Enter the “How Do You Show Your Love” Contest by 2/19

Each Monday, we’ll look at ways to cope well with pain and how to get yourself to use helpful techniques regularly.  It’s your at-home pain management class!

So far we’ve looked at a couple of 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

Overall, some people find a favorite relaxation exercise and do just that one.  Others like to vary the ones they use.  Either way is fine.

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

Next Monday, we’ll look at “habit helpers” - websites, technology and tricks 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
• How to succeed with your new habit
• 6 great ideas so you succeed with your new habit
• Cats succeeding at their New Year’s resolution
• Visualization
• Guided imagery, part 1
• Guided imagery, part 2
• Stress management, part 1
• Stress management, part 2
• Why people with pain can’t sleep
• 9 tips to get better sleep

Thanks to Zen Mountain Monastery for the breathing animation.

Send in your submissions for February’s Pain-Blog Carnival by 2/22.

*** Never miss a How to Cope with Pain article!  Get them delivered directly to you by email or by setting up an RSS feed.  If you liked this post, please recommend it at Reddit or StumbleUpon.