They use relaxation, imagery, distraction, and skin stimulation. You may need the help of health professionals to learn to do these for yourself. Friends or family members can help with some of them. The techniques are also useful along with pain medicines. Information about nondrug treatments for pain also may be available at a local hospice, cancer treatment center, or hospital pain clinic.
Relaxation relieves pain or keeps it from getting worse by reducing tension in the muscles.
It can help you fall asleep, give you more energy, make you less tired, reduce your anxiety, and make other pain relief methods work better. Some people, for instance, find that taking a pain medicine or using a cold or hot pack works faster and better when they relax at the same time. Remember that it may take up to 2 weeks of practice to feel the first results of relaxation. Try several relaxation methods until you find one that works for you. Stick with the same method so that it becomes easy and routine for you.