Why your mindset matters with pain and what to do about it.
Hi team
This weekend I got out in the mountains and it got me thinking about a few conversations that I have had with patients over the last few weeks.
A common theme from our discussions has been managing a pain flare up, I find it fascinating to look at different factors that play into pain management and, the common traits that I see in people who tend to manage flare ups well.
I really believe a big part of managing a pain flare up is mindset work, and no I am not saying that “this is all in your brain” you are not making this up. What I am saying is as health practitioners it is our job to equip you with the tools mindset tools to get you through a tricky period for when Sh*t hits the fan
SO mindset.. let’s get into it.
A huge turning point I see with patients is when they start to practice rational thinking, When sh*t hits the fan and you get an injury or you are experiencing chronic pain you just can’t trust your mind to think healthfully on autopilot, you have to train it, and, this doesn’t happen overnight.
The first part of this rational thinking is figuring out what to do when fears pop up or in this case injury or pain.
Once we figure out what it is that is going on we can then determine what it is that you can do about it. The kind of things we often see cropping up when people hit a big pain point often revolve around fears. Often with these fears patients are yet to fully acknowledge or deal with them, this can include money, (the ability to carry out work) family , support issues, mental health… behaviour’s this list could go on for ever.
A beneficial practice I find is sitting down and being honest and communicating with yourself and you health care practitioner about what those fears are.
Fear and emotion does not mean you are going backwards, it does not mean that something is desperately wrong. If anything, it is a sign you are on the right path, irrational thoughts like pain will always be apart of your life, it is a learned experience. If we can learn about what we are fearful of we can create an effective plan to address these fears face on!
Fear questions to think about:
What are your main concerns with your pain
DO you have fears around the pain or, are there other things going on?
Financial fears going on?
Do you have the support systems you need?
Do you understand what is going on?
Do you need more explanation? Sometimes things need to be explained in more detail, sometimes the more detail we have the more we worry…. figure this out for you.
Have you communicated your fears/worries with your healthcare professional
Once we have figured these things out we can start to consume your brain with things other than your problems. When you have pain, all you start to think about is your pain, and it can become CONSUMING. So instead, letsstart to think about the things you can do to manage that environment, let’s create a pathway together to improve the environment for you to thrive. Don’t confuse a broken bone, or a strained muscle with a broken person.
