Being diagnosed with a chronic pain condition can leave you feeling anxious about your future. According to our Fareham chiropractor, it is now recognised that pain is not just a sensation, like vision or touch, but rather it’s strongly influenced by the ways in which the brain processes pain signals.
Pain is always subjective and is defined by the person who experiences it.
For some people, chronic pain can cause strong emotional reactions, such as fear or even terror, depending on what we believe about the pain signals. In other cases, long term pain may be perceived as just a nuisance; a feeling to be merely overcome in order to be able to continue normal every day activities. But whichever way your chronic pain affects you, it’s important to take the appropriate steps to manage your condition. With the right help, you will be better equipped to deal with your symptoms. So let’s take a look at some simple ways you can help to control your chronic pain symptoms:
Relaxation Training
Relaxation training involves concentration and slow, deep breathing to help draw out tension from muscles and reduce pain. Of course, learning to relax requires practice, but relaxation training can shift your attention away from pain and release tension from all muscles. Relaxation tapes can be really effective; and there are plenty available to help you to learn these skills. Your chiropractor will also be able to advise you on the best kind of relaxation techniques for your condition.
Visual Imagery and Distraction
Visual imagery means concentrating on mental images of pleasant scenes or events. It can also mean mentally repeating positive words or phrases to help reduce the negative associations of pain. Again, tapes are also available to help you learn these pain management techniques. Similar to visual imagery, distraction techniques can help to focus your attention away from negative or painful images to positive mental thoughts. Again, this can include taking part in your favourite activities such as watching television or a movie, reading a book or listening to an audio tape.
There are always ways to help manage your chronic pain condition. Don’t forget to speak to your chiropractor about techniques that may work for you.
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