Managing Your Pain
Pain is an attention thief. Whether you suffer from emotional or physical pain, it has the ability to take over your thoughts and your actions. It overrides your ability to live in the present moment. When experiencing situations that bring us to this point, here are six techniques you can utilize to help you manage through your pain.
1. Acknowledge Your Pain.
Trying to ignore what is causing you the pain will only make it worse. Acknowledge your pain. Understand the source. Understand that while you have no control over external forces or outcomes, you do have control over yourself. To better understand your pain consider the following: is it acute or chronic?
Identifying your pain helps you take control of your ability to manage it:
Acute pain comes on suddenly. It can be brief or last for weeks or months. Acute pain goes away once the cause has been treated.
Chronic pain is ongoing. It may result from an injury or infection or be psychogenic, meaning it’s unrelated to injury. Chronic pain persists for months or years and affects your physical and emotional well-being.
2. Take Expectation Out of the Equation.
Often times when we have pain, we expect it to go away, or we expect it to become part of our everyday life. Sometimes, should our pain go away/diminish for while, we expect that it will not return or we expect it to return and allow ourselves to remain in a state of frenzy. Both options (expecting pain to stay or to go away) creates a scenario of stress and anxiety that will only add more negative energy to the condition you are currently in. Stop---take expectation out of the equation. Remember that pain is the body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong---yes, this can be hard at times, but even this is a function to be cherished. Live in the current moment----whether there is pain or not----embrace that moment and work through it and cherish it----let yourself live.
3. Debrief / Vent.
Whether you journal, turn to a spouse, or lean on the shoulder of a trusted friend, make sure you take a moment to debrief and release what you are feeling. It is important to allow your mind and body to process emotions whether they are related to physical or non-physical situations of pain.
4. Breathe.
Meditate daily. "How do I meditate?" You might ask this question as you read this (stay tuned, we will be posting more on meditation in upcoming blogs/posts)--but the easy answer to that question is this: start simple---set aside 1 minute, 3 times daily to take yourself out your environment, shut your eyes, clear your mind and breathe deeply. Eventually, you will see that 3 minutes will naturally become 4/5/6+ minutes. But that's the key---let it happen naturally.
5. Hydrate.
According to the Mayo Clinic, dehydration may aggravate the symptoms of some chronic conditions, like headaches and back pain. Don't forget---physical stress will exacerbate emotional stress, and visa versa. It is always tempting to take comfort in caffeinated drinks, fruity beverages, and the like, but remember, these types of drinks and especially those containing stimulants will increase your pain receptors' sensitivity to pain, thereby making you more susceptable to feeling your pain. So, lay off of the sugary, caffeinated drinks and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
6. Start Taking Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that has qualities that are not only anti-inflammatory in nature, but also can help with boosting your immune system, decreasing depressive symptoms, and helping with overall brain function. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine explains that turmeric increases ligament flexibility and boosts the immune system. You can add turmeric to any savory dish or make a relaxing tea (see recipe below).
Turmeric Tea:
-Take 8oz. or more of milk, almond milk, or coconut milk
-Add 3/4 of a tsp. of turmeric
-Add a pinch of ginger
-Add a pinch of cinnamon
-Add a pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
-Honey or Truvia (to taste)
Heat the above over the stove while whisking the combination gently. Warm the combination to just before it boils. Relax and enjoy!
