Friday funnies – in honour of occupational therapy DIY
Yep, they’ve fixed it! There may not be an occupational therapy chromosome, but I’m sure the ‘inventors’ of these solutions to everyday problems inherited something they can pass on to generations hence. If you’ve lost your built-up spoon – don’t despair, simply attach a coffee top to your fork and slurp away! Now, occupational therapists … Read more
If you’re not asleep, get out of bed!
If you’ve read the sleep hygiene information I posted yesterday, you’ll read that it’s not a good idea to stay in bed if you’re not asleep. Here’s another version. Beds are for sleep and sex, not for being awake – because our brains are very good at learning to put two and two together to … Read more
To sleep, perchance to dream…
Have you ever had a series of nights with broken sleep? It seems OK on the first night, and most of us can function adequately that next day, but if it goes on, and on, and on – and on… then life starts to take on a negative hue and even little things can feel … Read more
Friday Funnies and great places to go on the web
I know, I know… late with FF’s and missed a week – life is hectic at the moment, and I’m prioritising a teeny bit. However, I couldn’t resist the following, courtesy of Manly Jack. Not quite 1001 uses for duct tape, but close! Great places on the web: How to Cope with Pain – always … Read more
How does it work? Pick your theory
I’m working with a man who has neuropathic pain in his right (dominant) hand. He developed his pain some 8 years ago after he caught it in a woodworking machine and basically mashed it, damaging most of the carpal tunnel area. After numerous orthopaedic, and plastic surgical procedures, he’s now left with nasty scarring, and … Read more
Who will do well, who will not?
If I had a crystal ball, and could decide who would do well in self managing their pain, and who would not, what would I do? A holy grail for insurance companies and health economists and yes, clinicians, is to find some precise way to decide who needs the most help with their pain, and … Read more
Just doing it: Behavioural Activation
This post is sparked by a pre-print paper I read yesterday, but follows a long time cogitating about the use and value of “just doing it”. Behavioural reactivation is a set of techniques often used for mood management. It usually incorporates activity monitoring, assessment of life goals and values, activity scheduling, skills training and problem … Read more
Goals – how relevant are they?
A few posts ago I discussed a motivational strategy that had been shown to help people be specific about the benefits of exercise and plan to overcome obstacles that may prevent them from engaging in it (Christiansen, Oettingen, Dahme and Klinger,2010). Today’s post relates to this as I read an editorial written by Schrooten & … Read more
Pain and health anxiety – working with beliefs
Over the past few posts I’ve been looking at pain and health anxiety, and how anxiety about body symptoms can be misinterpreted to represent something sinister when it may be a reflection of the level of physiological arousal in the individual. In fact, one definition of anxiety is ‘over-estimating the threat’ while ‘under-estimating the resources … Read more
Briefly off topic
Look what I got up to over the weekend – is this ghoulish or what?! Just look at how beautifully those bones fit together – strength, flexibility and interconnectedness. Poor ewe… Bleached by the sun and wind, I’m not sure how this sheep died, but most of it was half-submerged in the sand, with only … Read more
