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Live well,
despite chronic pain

Changing the way we think about and manage pain

A new year...a new you: 3 Ideas to start 2021

12/31/2020

 
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1. Create a gratitude jar
This January, start the year with an empty jar.  Each week, add a a note with a good thing that happened. On New Year's Eve, empty the jar and read about the amazing year you had.

2. Trash the self-trash talk
While chronic pain hurts, it’s the “struggle” with pain that causes the suffering. We can begin to change the way we think about and react to pain by removing the negative trash talk we say to ourselves each day. This type of thinking increases focus on the pain, reinforces it, and can make the pain feel worse. 

3. Get off the chronic pain merry-go-round
Stop searching for a cause and cure to your pain. Accept it as your new normal knowing hurt doesn't always mean harm. 

Learn more in my free e-book. 


Tips for reading scientific articles

12/30/2020

 
The Chronic Pain Champions website provides links to not only pain information but also pain research and journal articles. 
 
Pain research, especially scientific studies, can often be long and hard to read for non-professionals – loaded with all sorts of detailed information. 
 
Research generally follows this format: abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion.
 
My suggestions
  • Start by reading the title and abstract to get a brief overview of the article.
  • Check the date to make sure the article is current. Some subjects can be timeless while others change.
  • If the article looks interesting, look at the results to get a summary of the findings.
  • Move to the discussion get the author’s interpretation of the results.
  • Continue reading the introduction and the entire article, if desired.
  • Look at the citations. They can lead you to even more opportunities for research.
 
Other suggestions
  • How to Read Research Articles Fast
  • Art of reading a journal article: Methodically and effectively
  • How to Read a Scientific Paper

Just added: CHRONIC PAIN EVENT CALENDAR

12/29/2020

 
Public events you may want to explore/attend. ​Not affiliated, supported or endorsed by Chronic Pain Champions.

Two events are on the calendar for January. 

Check it out.

Do you have chronic pain education events planned for 2021?
Promote them for free via the new Chronic Pain Champion Event Calendar. 
Submit event information here.

Reduce your focus on chronic pain to reduce your pain

12/21/2020

 
One of the most recommended ways to manage pain is to change how much attention you give to it.

Paying attention to pain, amplifies the pain and increases the tendency for negative thinking.

Just like a kid screaming for candy at the store. If you always buy the child candy (in this case, pain) when they scream, they’ll continue to scream each time you take them to the store until they get candy.

Five ways to reduce your focus on chronic pain
  1. Learn about it - pain doesn't mean harm
  2. Distract yourself from it
  3. Practice mindfulness
  4. Restructure negative thoughts
  5. Change what do you do and say when you hurt (pain behaviors)

​Learn more - resources
  • Think Pain Is Purely Medical? Think Again. (Dr. Rachel Zoffness)
  • Are You Missing Two-Thirds of Your Potential Pain Treatment Plan? - (My story)
  • Chronic Pain Won't Stop me (My free e-book)
  • Mindfulness for Physical Pain (University of Minnesota)
  • ​Mindfulness Bell - A 5 Minute Mindfulness Meditation
  • A Magical Cure for Pain? No – it’s just Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Dr. Rachel Zoffness)
  • Replacing Negative Thoughts - Examples (Chronic Pain Champions)
  • Eeeeek… pain behaviors! (My article)
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do you see a goat or a bird?

12/14/2020

 
Look at the photo below. What do you see?

​Now change your focus. Do you see something different than before?

Just like this exercise, we can change our thoughts about pain and our reactions to it by changing how we look at it - by changing our focus.

​Learn more 
  • A Magical Cure for Pain? No – it’s just Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 
  • Eeeeek… pain behaviors!
  • Pain Is Inevitable; Suffering Is Optional
  • Our dangerous fear of pain

Find more articles about changing how we think about pain. 


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    Welcome

    Chronic Pain Champions is an information resource/blog/support group to help chronic pain patients, their families, and friends, as well as healthcare professionals. Learn more about this site and the author.

    Free e-book: Chronic Pain Won't Stop Me


    Understanding pain Accepting pain
    Adjusting to pain
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    Content presented is for informational purposes only and should be used in conjunction with healthcare professionals.  It is not meant to replace professional advice. 

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    ​© 2021
    Tom Bowen
    Chronic Pain Champions
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