Category: Chronic Pain
The Good Therapy Blog
May 18th, 2012 |
Opioids are prescribed to relieve pain but are often abused. People who take opioids for nonmedical uses are at increased risk for substance dependency and significant neurologic damage. Researchers have discovered a clear link between opioid misuse and anxiety and mood problems, but the relationship is still unclear. To better understand how opioids affect mood and anxiety problems, Silvia S. Martins of the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland conducted a follow up to one of... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Allen Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
August 4th, 2011 |
Yoga is in ancient practice that originated in India but has gained considerable popularity in the US. Breathing exercises, postures, and meditation are core components of yoga. Although many people develop a yoga practice to become more physically toned or flexible, the benefits of yoga are purported to extend to calming the mind and balancing the emotions.
In recent years, a number of studies have examined the potential benefits of yoga to improve mood. Although... Read More
August 3rd, 2011 |
“Oh, my aching body!” You’ve heard this exclamation - or something like it - many times, probably in television commercials advertising the latest miracle pill or cream that promises fast relief and few side effects, perhaps from a family member or friend who did a few too many reps at the gym, pulled a muscle fighting with the lawn mower, or is simply down for a few days because of the flu and feels bad all over. You yourself are probably not immune to occasional... Read More
June 22nd, 2011 |
I’ve written a few times here about the experience of having multiple sclerosis. Truth be told, as a woman over the age of 50, when getting together with friends in my age range we’ve all got some condition or other. Fibromyalgia, bad knees, arthritis, diabetes. Decades ago we met for coffee to talk about our love lives, careers, college, and next weekend’s ski trip. Nowadays, the topics have shifted to gluten-free diets, Neurontin versus Elavil for chronic pain, and... Read More
April 28th, 2011 |
There are many treatments for chronic pain, including those that fall under the heading of “complementary and alternative” (CAM). This article discusses hypnosis as a CAM pain management tool that can be used within the context of psychotherapy.
The Impact of Chronic Pain
Pain is a complex perceptual experience that involves not only physical sensations, but also one’s thoughts about and emotional responses to it. Pain is described as chronic when is has persisted for 3-6 months or more. It is a significant source of distress for the pain sufferer and also affects those who care for him... Read More
March 21st, 2011 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
New findings show that patients who suffered with depression reported more severe arthritic knee pain than those without depressive symptoms. Tae Kyun Kim, MD, study author and director of the Division of Knee Surgery and Sports Medicine at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital's Joint Reconstruction Center said, "Often, the level of arthritic symptoms reported by patients is much more severe than what is represented by X-rays, which can make it difficult for the... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Laguna Beach Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
February 28th, 2011 |
I was flipping through a parenting magazine the other day while waiting for my daughter to finish speech therapy when the term “goodness of fit” caught my eye. I remember this term well from my graduate school days. Goodness of fit is the degree to which a child’s temperament matches the demands of his or her environment- mainly through parenting. In other words, are the child and parent a good fit for each other given their respective personalities and emotional responses?
It got me thinking about the different kinds of chronic illness and their “personalities”, if you will. Why... Read More
November 30th, 2010 |
Chronic pain is an issue facing many of our potential clients. It is important to understand the effect of ongoing, intractable pain on emotional health and wellbeing, and to be willing to address it as part of a comprehensive therapeutic plan if the client acknowledges this need. Chronic pain is often misdiagnosed, undertreated, and it can impact every part of a person’s life. Relationships, work, self-esteem – all can be affected by the experience of coping with physical pain.
I am a psychotherapist (Registered IMF) working in a private practice, and I am also a pain management... Read More
November 29th, 2010 |
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
attr. to Buddha
I hope that many of you will have had a warm, happy Thanksgiving, surrounded by people you enjoy and care for, feeling a deep sense of connection. For those of you who were fortunate in those ways, I feel grateful on your behalf!
As November comes to an end, I’m reflecting on just how much we may not only want to be, but believe that we should be (even must be), happy and healthy, surrounded by loving friends and family, really enjoying it all – especially during... Read More
October 29th, 2010 |
Starting the day with fibromyalgia pain made Vera angry
Fibromyalgia made it hard for 46 year old Vera to get her legs out of bed in the morning. As she moved toward the bathroom and began her toilette, the pangs of pain moved to her hands, head and neck. It brought tears to her eyes. It made her angry to think that Kurt hadn’t even thought of organizing things around the house to make life a little easier for her. Vera remembered the arguments about accompanying her on doctor appointments and got even angrier. But she never said anything to him. She turned her mind to the support group she... Read More
October 4th, 2010 |
Should Elijah be concerned about his mole?
Elijah nicked a mole on his upper lip while shaving one morning. He covered it with tape and went on with his busy day. Managing his fine arts import company and finding distributors that would sell the fine porcelain gave him enormous pride and self-esteem. He enjoyed making a reality out of the unpredictable nature of the business. Rain or shine, sick or not Elijah never missed a day. He always had his finger on the pulse of every part of the trade, and that’s what helped him sleep at night.
Malignant melanoma diagnosis shocks Elijah
He didn’t... Read More
September 9th, 2010 |
Where Does this Behavior Come From?
Cutting is the physical expression of hidden mental pain. Oftentimes, children start cutting when their mental pain reaches a level that they can no longer deal with. While some children may find positive ways of coping with such pain, others seek negative coping methods including self-harm or drug use. Mental pain can be the result of built-up stress, past traumatic events, hurt feelings, rejection by peers, or abandonment by significant others and other life stressors.
Is My Child Just Trying to Get Attention?
There is an easy way to tell if your child... Read More
August 31st, 2010 |
Standing in line a few weeks ago at my local Whole Foods market, Time magazine caught my eye. Its cover had an idyllic full page picture of a young boy skipping stones on a pond with the headline “THE CASE AGAINST SUMMER VACATION”. I caught my breath and groaned shaking my head in dismay. The sub title read our children are falling behind and loose even more after summer break.
I have since read the article. Some of the concern is directed to lower income children who as the article states are often 3 grade levels behind their more affluent peers. I certainly agree that more enrichment... Read More
August 31st, 2010 |
Anger and hate consumed Sebastian
Anger that his marriage hadn’t worked out the way he hoped washed over Sebastian from the minute he woke up. He was angry with his selfish wife. He was angry that she didn’t seem to want to help their son with his homework or encourage him in sports. Sebastian was angry that he had to take care of everything at home while Loretta showed little concern for the family.
Anger became stronger when Sebastian compared work to home life
Teaching music to kids at school was his only escape. The lack of joint rhythms in his marriage was countered by the magical... Read More
