Answer this question to the best of your ability:
Can mindfulness practice change one's perception of pain over time? If so, how?
Yes, mindfulness practice can indeed change one's perception of pain over time. Through regular practice, individuals can develop a greater awareness of their bodily sensations and learn to relate to these sensations in a more accepting and non-judgmental way. This can lead to a reinterpretation of pain as a neutral physical experience rather than an emotionally distressing one.

Additionally, mindfulness practice can enhance the activity in the endogenous opioid system in the brain, which naturally produces endorphins – the body's own painkillers. This can lead to increased pain tolerance and reduced perception of pain. Moreover, by promoting structural and functional changes in brain regions involved in pain processing and regulation, mindfulness practice can improve emotional well-being and stress resilience, further impacting one's perception of pain over time.