In the Coronavirus pandemic the things many of us have missed most is touch, Not being able to hug our grandparents or cuddle our nieces and nephews has, for many people, been the very worst part of a very difficult situation. Many of my clients and friends have told me that they didn’t realise how important touch was until it was taken out of their lives. We know, at some very deep and instinctual level, that touch is very important for our human connection and our wellbeing. This is true through our lives, from when we are babies in the cradle to when we are older. We all need to give and receive touch regularly in a loving and caring way. In the First…
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Chronic Pain, holidays, virtual holidays, and our wellbeing.
Earlier in the year I ran an online event which I have called ‘take your head on holiday’, which many people with chronic pain joined. It offered you the opportunity of a hypnosis session which took you on the most wonderful holiday experience in your imagination. My aim is to allow you to use your subconscious to improve your mental health, to raise positive emotions, to help you relax and generally make you feel better. Lots of people have already told me they love this idea, and those that attended found it extremely enjoyable and beneficial. We have all been missing holidays because of the pandemic. This is a shame as holidays are so good for our mental and physical health. The ‘take your head…
OVERCOMING NEEDLE PHOBIA
With the good news, that the corona virus vaccine will be rolled out shortly, it seemed timely to write about overcoming fear of needles. Needle phobia is extremely common affecting at least one in 10 people. Often people who have needle phobia have had many blood tests or procedures as a child, so a fear of needles and injections sometimes, but not always results from bad memories of this in earlier life. Many people do not confront their fears because they are embarrassed. Often people do not faint or feel faint but do feel panicky when their fear is triggered. Having a vaccination can help protect you against serious diseases, so it is important to get vaccinated. Having needle phobia is nothing to be…
Osteoporosis and chronic pain: how non-medical intervention can help
Over 3 million people in the UK suffer from osteoporosis and one in six of these will find themselves in hospital suffering from a broken bone. It is a serious issue which can have a devasting effect on the everyday lives of many, many people. And it can cause pain, but this does not need to be the end of an active happy life. What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a loss of bone density. It is sometimes seen as a natural part of ageing and it does particularly affect post-menopausal women. But it can affect anyone, men and children included, so the advice I am giving can apply to anyone who gets the unwelcome news that they are losing bone density. The causes are complex,…
OVERCOMING FEAR OF WEARING FACE MASKS
As the Coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, for some people, having to wear a face mask, has seen their anxiety risen to new heights and my office phone is constantly ringing with people wishing to address this issue. Knowing the health benefits doesn’t necessarily make us feel more comfortable about wearing face masks, as the reasons behind our anxiety can vary greatly. Some of these reasons can include feelings of claustrophobia, a gagging sensation, often our health anxiety kicks in because it’s a visual reminder of the pandemic, many people have fears around their oxygen levels and not being able to breathe. During our lifetime, phobias can be developed at any time and can be triggered by a wide variety of factors. For…
How does eco-therapy help people with chronic pain?
I am always encouraging my clients to get out into nature any time they can. I know it helps them. This is true both when I see people suffering from anxiety, especially as the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic hits us all, and also with my clients who come to me for psychology/hypnotherapy for chronic pain. The idea that nature is our natural cure is becoming more popular. It has a name – eco therapy – which is being widely talked about at the moment. What is eco-therapy? Lately a couple of my own clients have asked about eco-therapy and how they can participate. I was a bit worried that they seemed to think it would be difficult to access or to do. In fact,…
10 Ways For People With Chronic Pain To Take Time Out More Often
We live in a world where people seem to compete to have the busiest lives and don’t like to say no when people ask them to do anything. We manage our chronic pain, work, join clubs and teams, and also balance our family and home lives. It’s no wonder people are under more stress today than ever before. There are articles all over the place about the many ways we can relax, but how do we make time to do them? This article is going to cover ten practical ways to take time out of your busy life and relax more often. 1. Use Breathing Exercises: Breathing exercises don’t take much time out of your day to complete. They are a fast and effective…
People with Chronic Pain- What to do if you are worried about the end of lockdown
It is all change now. After being stuck at home, slowly we are able to go out a bit again. There are some new phrases we are all going to be getting used to over the next weeks as the lockdown begins to ease up. End of lockdown anxiety; going back to work anxiety; re-entry anxiety; all these words and others will be popping up in our newspapers and on the TVs shortly. This is a real thing. I am already seeing it in my psychology clinics, which are online now, but usually in Bedford and Milton Keynes. I have seen a lot of clients recently who are finding the prospect of going out of their houses or returning to work is making them anxious….
Using the Power of Gratitude to Help Manage
Your Chronic Pain The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, better management of chronic pain, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery. But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just the word thank you. We have to learn a new way…
5 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life When Dealing
With Chronic Pain and Illness Chronic illnesses include things like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain such as arthritis. They can affect every aspect of your life and can increase your stress levels. Unfortunately, when your stress levels go up, this has a negative feedback on your chronic illness so that you can actually make your chronic illness worse. The goal is to effectively cope with your chronic pain and illness, so that you don’t stress yourself out and can live your life to the fullest. Dealing with your Chronic Pain and Illness Dealing with chronic pain and illness can be extremely taxing and aggravating. What with doctor’s appointments, medications, and limitations on your daily activities, many people with chronic illness suffer…