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!
Today it’s your turn to let me know how you’re doing with practicing pain management techniques, or whatever new habit you’re trying to incorporate into your life. You can write the following information below in the comments. I’ll choose a few to use as examples and give feedback so all of us can learn from them.
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what habit you’re trying
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how you’re doing
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what’s working well
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what’s getting in the way of being successful with your habit
Speaking of new habits, here are some to make you smile:
Spending time with loved ones!
Exercise!
Eating better!
Relaxing!
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
- Websites that help you stick with your new habit
- 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
Reminder: Send in your submissions for our February Pain-Blog Carnival by this Friday, 2/20. Thanks to I Can Has Cheezburger for the photos!
2 responses so far ↓
ProfS // Feb 16, 2009 at 1:58 am
what habit you’re trying
Eatomg better. I didn’t really have a choice with a recent diabetes diagnosis. That was my wake up call.
how you’re doing
I’m actually doing pretty well. Blood glucose numbers are finally within a normal range for the past week and I’ve lost 7 points in about as many weeks. I have 4 more weeks till the dr visit and she wanted me to lost 10. So I’m pretty sure I’ll meet that goal.
what’s working well
Making lists and lists and more lists. I can’t remember stuff if it’s not written down. I use my lists on a daily basis and that’s what’s kept me on track.
what’s getting in the way of being successful with your habit
I had an emergency tooth extracton last week so I couldn’t eat what I’d planned to eat. It was challenging to make all new lists of safe foods that were mushy. But I’ve been able to eat some regular food the past couple of days.
Another challenge was when I got a very bad cold two days ago. I felt horrible and wanted nothing to eat but crackers and nothing to drink but coke. But I never touched either one. My huster took all that junk food and stuck it downstairs in the basement where I wouldn’t have to look at it. Then he fixed my meals for the past three days. I’m feeling better and will get back to my “normal” lists tomorrow I hope.
Thanks for writing this series. I’ve enjoyed it and am learning a lot
karin // Feb 16, 2009 at 1:04 pm
My pain is very tied to anxiety. So, one of the best habits I have gone in and out of for the past 6 months is practicing biofeedback–i.e. belly breathing, active relaxation, and hand-warming techniques with visualization.
Don’t ask me why, but my favorite visualization is someone pouring thick, very warm cream through my head, neck, down my shoulders, and into my back.
So my goal has been practicing deep breathing every half-hour for a few moments. I also like to imagine the breath going to where it hurts and opening it up.
I am struggling, though, because when I am very, very anxious and in pain, the last thing I want to do is to try relaxing! So, I need to try and head this off at the pass by focusing even more on the breath when triggering events are happening around me.
Thanks for this–it keeps me mindful practicing these habits…
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