The brain registers pain emotionally. Feelings of fear, trauma and helplessness may increase pain sensitivity. This then leads to an increased pain experience which then leads to increased trauma and subsequent heightened pain sensitivity and the cycle continues. The experience of pain is a self reinforcing vicious cycle and interrupting this cycle is imperative to the management of physical and emotional chronic pain.
Brain waves are a representation of the way you pay attention, both to the outside world and to your internal feelings. In the case of chronic pain, the brain is paying too much attention and has become over-sensitized.
By learning to control your brain waves with the aid of EEG neurofeedback, you can affect the underlying behavior patterns of your attention and return your brain’s pain sensitivity to normal levels.