Chronic or Persistent Pain Basics

You need Chronic or Persistent Pain Basics in your pain management tools. If you are in the midst of a flare, this becomes even more important, so I am keeping this simple. Here’s a review of many of the tools that I have posted in past blogs.

No is a Complete Sentence

Remember to say, “No” and then be silent. Practice, practice, and practice some more. You will be surprised at the strength you feel in this simple act.

Read more thoughts on Say No & Thrive with Chronic Pain.

Distraction is the Most Powerful Analgesic for Persistent Pain

Distraction is the Number One Thing you can do for Pain Relief.

ScienceDaily.com said in its blog that “Mental distractions makes pain easier to take…”

Think about it. Your brain cannot focus on two things at once, so you get to choose where you place your concentration. If you are like most people, you are sick and tired of thinking about every painful nuance in your body. Now is the time for you to consciously create interruptions to your thoughts.

Read the Distraction is the Most Powerful Analgesic complete post.

Watch Your Words

Do you still talk about your persistent pain using words of anger and sadness? When first diagnosed, you may have felt extreme resentment and disappointment. Find someone to talk to about your persistent pain feelings.

Once you work through the issues associated with a pain diagnosis, begin to notice your words. Do you share things you are grateful for along with your health issues?

In an empty journal, write how you would like to feel. By changing the words you say to others to reflect what you want, you will start to notice improvements.

“Never own a disease. Reduce the amount of time you talk about it. Refuse to allow illness a place in your consciousness.” RawforBeauty.com

Read more about Your Words and Chronic Pain.

Chronic Pain Tools

Keep an ever-growing list of tools that work and make you feel better.

Use the mantras: “Sore but safe.” Pain does not equal harm.” I am not ill. I just have chronic pain.

• Listen to music
• Add to my comedy toolkit
• Move to the best of my ability
• Post a list of distractions where I see it daily
• Take deep relaxing breaths

Allow Silence

For reasons why, see my blog Silence as a Coping Skill for Chronic Pain 

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Simple Things I posted in My Brain Surgery didn’t work. Now What?

Have a list of actions you can do immediately and make sure they are easy and achievable.

• Cook a meal
• Stretch and do gentle exercise
• Eat slowly
• Clean part of a closet
• Be grateful
• Laugh again and again and again

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Ways to Reduce Chronic Pain

Remember to keep this easy by doing things that you can do alone. This includes the support group because you can sit at home and login to for support.

Print this list a post it where you will see it every day. When you are in the midst of a chronic pain flare, it is often too difficult to remember how to help yourself.

• Add to your comedy toolkit
• Allow silence
• Be grateful
• Body scan
• Breathe deeply
• Clean part of a closet
• Cook a meal
• Deep breaths
• Drop your shoulders
• Distraction is the most powerful analgesic
• Eat slowly
• Join an online support group
• Listen to music
• Move to the best of your ability
• No is a complete sentence
• Reduce Stress
• Smile
• Stretch and do gentle exercise
• Use chronic pain tools
• Watch your words

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And don’t forget to look at my Resources and Pain Management Tools pages.

HUGS!!!

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Gail Sinclair, MHt, CNC is a hypnotherapist who helps those living with chronic pain go from discomfort to thriving by using hypnosis, pain management tools and resources.

She is a Master Hypnotherapist, Nutritional Consultant, and a Reiki Master Teacher. She has over 20 years in healing work and is an international award-winning speaker.

Gail lives in Portland, OR with her delightful husband, son, and cat. She can be found cooking, knitting, writing, and figuring out new ways to thrive with Trigeminal, and Occipital Neuralgia.

You can reach her at gailthriveswithchronicpain@gmail.com.