PAUL SAYS -
MANAGING PHYSICAL PAIN -
''A Practical Approach''
---Have you ever noticed that when you have pain, there can be two things that happen. One, is that you can ''focus'' ON THE PAIN or the pain area [SUBJECTIVE] or, two, you can ''distract'' yourself by doing something else, [OBJECTIVE], and the pain is ''less.'' In the second case you put your attention, your ''focus'', elsewhere.
---If one thinks of the pain ALL or MOST of the time, one finds himself going from dose to dose of pain medication. But, if someone has other things to do, and this is the key to it, LIKES what he does, he feels much less of the pain. His ''focus'' is elsewhere and the fact that he enjoys what he does, makes his ''effort'' to be there that much less and much more ''natural.'' The attention is not on the ''pain,'' but on ''something else.''
---This is easy to say, but if you are in or have ''chronic'' pain, this sounds ''ridiculous.'' The last thing that you can then think of is ''something else.'' As I said earlier, the key to this is to involve yourself with something that you like. If you enjoy something then it is much easier to keep your ''focus.'' The more it absorbs your attention, you find your mind doing ''that,'' and it is not on the pain. Dentists who play loud music use this same ''technique.'' They change your ''focus.'' At your ''better'' times, scan your mind and try to find something you would enjoy. Have fun with thinking of it also, as that opens up the possibilities. Meditation is a very good technique to use.
---So, the key is to find something you ''like,'' get your mind off of yourself and your situation, and onto some ''other'' attention getting situation. For example, have you ever noticed that watching TV can be used in this way. If there is something that you ''like'' to watch, you are not thinking about yourself. It can be reading, the radio, walking, a conversation, doing something for someone else, or music itself. Anything at all for that matter. As long as you enjoy it. It comes down to indvidual taste. Be sure that you are not causing yourself or anyone else a greater pain in the process as that certainly defeats the purpose.
---But there are times that you are NOT really into the television, or really anything else. It is background noise or even gets on your 'nerves' and doesn't at all lessen the pain. Sometimes you can't even stand it and just shut whatever it is, off. At times like this, a ''quiet'' time may be necessary.
---We also get back to the problem of finding what we like to do. We all have ''something'' that attracts us. Believe it or not, there is something else you would much rather be doing other than this pain ''thing.'' Let your mind wander a bit and find where it naturally goes.
---You would much enjoy something more positive to think about. If it is positive already, than just ''expand'' on that. By expanding, I mean we can involve ourselves in more of the type of activity we enjoy. If there doesn't seem to be that activity or even something that remotely resembles it nearby, you can enjoy it in your ''imagination,'' and see where that takes you.
---I know that pain is not a fun thing to have. I said what I have said as an alternative to pain medications and having to endure some of their side-effects, which I personally have trouble with. I, like most others, don't like to suffer or see someone else suffering. I realize that when you have pain, not much else matters, except getting rid of the pain. I offer the above as something I myself utilize.
---It may sound strange, but this pain has a story and/or a reason it is there. Don't feel GUILTY or become involved in self-pity, but think back to when it first started and the circumstances that surround it and the pain may have a story or reason to convey. You may get back to the source of it and uproot some of the psychological factors that hold it in place. If the source was an accident or something like that, then some of the above may be helpful. I know that living in a ''pain-free'' environment is much more preferable. The more Subjective one is, it follows that his mind would be on the pain, but one who is Objective, we would see him have a much easier time thinking of ''something else.'' Be Well.
MANAGING PHYSICAL PAIN -
''A Practical Approach''
---Have you ever noticed that when you have pain, there can be two things that happen. One, is that you can ''focus'' ON THE PAIN or the pain area [SUBJECTIVE] or, two, you can ''distract'' yourself by doing something else, [OBJECTIVE], and the pain is ''less.'' In the second case you put your attention, your ''focus'', elsewhere.
---If one thinks of the pain ALL or MOST of the time, one finds himself going from dose to dose of pain medication. But, if someone has other things to do, and this is the key to it, LIKES what he does, he feels much less of the pain. His ''focus'' is elsewhere and the fact that he enjoys what he does, makes his ''effort'' to be there that much less and much more ''natural.'' The attention is not on the ''pain,'' but on ''something else.''
---This is easy to say, but if you are in or have ''chronic'' pain, this sounds ''ridiculous.'' The last thing that you can then think of is ''something else.'' As I said earlier, the key to this is to involve yourself with something that you like. If you enjoy something then it is much easier to keep your ''focus.'' The more it absorbs your attention, you find your mind doing ''that,'' and it is not on the pain. Dentists who play loud music use this same ''technique.'' They change your ''focus.'' At your ''better'' times, scan your mind and try to find something you would enjoy. Have fun with thinking of it also, as that opens up the possibilities. Meditation is a very good technique to use.
---So, the key is to find something you ''like,'' get your mind off of yourself and your situation, and onto some ''other'' attention getting situation. For example, have you ever noticed that watching TV can be used in this way. If there is something that you ''like'' to watch, you are not thinking about yourself. It can be reading, the radio, walking, a conversation, doing something for someone else, or music itself. Anything at all for that matter. As long as you enjoy it. It comes down to indvidual taste. Be sure that you are not causing yourself or anyone else a greater pain in the process as that certainly defeats the purpose.
---But there are times that you are NOT really into the television, or really anything else. It is background noise or even gets on your 'nerves' and doesn't at all lessen the pain. Sometimes you can't even stand it and just shut whatever it is, off. At times like this, a ''quiet'' time may be necessary.
---We also get back to the problem of finding what we like to do. We all have ''something'' that attracts us. Believe it or not, there is something else you would much rather be doing other than this pain ''thing.'' Let your mind wander a bit and find where it naturally goes.
---You would much enjoy something more positive to think about. If it is positive already, than just ''expand'' on that. By expanding, I mean we can involve ourselves in more of the type of activity we enjoy. If there doesn't seem to be that activity or even something that remotely resembles it nearby, you can enjoy it in your ''imagination,'' and see where that takes you.
---I know that pain is not a fun thing to have. I said what I have said as an alternative to pain medications and having to endure some of their side-effects, which I personally have trouble with. I, like most others, don't like to suffer or see someone else suffering. I realize that when you have pain, not much else matters, except getting rid of the pain. I offer the above as something I myself utilize.
---It may sound strange, but this pain has a story and/or a reason it is there. Don't feel GUILTY or become involved in self-pity, but think back to when it first started and the circumstances that surround it and the pain may have a story or reason to convey. You may get back to the source of it and uproot some of the psychological factors that hold it in place. If the source was an accident or something like that, then some of the above may be helpful. I know that living in a ''pain-free'' environment is much more preferable. The more Subjective one is, it follows that his mind would be on the pain, but one who is Objective, we would see him have a much easier time thinking of ''something else.'' Be Well.
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