals interested in utilizing the technique. MBSR is a formal eight week program that has been established in hundreds of hospitals and health care centers across the country to support people with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, alleviating stress related to medical conditions and much more.

Mindfulness teaches people with chronic pain to be curious about the intensity of their pain, instead of letting their minds jump into thoughts like “this is awful”. MBSR is highly respected within the medical community. Offered as a complement to traditional medical and psychological treatments, not as a replacement.

The MSBR Program helps us to become aware of the habitual interactions between our thoughts, feelings, emotions and behavior related to stress and pain in life. Although most of us are unaware of the space between our body’s stimulus and response, MSBR helps us to recognize the gap which presents an opportunity to take a few deep breaths, let our bodies relax a bit, and consider the possibilities for improvements.

The class will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM – 10 AM beginning March 2. If you are interested in finding out more information about this resource or registering for the class, please email info@kodiakhealthcare.org.