Newsletter Archive - Summer 2002

Articles

"The Great Endorphin Hunt" by Jan Sadler of PainSUPPORT

Join us in seeking out and finding endorphins as often as you can throughout each and every day.

All too often we go along with pain dominating our lives and forget that an answer lies within us - we can actively encourage the production of pain-relieving endorphins ourselves. When we concentrate on our pain it stops the production of endorphins. So we need deliberately to distract ourselves away from thinking about the pain and into activities which will produce endorphins for us.

This is why I've chosen Endorphin Hunting as a major PainSupport Aim. As a result we will hopefully have more fun, laugh more, relax more, pace our activities better and enjoy life even more - feel less pain.

To inspire us all I've chosen the following poem, adapted from "Exhortations to Inspire us" by Dr. Robert Muller, United Nations.

DECIDE TO BE HAPPY

Switch on and keep on the positive buttons in yourself, those marked optimism, serenity, confidence, positive thinking, love.
Meditate, Smile, Laugh, Whistle, Sing, Dance
Look with fascination at everything. Try to make others cheerful.
Praise the whole of creation.
Be a rock against sadness, pessimism and hopelessness.
Switch on and keep on in yourself the cheerful buttons, those marked joy, laughter, happiness, love, passion for life, gratitude for life Whistle, sing and smile at life. Feel like a God or Goddess. Feel like dancing.
Say yes to life, immensely, cheerfully, ecstatically, enthusiastically.
Be convinced of the prodigy, sacredness, sanctity and divinity of life
Bring your precious contribution to the happiness and ascent of humankind
And believe in the immortality and everlasting effects of your goodness.

At a practical level, your job is to find and enjoy activities that produce endorphins, so reducing the pain.

Here are some ideas to start you off on your own Great Endorphin Hunt. You can find more information on these activities is on this, the PainSupport website.

Massage and aromatherapy
Feeling joyful (take your attention to things that uplift you)
Being enthusiastic (involve yourself in projects/your interests)
Exercise
Massage
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Smiling
Relaxation
Visualisation
Meditation
Enjoying music
Stroking a pet
Whistling
Enjoying nature
Laughing
Singing

Most important of all is:

To distract your attention away from the pain by getting involved in an interesting project or task.

You don't have to attempt to include ALL of these at once! Just start in a small way with one or two of the ideas and build from there. The important thing is that you focus on how to care for yourself by setting aside time especially to enjoy yourself.

Many thanks to Norma in the US for sending the following poem to me. I loved it, so I've reprinted it here so you too can have an immediate endorphin fix!

So, just smile and get those endorphins flowing!

When we smile our brain produces endorphins - nature's own pain killers.

SMILING is infectious, You catch it like the flu
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too
I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin
When he smiled, I realized I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile, then realized its worth,
A single smile just like mine could travel 'round the earth.
So if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected.
LET'S START AN EPIDEMIC QUICK AND GET THE WORLD INFECTED!

Keep the smile going by smiling at someone else.
Everyone needs a smile !!

"Cross Stitch and Coping with Pain" by Alison

I am Alison and I am twenty eight years old. Up until five years ago I was a fairly healthy student nurse. However everything changed following an incident at work when two of us were standing a rather large gentleman, he slipped and we both braced ourselves, not a wise move as I hurt my back. Following that I continued to work through the pain but eventually was retired on health grounds for other reasons. I am also an asthmatic. At one point while I was off sick and bored I saw a craft shop which I visited and bought a small cross stitch kit. I had never been into sewing in any form before but after starting this little bear kit I was immediately hooked on it. When it came to telling the rest of the family I wanted some cross stitch things for presents my mother found it very amusing and was convinced it wouldn't last, that was nearly seven years ago now.

I found it very difficult to adjust to life without working, going from being a carer to being cared for was a major transition. Fortunately I have a wonderful husband, Kelvin, who now cares for me full time. I felt useless and needed something to give my life purpose.

I had been cross stitching for a couple of years when I decided to contact some firms to see if they ever used home workers. I found the details in the advertising section of some of the cross stitch magazines and also on the back of kits or charts. After writing a lot of letters and getting some rejections I finally had a positive response and started working from home doing something I loved. It didn't feel like work and still doesn't but seeing a brand new design converted into a completed piece gives me a sense of achievement and when the payment arrives in the post I feel like I have contributed to the household income.

After working for one firm for 3 years and getting work on a fairly irregular basis I wrote to other firms applying for work and found another firm who were prepared to take me on. Their work is far more regular and the designs are lovely. Another bonus to doing this work is when I see my stitching used as the cover picture on kits or now on the Internet. Initially I lacked confidence in the quality of my stitching but have had some wonderful letters from my employers praising my stitching. I also do commissions and my Mum is my biggest client, I thought it was just her being nice originally but she is so proud of my stitching that I now know she really appreciates my work.

I have also had a go at a number of other crafts including stencilling, I did our pine bed with a rose garland on the head and foot board. I have done some silk painting, mainly cards, glass painting, which was not terribly successful but I will have another go at some point. I also enjoy using rubber stamps to create my own stationery designs. My other major hobby is crocheting and I have made a number of blankets for family and friends. I can do that without thinking so can watch the television while I am doing it.

Anyway on to how doing cross stitch helps me with the pain. I get so involved in my stitching that it helps to take my mind off the pain for a while. Also the feeling I get as something grows and gets completed makes me feel worthwhile. Another bonus to doing cross stitch is that you can't really eat and stitch at the same time so it helps when you are trying to diet. I do find that I can only stitch for a certain length of time before I need to change position but another good point about cross stitching is that you can do it in bed or when sat in a chair or wheelchair. I use a floor stand as this enables me to stitch for longer without getting too much pain. I can stitch while using my TENS machine or even while having physiotherapy, yes I have done that.

I now wonder where I ever found the time to work. Sometimes I think that having chronic pain has given me the chance to do a lot of things I would never have even thought of trying had I been fit.

If anyone wants to know more about me or my stitching then you can contact me on AlisonJoyClarke@alisonjoy.fsnet.co.uk

Now it's over to YOU - how are YOU going to track down those endorphins for yourself? Do let us know.