by Mary Therese

Created on: October 29, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2009

Chronic pain from fibromyalgia has been part of my life for over two decades. Like many who live with constant pain, I've tried many traditional and alternative medical treatments and a myriad of pharmaceutical remedies. I have discovered some mental coping strategies that have proven to be very effective for pain management. These simple strategies have given me a sense of control over the pain and have enhanced any medical or alternative treatments occurring concurrently.

[Take a Trip to the Beach]

Stephen Halpern's CD, "Letting Go of Stress" has four relaxation and stress reduction exercises, each about twenty-minutes in length. In the exercise, "A Trip to the Beach," Halpern's soothing voice guides you on a mental trip to the beach. Mental engagement in the visualization exercise becomes easier with regular practice.
Even when I'm in agony, Halpern's alluring voice and the images he conjures help elevate my mind above the pain and take me to a state of relaxation. The CD is readily available at online bookstores.

[Take a Trip With the Sandman]

A lack of restful sleep makes it almost impossible to muster enough mental fortitude to cope with pain. If you prefer to avoid prescription medication, there are many over the counter medications that promote sleep. Music to promote relaxation and sleep or sounds of nature, e.g., waves, wind, birds, can also help you sleep and drown out urban noise. An eye mask or pillow with lavender or others herbs that promote relaxation has been a god send for me, helping me fall asleep and stay asleep after the sun rises.

[Find Immersive Hobbies]

Immerse yourself in hobbies that take your mind off the pain. Video games, especially role-playing games, are a great way to distract your mind. Arts and crafts are a way to be creative and see a part of yourself that is beautiful and positive. Severe and chronic pain sometimes changes the way you see yourself and at times you may view yourself as the sum of your pain and ailments. Expressing your creativity through arts and crafts can help you maintain a positive self image and remember that you are not the pain, you just happen to be in a state of pain.

Those with physical limitations have found immersive online virtual worlds like SecondLife and Blue Mars to be transformative. While I may be in so much pain that I cannot walk, in these worlds, I can fly across islands, dance to jazz music, beam onto the StarShip Enterprise, and meet people who don't see my physical body but only see my virtual body (avatar). Air travel is so challenging when my condition is in a full flare up, but in these worlds, I can tour the Holocaust museum, see the pyramids of Egypt, and fly up to the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Immersing myself in these activities provides many moment of pain relief.

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