Many of my patient report that they have difficulty relaxing and meditating due to pain. How ironic that they cannot practice the very techniques that are designed to assist in pain reduction due to their pain! Both physical and emotional pain are a part of life. How we respond to and manage pain can affect our quality of life, our sense of self, and our roles and relationships with others. The Mayo Clinic, in conjunction with The Great Courses, offers a twelve, thirty minute lecture series that addresses this. In this lecture series, Barbara K. Bruce, Ph.D., L.P, an Associate Professor of Psychology and the Clinical Director of the Fibromyalgia Treatment Program and the Chronic Abdominal Pain Program at Mayo Clinic discusses the following topics related to chronic pain:
Why pain matters
What is pain?
Common causes of chronic pain
Medication for chronic pain: why and why not
How exercise helps with chronic pain
Manage your stress to manage your pain
Social support for pain management
How to sleep when you have pain
The vicious cycle of pain and mood
Building a pain management team
Creating a pain management plan
Active sessions: exercise and relaxation
Offered for purchase by The Great Courses, which also sells on Amazon, this lecture series can also be rented from various libraries.
This blog is not designed to diagnose, treat, or prevent illnesses or trauma, and Dr. Emick is not responsible for your use of this educational material or its consequences. Furthermore, reading this blog does not create a doctor-patient relationship. The information contained within this blog is not intended to dictate what constitutes reasonable, appropriate, or best care for any given physical or behavioral health issue, nor does it take into account the unique circumstances that define the health issues of the reader. If you have questions about the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a condition or illness, you should consult your personal health care professional. As always, consult with your personal health care professional before beginning or changing any fitness or nutrition program to make sure that it is appropriate for your needs. Dr. Emick reserves the right to modify her positions on a subject based upon new research or data as it presents.