This is a submission from Robert for our December contests.

A reader Robert writes about 2 things he’s learned about managing pain:

The obstetrics nurse taught me about panting to get to the other side of a contraction.  Kidney stone pain washed over me in waves, not dissimilar to my spouse’s delivery pains.  I used the panting method to pass the time ’til the pain subsided.

Meditation in the mindfulness style has taught me to experience this present moment, and leave the experiences of the past and future aside.  Similarly I examined my migraine pain (while awaiting the Imitrex or hydrocodone to help) and learned that it, too, was not every moment.  I could relax during the quiet periods.  Even when a pain-free period was the space between one heart beat and the next, I could appreciate it.

My thanks to that unnamed nurse who taught the Lamaze method, and thanks to my Buddhist meditation teacher as well.

Thanks to Robert for sharing what helps him!