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Welcome to the PainSupport Newsletter
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Editor: Jan Sadler of PainSupport
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No.184, July 2010
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Worried?
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by Jan Sadler
of PainSupport
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www.painsupport.co.uk
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© Jan Sadler July 2010
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Are you a worrier? Is your mind sometimes in a whirl, going
over and over the same subject? It happens to most of us, at least
occasionally. We often fret about a whole raft of things, from small
niggling problems to big underlying concerns, and especially fears about
our pain and health.
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Worrying is fine if it brings an issue to your notice which
then propels you into taking action. Otherwise fretting about an issue
just exhausts you and leaves you feeling drained, powerless and unable to
use your energies to tackle the problem.
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When you're worried, your body
chemicals become unbalanced. The production of endorphins and other of
your body's pain relieving chemicals is blocked, which, of course,
increases your pain levels.
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Here’s a way to sort out at least some of your fears and put
you back in the driving seat. I’ll show you how to list your concerns and
then grade them into different type of worries so you know how to handle
them.
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So, remember – worries are not for worrying about –
worries are for sorting!
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First of all, make a list of ALL your worries, no matter how
trivial.
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This is example of what someone’s worry list might look like:
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An
upcoming family get together.
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Extra pain
from visiting a friend.
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Can't cope
with the housework/gardening.
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Fallen out
with a neighbour.
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I need to lose
weight.
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I'm worried
about my medication.
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Suppose my
pain gets worse?
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The news on the TV worries me, keeping me awake.
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If only I hadn't fallen and hurt my back all those years
ago.
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Once you have
written down the worries, you can start to sort them out into three
groups:
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1. Those likely to get better anyway, given time.
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2. Those you can't do anything about.
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3. Those you can take steps to solve.
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Here is the list
of worries sorted into the above groups.
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1. Those likely to get better anyway, given time.
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Extra pain
from visit – it will settle but you can help
yourself by relaxing and pacing your activities.
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2. Those you can’t do anything about.
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If only I
hadn't fallen and hurt my back all those years ago.
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Pain getting
worse in the future.
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3. Those you can
take steps to resolve.
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Family visit - plan carefully, simplify what you do
and get some help in any work involved such as cooking, or by ready prepared
food. Pace yourself. Do the minimum, they are coming to see you not your
dust!
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Neighbour – make the first move to mend the
relationship.
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Weight –
start a diet, joint WeightWatchers, ask doctor for advice.
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Medication – ring doctor for advice.
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TV news – if there’s something upsetting on the
news you can’t personally do anything about - stop watching it! Realise
that TV and newspapers love bad news. The news is not a true reflection
of your world.
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Housework/gardening – only do what is really necessary. Tidy
one room only. Relax about the garden, wild areas are good for the
planet! Make one neater spot near the house. Do the tasks in small steps
with breaks between. See if there is anyone to help, even just
occasionally.
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Now, instead of being overwhelmed with a whole mass of
problems, you can see that most of the worries can be sorted out and
dealt with, especially the issues in List No.3 which can be
worked through step by step.
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There’s no point in getting stressed about anything in Lists No.1 and 2. Realise and accept
that worrying about the past is useless. Whatever has happened is over
and done with and cannot now be changed. You may wish you had handled a
situation differently but you handled it in the best way you could at the
time. And although you cannot change the past, you can learn from it.
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Accept also that worrying about the future is pointless too –
no-one knows what will happen in the future - and it rarely turns out as you
worry it will!
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Appreciate that worry thoughts are not facts, they are just thoughts. We don't have to believe them!
Instead of worrying, it's better if we learn to stand back and evaluate a
situation realistically and in a calm way. This will help to put the
situation in perspective and lead on to action to take.
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Remember
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Worry thoughts are not FACTS!
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Worries are not for worrying about - worries are for
sorting!
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© Jan Sadler of PainSupport, www.painsupport.co.uk
July 2010
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TIP
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PainSupport’s page on stress relief
using your breath:
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http://www.painsupport.co.uk/relief/05breathing.html
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Log on to PainSupport for more helpful ideas, new friends, advice
and support.
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www.painsupport.co.uk
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Stress Reducing Tip
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Smile!
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I know you don't feel like smiling when stressed or in pain.
But even so, if you let your face relax around your mouth and jaw and
deliberately smile gently you will feel so much better. Doing this will
send positive messages to your brain which will begin to release 'happy'
endorphins, your body's own feel-good chemicals.
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As you practice, very soon the smile will become natural and
you will feel more relaxed and peaceful. This is also a great 'beauty
treatment' as smiling gives your face a lift!
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Please send us YOUR tips for quick ways to relax and reduce
stress.
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RelaxTips@PainSupport.co.uk
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It worked for me!
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Coming off prescription drugs?
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UK
PainSupport member Iris says it can be done! She says,
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“I started to
find the side effects of the pain relief I was prescribed were taking
over my life. I was taking Buprenorphine 35 mg patches (also called
BuTrans, Temgesic or Transtec),Temgesic sub lingual tablets and Pregablin
tablets. One specialist I saw said he did no believe in throwing pain
killers at people so I decided to try, with my doctors help, another
route. I started to take collagen, manuka honey with bee venom and I use
Biofreeze. Over a period over three months, slowly reducing the pain
killers, I started to feel like me again. Gone was the horrible dopiness,
the hot flushes and the constipation. I still have some pain but the
level is no worse than when I was on the drugs. I feel so much happier. I
hope this might help someone. Iris.”
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Please tell us!!
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If you
try any product or therapy that helps you in some way, please let us know,
even if it only reduces symptoms a little, as it may help others too.
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ItWorkedForMe@PainSupport.co.uk
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Are you getting a good night’s sleep?
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A Good Night’s Sleep CD (or book and CD)
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Stress and pressure can seriously
affect our sleep. Learn how to gain a peaceful and tranquil night's sleep
right through the night - every night. This is a beautiful recording by
Jan Sadler, totally peaceful and relaxing, sleep virtually guaranteed!
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Phil, PainSupport member in England, says,
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“’A Good Night’s
Sleep’ is superb, it has restored me to excellent sleep quality after
years of dreadful insomnia. I can recommend it to anyone in pain or
'just' with insomnia, like me. It's life-changing. Thanks so much,
Jan.”
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Listen to a
sample.
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Go to either of these pages:
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http://www.perfectrelaxation.com/sleepcds.htm
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or
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http://www.painsupport.co.uk/products/02tapes01.html
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As always, proceeds from every
sale go towards the upkeep of the PainSupport site.
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Or try this for pain and insomnia…
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5-HTP is a supplement, usually derived from an African seed
Griffonia Simplicifolia, which is used for anxiety, depression, fatigue,
panic or sleep problems but many individuals have also reported it also
eased their pain. 5-TP is used by the body to produce serotonin, a
neurotransmitter important in maintaining balanced mood, regulating pain
sensitivity and promoting energy.
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NB Seek medical
advice before using especially if you already take antidepressants, St John's wort, cold
remedies or various other drugs.
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Only buy from reputable sources such as Natures’ Best:
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http://www.naturesbest.co.uk/5-HTP-tablets-100mg-P564/
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Let me know your pain relief tip
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PainReliefTip@PainSupport.co.uk
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6 Simple
Ways to Improve
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
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“Many of those who have
Fibromyalgia are afraid to exercise because they fear worsening their
symptoms. But experts say that regular physical activity actually helps fibromyalgia
sufferers. The problem? The condition's hallmarks, widespread body pain and fatigue, make
it tough to work out. So how can people with fibromyalgia be encouraged
to exercise without fear of making their pain and fatigue worse?”
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See rest of article here…
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6-simple-ways-to-improve-symptoms-of-fibromyalgia
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PainSupport Newsletter
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You’re welcome to forward this newsletter to anyone you think
would like it.
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If you’re reading this and haven’t already signed up for your
own copy, just click below. In addition to the monthly newsletter, you
will also receive the FREE PainSupport Tool Kit – an easy-to-use guide to
pain relief techniques!
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Sign me Up!
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signmeup@painsupport.co.uk
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Pain Relief Tool
Kit
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Collect pain relief ideas in a
Tool Kit folder! It will be especially useful during setbacks or when
pain flares up. Your Tool Kit will remind you of useful ideas to calm you
and get your pain under control.
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NB Keep your Pain Logs in
your Tool Kit – you can find a link to them near the end of the newsletter.
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The
PainSupport Contact Club and Discussion Forum
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An Invitation…
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If you’re not already a member,
why not join our free, highly successful Confidential Contact Club and
Discussion Forum? Ease the pain by sharing life's ups and downs with those
who understand – and perhaps find some answers too. Here is message
recently received from M, a member of the PainSupport Contact Club,
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“The PainSupport
website has been a great comfort in helping me deal with my pain and I
have made some lovely new friends via the contact club. It is so
reassuring to speak to others who understand where I am coming from
and I always look forward to the PainSupport newsletter.”
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Join or Login the Contact Club for new friends...
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http://www.painsupport.co.uk/data/cc_contactclub.asp
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Join or Login the Discussion Forum…
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http://www.painsupport.co.uk/data/df_viewtopics.asp
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Words of wisdom
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“When we worry, we make problems bigger than they really
are. Instead of worrying, accept whatever you have no control over,
prepare wherever you can and choose happiness instead of worry.”
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-- Author: Inner Space website
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Keep Smiling…
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Signs and Notices
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On a Fence: "Salesmen welcome! Dog food is
expensive!"
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At a Car Dealership: "The best way to get back on your
feet - miss a car payment."
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In a Podiatrist's office: "Time wounds all heels."
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On a Plumber's truck: "We
repair what your husband fixed."
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On another Plumber's truck: "Don't sleep with a drip.
Call your plumber."
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- - Author Unknown
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Editor’s Note
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I hope you find the above ideas
useful. For more information and ideas for pain relief, please go to the
PainSUPPORT and/or Perfect Relaxation websites, addresses below.
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All best wishes – and keep
smiling!
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Jan at PainSupport
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www.painsupport.co.uk
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www.perfectrelaxation.com
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Your FREE
Pain Logs!
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Print off as many copies as you
need. They will help you keep track of your pain, find out what affects
it, and can be use for medical consultations, if necessary, to show your
doctor how your pain affects you.
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a) www.painsupport.co.uk/enewsletter/painlevelslog.pdf
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This log will be a record of
your actual pain level.
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b) www.painsupport.co.uk/enewsletter/painfeelingsandactivitylog.pdf
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This log will help you to
discover how your activities and feelings may affect your pain.
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You may print the above
Newsletter for your own personal and private use but if you wish to use
all or part of it for any other reason, please ask first. Copyright belongs to Jan Sadler.
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Many of the tips in this
Newsletter are not from medical sources, so please use your own
discretion or, preferably, check it out with your doctor, before trying
any of the suggestions. Please also have any undiagnosed pain checked out
by a doctor.
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Products, sites and
organisations mentioned in the Newsletter are merely being brought to
your attention. Check everything yourself before purchasing or acting on
any of the information. PainSupport is not responsible for the content of
any other website mentioned. PainSupport NEVER passes on your email
address to anyone else without your prior permission.
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We hope you enjoyed reading
this newsletter. However, if you'd rather not receive future PainSupport
newsletters, please let us know. unsubscribe@painsupport.co.uk
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Copyright © Jan Sadler 2010
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