Blog Archives · A Pain in the Mind

Stress and chronic pain, how they are linked and how we can break the cycle.

As we come to the end of Stress Awareness Month, I thought I would take a look at how stress impacts on chronic pain and how chronic/ persistent pain can make stress worse. If you suffer from chronic pain, you will know something of this. You are probably already aware how stress can make your pain feel worse and how concern about what is happening with your pain can make your feel stressed. The two are closely linked, and in a series of very specific ways. The good news is, if we understand how this link works, we can break the cycle. That means the end of that dreadful experience of stress leading to pain which leads to more stress-and more pain. If that sounds...

Manage your chronic pain like a FilmDirector:

An introduction to self-hypnosis Okay I know we are going into a new phase, of re-entering normal life as lockdown eases, as some things we now can do and our we can’tlike attend events such as sporting fixtures and awards nights, which we can still watch on TV. I decided then, to do a post about the benefits of hypnotherapy, and especially of self-hypnosis. I have been putting my theory into practice by running a ‘take your head on holiday’ session which uses these techniques to give you a virtual holiday experience when we cannot getthe real thing. If you want to try out hypnotherapy, you are more than welcome to come and see me for a hypnotherapy session. Self-hypnosis is easy, safe...

How a balanced approach can help you deal with the symptoms of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)

To celebrate FND Awareness Day (25th March 2021) in this blog I want to look at pain, depression and Functional Neurological Disorder or FND as it is frequently called. FND is a condition which is caused by problems with the functioning of the nervous system but which is not due to any observable disease. It can include weakness in the limbs, fatigue, blackouts, and pain anywhere in the body. Because of the wide range of symptoms, it is often difficult to diagnose. On top of this, people affected by the syndrome are often not believedby medical professionals or even their own friends and family. Even when they are believedthere is a frequent view that FND is a mental disease and so their physical experiences and...

A healthy way out of lockdown for people living with chronic pain.

Many of us are looking forward to the easing of lockdown. I notice lots of talk about wearing nice clothes again, with adverts for lovely summer dresses. I hear people planning a drink in a pub garden within a few weeks, or a trip across the country to see long-missed relatives. Haircuts are being booked, including mine! the car is being serviced, guest bed linen is being dug out from the back of the cupboard. Football matches are looked forward to and trips to the zoo thought about. Things feel as if they are changing at last. This is wonderful, it is good to feel that normal life, and those little things that make life worth living, are on their way back. Some of us...

Winter workouts can ease your chronic pain.

There is no point in pretending. This is not a good time for anyone who suffers from chronic pain. Perhaps you will be feeling a bit anxious or depressed because of the seemingly never-ending lockdown. Then the weather is bad, indeed if it is snowing or icy you may feel it is dangerous to go out at all. Stuck in the house, feeling a bit worried and a bit bored is common for so many people at the moment. Doesn’t sound great, does it? The truth is this can often be the time you least want to do any exercise. Yet it is even more important than in summer, I’ll explain why in a bit. But it might be that just reading that is…

The importance of touch for overcoming and managing chronic pain.

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…

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…

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