Clinicians and graded exposure
Some people do, and some people don’t, some of us will, and some of us won’t! Graded exposure can be an uncomfortable experience for both the person who is learning to approach activities that don’t feel very good – and for the clinician! It goes against the grain for some of us to elicit anxiety … Read more
Go on…expose yourself!
…er, maybe not that way OK?! Graded exposure in vivo (with response prevention) is a specific treatment for pain-related anxiety/fear and avoidance. More specifically, it’s for people who are avoiding activities that are not going to harm them, but may increase their pain. Their beliefs as to why they ‘shouldn’t do’ these activities or movements … Read more
Fear/Anxiety/Avoidance – treatments review!
For years, clinicians working in pain management have mixed together a rich assortment of strategies to help people function better. But to identify the ‘active ingredients’ of multidisciplinary pain management using a cognitive behavioural approach, it’s been important to tease each element apart. One size does not fit all – and just as a physician … Read more
Fear/Anxiety/Avoidance – and some treatments!
I’ve been pondering the post by Neil O’Connell on Body in Mind in which he comments on a paper by Foster, Thomas, Bishop, Dunne and Main (2010) in which he makes the point that “There is a huge emphasis on psychological variables in research and current care for low back pain. My experience (the usual … Read more
Friday Funnies!
It has been a while since I last posted some classic Lolcats’n’dogs. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the fact that these are NOT my jokes! And proving that I am not alone -
Working with thoughts: habits take time to change
If only there was a magic wand. I could make millions out of a ‘quick fix’ to changing habits! Unfortunately my magic wand is red and glittery – and plastic. I call it my ‘self management’ wand because it reminds me that self management is no quick fix, and a good deal of the work … Read more
Thinking about sleep – or not…
It’s 3.00 in the morning. You haven’t slept since you got into bed at 11.00, and the last time you had a full night’s sleep was some months ago. Every morning you wake up feeling as though you haven’t really slept yet – and every day is just the same. I can understand why people … Read more
Sleep problems in chronic pain & what helps
I have written about sleep problems in people with chronic pain several times. It is one of those aspects of dealing with pain that inevitably arise as I talk with people about energy, their activity through the day, and their mood. Many people blame the pain for their sleep problems, which is unsurprising really – … Read more
Friday funnies!
My world may have been rocked by the late-night quakes, but my humour remains THE SAME! Sorry. I was talking to SuperTherapist the other day, and she whispered some sayings to help maintain that sense of calm and serenity that is necessary when returning to work after a week away. I’m not so sure this … Read more
The ‘Tigger’ effect – resilience & emotion-regulation
Tigger. That orange-furred, black-striped, tiger character originally introduced in A. A. Milne’s book The House at Pooh Corner. Tigger is a very bouncy fella. Tigger is amongst the most exuberant creatures in the 100 Acre Wood, and his most stand out and well-known feature is his very springy tail. Tigger has resilience. The wonderful thing … Read more
