Pain, stress, fatigue and depression are all closely connected and are a destructive little quartet. They are often joined by their friends – fear, frustration, anger, rage, anxiety and grief. Each affects the others, and all increase pain. It’s important to break the cycle.

Pain can be controlled by blocking the “pain gate,” located in the spinal cord, which can prevent pain signals from reaching the brain and being recognised as pain. Stress, fatigue and focusing on pain appear to keep this gate open, whereas chemicals made by the brain, called endorphins, help to close the pain gate naturally. Endorphins can be released through massage, heat, cold, exercise, relaxation, distraction, laughter and a positive attitude.

Drug-Free Pain Busters

• Attitude – be positive. Don’t let what you can’t do get in the way of things you can. Try to focus on what you want, not what you don’t want, because we move in the direction of our dominant thoughts.

• Social interaction – mix with others. Ring a friend and invite him/her to coffee or a movie. Humans need other humans for support and communication. Suffering in silence is not a wise choice with any pain, physical or emotional – far better to talk because the minute we talk about things, they become bearable.

• Pain Management Association

  PAIN LINK HELPLINE 1300 340 357 “Waking up every morning in pain can be overwhelming... thanks for helping” APMA’s Pain Link telephone helpline 1300 340 357 can ...

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