Dec 07 2008
Stress, Holidays, and Pain
If you have a chronic pain condition, you know that stress makes it worse. For many people, stress and the holiday’s go hand in hand. So how do you keep the stress to a minimum and therefore keep the pain at bay.
Plan ahead to avoid unnecessary stress. If you have a plan for each holiday event, you can take your time on the actual day and not get stressed out. Make the plan far enough in advance, and check that you don’t forget anything. Your plan will make it possible for you to actually enjoy the event like everyone else.
Don’t schedule too many events. People with chronic pain conditions need time between events to recuperate. Even if the event is nice and you have a good time, you’ll still be tired and need to rest. Schedule at least a few days between each event so your body doesn’t stay in a pain state.
Eat healthy. Many chronic pain patients have a specific diet that helps their system work best. Follow your diet. If you indulge, only do it on a small scale.
Make sure you get enough sleep. Take extra naps during the day if you have to, but get adequate sleep. Sleep deprivation will exacerbate pain.
Follow these simple tips, and you will avoid some of the holiday stress, and your pain level will not rise as much.
