Each Monday this series of articles will feature pain management techniques to help you decrease and cope with pain.  It’s your at-home pain management class!

So far we’ve looked at some breathing exercises and a basic relaxation exercise.  All of these techniques are intended to reduce pain through helping you be more relaxed.  Today we’ll look at 2 more breathing exercises.

• Breathing Exercise #3
• Breathing Exercise #4

There are several ways to use these exercises:

• read through the exercises and then do them from memory (they don’t have to be done exactly as I’ve written them)
• tape record the exercises yourself, then play them back for yourself to do
• have someone else read or record the exercises for you

Should you try different exercises or do the same one?  Either way is fine.  Some people find a favorite relaxation exercise and do just that one.  Others like to vary the ones they use.

Your assignment:  Do a breathing exercise at least once a day.

Next Monday, we’ll look at “habit helpers” – websites and technology that can help keep you practicing your pain management techniques.  Other articles in this series:

• How to change a habit, part 1
• How to change a habit, part 2
• Breathing exercises, part 1
• Relaxation exercise, part 1
• Breathing exercises, part 2
• Habit-helper websites
• How are you doing with your new habit?
• Try 1/2 a habit
• Visualization
• Feedback on changing habits, part 1
• Feedback on changing habits, part 2
• Guided imagery, part 1
• Guided imagery, part 2
• Stress management, part 1
• Stress management, part 2