Healthy Living

Managing Chronic Pain

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Chronic pain is often an invisible disability that goes unrecognized. If you suffer from chronic pain, you might find yourself feeling as if you have to justify your disability to others around you. It can be really difficult to manage, especially if it’s as a result of a long-term condition with little improvement. There are a few practical things you can do though, so read on for some tips on how to best manage your pain or disability.

Seek Support

Your pain might be affected by temperature, making fall and winter particularly difficult times to manage. If you are an occasional chair or walking stick user, then there are ways of managing these supportive items even in bad weather. Don’t be put off just because it’s raining outside. Getting out and about is still really important – even if you’re missing out on walking, it can still be beneficial to get some natural daylight and boost your vitamin D levels. And yes, even light on overcast days counts, so try and get outdoors if you can. 

Calm Your Living Space

Chronic pain is frustrating, debilitating and just generally miserable, especially if you’re a frequent or daily sufferer. So, if you find yourself stuck indoors a little more often than you’d like, think about making your living space as tranquil and pleasant as possible. It can be difficult to maintain a focus on the positive, so try something new. Healing crystals can be a great way to focus your mind – they won’t necessarily dispel the pain, but they might help you focus on the positive aspects of your life. Clear quartz properties, for example, are said to be for getting rid of negative energy and emotions. Instead of thinking about these stones as a magic wand, rather think of placing them in your space to remind you that there are positive parts of your life – you just have to try and remember them.

Improve Your Mental Health

Easier said than done, right? But if you suffer from pain on a daily basis, then it’s likely to have a big toll on your mental health. Talk to your GP about the pain but, if you’re waiting for tests or being bounced around different medical departments, then it’s also worth starting a conversation about how they can help support your mental health, if you haven’t already had this talk. Antidepressants, talking therapy, there are lots of different options to help you manage how you feel. If your pain is becoming difficult to manage, then it’s worth talking to an expert so your mental health doesn’t take too much of a hit. This is particularly important as we get into winter – the days are shorter and it can have a negative impact on how you feel. 

Talk to Other People

Lastly, find some external support. There are plenty of support groups who you might find really useful to have an open discussion with people who understand what you’re going through. It will give you an open and safe space to talk about how you feel.

Karla Urwitz
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