In this second part of my series on constructive pain management, I want to detail some of the lifestyle changes for symptom relief first proposed in the introductory section of this 4 part essay. The methods explained below are all alterations that can be easily integrated into any client’s life, in order to help them experience less pain and improve life quality.
Eating better is always a great way to optimize general health. Eating less fat, fewer calories, more natural foods, less preservatives and fewer food additives are all good strategies towards making yourself feel better. Consulting with a physician or nutritionist is a perfect way to design a balanced diet that can easily enhance your wellness plan.
Sleeping better will allow the body to heal and reset each night. Meanwhile, poor or disturbed sleep is known to aggravate all types of illness and pain. Clients can improve sleep patterns by making sure that their mattress and pillow suits their needs. The sleep environment should be quiet and dark. Clients are advised to go to sleep on a regular time schedule, since changes can prevent falling asleep or staying asleep. It is not advised to eat or drink within several hours of going to bed at night. It is advised to spend some quiet time before actually attempting to sleep, in order to calm the mind, relax the body and remove stresses from conscious thought patterns. Meditation before bed is a perfect solution for many sleep-time concerns.
Stop smoking. Smoking involves purposefully ingesting toxins in to the body that are known to maim and kill. It is impossible to be serious about feeling better, improving your life or moving forward while smoking. I understand that the habit can be difficult to break, but this undertaking is a necessity for any smoker who is reading this self-help guide. The time to quit is now.
Losing weight is a constructive health tactic that will lighten the burden on the body, while simultaneously improving self-esteem and reinforcing a positive body image. There is no single greater health threat than obesity. It is vital to gain control of your anatomy and become height and weight proportionate, in order to reach true health. Luckily, there is more emphasis placed on healthy living than ever before, so losing weight and getting in shape can be as easy as consulting with your physician, nutritionist or a certified fitness trainer.
Adding more physical activity will increase the metabolism, aid in weight loss, increase range of motion, improve overall functionality and fight that terrible stiffness and tension that many of us suffer from. Simply standing up for part of the day, walking around often, and performing normal physical tasks, will considerably improve metabolic rate and respiratory capacity.
Better ergonomics can improve performance and reduce the chances for injury at work or at home. Keeping things within easy reach and minimizing bad work habits, such as leaning, bending and stooping can really improve overall wellness.
Better posture can make huge changes in the musculoskeletal anatomy. Posture can be improved in every type of positioning, including standing, sitting and even lying down. Taking time to assess and correct postural issues will reduce pain, prevent degenerative anatomical changes and improve the way you feel about yourself. Feel free to consult with your physician or physical therapist for posture improvement techniques that are custom-designed for your specific needs.
Stress reduction is always a great use of time and effort. Stresses cause and contribute to all manner of diseases, increase our risks for physical injury, contribute to cognitive and emotional impairments and are a primary causation of premature demise. Chronic stress causes hopelessness, depression, malaise and insomnia. Anatomical reactions to stress include: increased muscular tension, increased heart and respiration rate, elevated blood sugar levels ( a leading cause of diabetes) and various manifestations of the fight, flight, freeze response, including digestive problems, suppressed immune functionality, ischemia and a shut down in nonessential anatomical systems.
Pacing yourself is a crucial concept for chronic pain sufferers to embrace. Many people do nothing for days at a time, then feel the need to catch up and push themselves too hard to accomplish their basic personal responsibilities. Typically, this all-or-nothing approach to life results in stagnant periods of dysfunction and unproductively, followed by manic periods of action. In almost every case, the body punishes the person for pushing too hard, or for too long, once the tasks are finished. This takes the patient right back into prolonged inaction to recover from the tremendous exertion. Pacing yourself will curtail ups and downs in activity and help you to slowly build endurance, health and improved physicality over time.
Music can be extremely soothing for mind and body. Music can distract from pain and illness, provide relaxation and even facilitate activity and exercise through dance or motivation. Music can be effectively integrated into many other self-help practices, including meditation, guided imagery and exercise therapy.
Do not underestimate the positive effects that these simple and common-sense changes can make in your life. Remember, in order to feel better, you have to work at it. The answer rarely comes down to changing a single life factor, but instead often involves an active program of small improvements geared towards overall better living. When combined into a comprehensive lifestyle modification program, these simple alterations can already put any sick or pained person on the right path towards better body and mind.
