Life With My Pet Back

Stress reduction.... Here are some interesting and perhaps novel methods of reducing or managing stress in our lives. Writing, laughing, crying and hypnosis. If you are dealing with pain on a regular or even constant basis you may find yourself becoming stressed. Stress reduction methods are worth looking into to see what might help you. We are all individual and what helps one person may not help another. You may think some of these ideas are a little crazy, but if they help us to reduce anxiety and stress-well, I'm prepared to give it a go!! :)   How To Reduce Stress Through Cathartic Writing It can be cathartic to write down all your thoughts and feelings. Sometimes and for some people it may help to just write down all your concerns, worries, stresses and anxiety. Sometimes when it is down there it is a cathartic process of letting it all out. It may also seem a little easier to handle if it is written down rather than swirling around in...

Depression, Stress and Help Here are some studies about back pain and depression. Does back pain cause depression or does depression link to back pain? Is there a clear link between the two conditions?    Depression and chronic back pain This article from Spine-health discusses that depression is by far the most common emotion associated with chronic back pain.It recognizes that chronic pain and depression are two of the most common health problems health professionals come across. Diagnosis of depression and chronic back pain This article in spine -health discusses that depression is a commonly missed diagnosis for people with chronic back pain.In the articles opinion this is because the person with chronic back pain does not realise they are suffering from depression  Depression causes back pain? A study from the University of Alberta shows that while it is well known that physical pain can lead to depression,the reverse can be true as well.Dr. Linda Ca...

Relaxation is vital to reduce stress Sometimes it can just help to get some " me" time and to listen to beautiful music and relax. Sit or lie down or whatever is comfortable for you, put on some peaceful music, whatever you like, make sure you are warm enough and just listen and go with the music. If troublesome thoughts come in just let them go, you can deal with them later,(I imagine them passing away on a cloud) just for now you can r-e-l-a-x. Some people will want to take this further and meditate and this can be very helpful as well in dealing with stress. Meditation has so many forms and some are linked to religious beliefs, some are not. In brief and a basic interpretation is that meditation is a relaxed concentration on an object, sound, thought, etc and is a mind/body/spirit experience. Some meditations demand certain postures and if you follow these you need to be the judge if you can do them with a back condition. Personally, I prefer to go with ...

Fear about health issues can lead to worry, stress and anxiety. If you feel stressed about your health or any other reason in your life find out all you can about it.  Don't scare yourself but get used to asking questions of the professionals working with you. I imagined my back pain was all manner of very serious conditions. Imagination out of control is WORRY. Worry never gets us anywhere. Pain can certainly grind you down so you are tired and we may retreat from help. Decide to get support when you need it- friends, family, a good pain discussion forum, whatever helps you to feel empowered. You deserve it! Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness...be gentle with yourself.   Desiderata Ask For Help.  If you don't understand their medical terms or they use abbreviations you have never heard of ask them. Build up your knowledge so that you become a proactive partner in the discussions and decisions about your body rather than a pass...

Massage Therapy And Stress Reduction If you find a good massage therapist and it is safe for your condition it may well help back pain and stress.   Massage therapy can work on many levels if you have a good therapist. It can be a time for you, a time for pampering and healing. There are different massages you can have from sports massage for injury to a nice pampering massage just for relaxation. Best to discuss your needs with a qualified, insured massage therapist first.  If done with oils it can help you on an emotional level as well eg lavender is calming, jasmine can help lift anxiety and depression, neroli is a sedative and antidepressant, helping with anxiety, shock and insomnia. These are simply examples. Please consult with a qualified aromatherapist if you want to use oils for therapeutic reasons. It can also help with some back pain and sciatica as part of your strategy but you must check the massage therapist is competent and experienced in wor...

Stress Reduction With Water Therapy.     Water therapy can be great to help with back issues and stress.   Regular daily exercises can be a great stress reducer and improve your overall mood. If you are able to exercise without it exacerbating your pain or symptoms or hindering your condition then your mood and emotions will benefit as well. The problem for many people with back pain and sciatica symptoms is that sometimes the pain is too much to do regular exercise and so the stress builds up. Before I got back pain I was used to walking miles each day with my dog and also doing a lot of gardening which was both great physical exercise for me and necessary as my job is very sedentary. However, when I was in the worst throes of back pain I couldn't even walk across a room without pain. However, if you first get clearance from a healthcare professional water therapy can be a great exercise for back pain sufferers. It is gentle, supportive of your body, no...

Stress Symptoms,  Signs Of Stress when in pain We are all different and equally valid in the ways we react emotionally to debilitating pain. People I know who are under stress have described it as an emotional roller coaster, a see-saw experience, frustrating, depressing, challenging, debilitating, frightening, isolating, stressful and confusing. Also, people have said who are coping with the demands of back pain and realising they are learning to cope and using their emotional strength to get through and do each day, was a profound experience changing the way they behaved towards life.  Appreciating what they can do, physically more dependent, mentally more independent, being kinder, amazed at the community of support among back pain sufferers, found something within themselves an emotional and mental strength they didn't know was there... So we all react in different ways, at different times...equally true, equally valid. I certainly recognize myself in ...

Quite often we think of back pain as a physical problem, and it is,  but there are also many emotional and mental effects of being in pain and having your body hurting.  It is incredibly difficult to take action when in the throes of feeling down so small steps and be kind to yourself.  I have looked into how to reduce stress through stress relief music and CDs, complementary therapies, and other techniques to help. Some will work for you, some won't, we are all different in our responses and what we need.  We have a focus on stress and back pain but these techniques may be helpful to you if you are under any kind of stress. Being stressed and feeling down can take its toll on so many areas of your life. I know it, I have been there and its awful. I hope that you find something in this series helpful to you. Gentle hugs :) Develop A "Can Do" Attitude To Life When you are dealing with back pain or any pain, it is stressful and debilitating physically an...