Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #thepaincoach
Most recents (24)
Most people accept that the feeling of love exists.
Each person having their own experience.
That love exists then, despite being invisible.
So why when people say they are in pain, is there disbelief?
Why are some people dismissed?
🧵 #thepaincoach #chronicpain
Each person having their own experience.
That love exists then, despite being invisible.
So why when people say they are in pain, is there disbelief?
Why are some people dismissed?
🧵 #thepaincoach #chronicpain
If they said that they were hungry, would they be believed? You cannot see hunger.
If you laugh, where is the funny? You can’t see it.
If you laugh, where is the funny? You can’t see it.
What is it about pain that makes some people not take the person describing their experience seriously?
It is most certainly not an issue with the person describing their pain.
It is certainly a limitation of the disbelieving person.
It is most certainly not an issue with the person describing their pain.
It is certainly a limitation of the disbelieving person.
.@Womenworking Essential reading for:
All in healthcare
All in education
All employers
All leaders
All.
@gabriellecj
@emilyhwilson
(1)
All in healthcare
All in education
All employers
All leaders
All.
@gabriellecj
@emilyhwilson
(1)
Having worked with so many women suffering persistent pain, it has long been an area I wanted to understand and have been studying.
The narratives, the biology, the sociocultural dimensions and importantly, how they interact and unify as the lived experience.
(2)
The narratives, the biology, the sociocultural dimensions and importantly, how they interact and unify as the lived experience.
(2)
Makes this a very important book.
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
@WomensHealthMag
@BritishPainSoc
@PhysioPainAssoc
@thecspstudents
@AnnaCiaunica
@sconinxphil
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
@WomensHealthMag
@BritishPainSoc
@PhysioPainAssoc
@thecspstudents
@AnnaCiaunica
@sconinxphil
What the biomedical model does… 🧵
Well or unwell.
Mind or body.
Healthy or sick.
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
1. #thread
Well or unwell.
Mind or body.
Healthy or sick.
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
1. #thread
Fortunately more and more clinicians are noticing that despite being trained to think this way, it does not work. Why?
Because it’s not the experience we have as humans.
Take pain as an example.
Take pain as an example.
Real.
#thread 🧵
Many people have been led to believe that we need to look for something to blame for our pain.
A single cause.
A body part or system perhaps.
Blame the bit that hurts.
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
1.
#thread 🧵
Many people have been led to believe that we need to look for something to blame for our pain.
A single cause.
A body part or system perhaps.
Blame the bit that hurts.
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
1.
Yet it is not that bit that is in pain. You are, the person.
The person feels pain, not the body part or the brain.
We want something tangible to blame. Something you can point at—‘there it is; the cause.’
The person feels pain, not the body part or the brain.
We want something tangible to blame. Something you can point at—‘there it is; the cause.’
But that’s not how it works.
The body state is one thing: objective. Our experience of the body is another: subjective.
When you have this insight, you can understand your experience. How pain and other feelings vary and change. Nothing is permanent.
The body state is one thing: objective. Our experience of the body is another: subjective.
When you have this insight, you can understand your experience. How pain and other feelings vary and change. Nothing is permanent.
Why does my pain persist?
There is a kind of stuckness.
Not that each pain experience is the same — this cannot be, because each moment is new.
A #thread 🧵by #thepaincoach #chronicpain 👇
There is a kind of stuckness.
Not that each pain experience is the same — this cannot be, because each moment is new.
A #thread 🧵by #thepaincoach #chronicpain 👇
There was an expectation of getting better but the reality was different. Things you tried did not work. Perhaps your timelines were inaccurate: it often takes longer than you think.
There comes a point when the expectation switches to pain rather than getting better.
You are doing your best
Often, it’s easy to listen to the self critic.
And harder to acknowledge that you are doing your best.
#thread 🧵
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
Often, it’s easy to listen to the self critic.
And harder to acknowledge that you are doing your best.
#thread 🧵
#thepaincoach #chronicpain
Considering the circumstances — what is going on for you right now?
This gives perspective. A wider view.
One that is more realistic and less driven by lofty expectations.
This gives perspective. A wider view.
One that is more realistic and less driven by lofty expectations.
You are doing your best with what you have.
You may need more.
For instance, guidance, support, or encouragement.
You may need more.
For instance, guidance, support, or encouragement.
There’s nothing to fix
There is a traditional idea with pain and injury (they are completely different) that we are fixed by someone.
I disagree.
#thread #thepaincoach #chronicpain #pain
There is a traditional idea with pain and injury (they are completely different) that we are fixed by someone.
I disagree.
#thread #thepaincoach #chronicpain #pain
Despite the fact that the system of healthcare training is all about finding something to fix, a problem, and then fixing it.
Somewhere in there you may remember a person.
Let’s turn that on it’s head.
Somewhere in there you may remember a person.
Let’s turn that on it’s head.
There is a person who is suffering. They decide that they need some help.
We don’t then fix them, although you might think you are because of the aforementioned training.
We don’t then fix them, although you might think you are because of the aforementioned training.
I can🧵1/7
Focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t.
This is the start. The baseline.
#thepaincoach #chronicpain #pain
Focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t.
This is the start. The baseline.
#thepaincoach #chronicpain #pain
2/7
Think of something that you have stopped doing or is limited.
Next, clarify what you can do. What is realistic? Considering the circumstances.
Eg/ I want to go for a coffee with a friend.
Think of something that you have stopped doing or is limited.
Next, clarify what you can do. What is realistic? Considering the circumstances.
Eg/ I want to go for a coffee with a friend.
3/7
If she picks me up and drops me home, I can go to a coffee shop for 1/2 an hour.
That’s the start.
If she picks me up and drops me home, I can go to a coffee shop for 1/2 an hour.
That’s the start.
Expectations-Reality
When our expectations don’t match reality we feel bad.
This is a common problem facing people suffering persistent pain.
🧵 1/7 Cont… 👇 #thepaincoach #chronicpain
When our expectations don’t match reality we feel bad.
This is a common problem facing people suffering persistent pain.
🧵 1/7 Cont… 👇 #thepaincoach #chronicpain
2/7 Expectations of what you can do, what you feel you should be able to do and what you can actually do often mismatch. This feels bad.
3/7 Either because you cannot complete the task as you wish or you do and pay a painful price.
What can you do?
What can you do?
Some people don’t recover from sports injuries as expected.
Their pain persists.
🧵#thepaincoach #thread 👇
Their pain persists.
🧵#thepaincoach #thread 👇
Return to training and play is stop-start, feels like a step forward and then two back. Or hasn’t happened at all.
They are stuck.
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They are stuck.
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Why?
There are a number of reasons. Most of which you will not find on a scan, from a test or reducing the pain to a body part or particular tissue. Also, you will not find pain on a brain scan.
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There are a number of reasons. Most of which you will not find on a scan, from a test or reducing the pain to a body part or particular tissue. Also, you will not find pain on a brain scan.
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What is pacing, really?
A thread.
Pacing is a strategy that is often recommended to help people suffering persistent pain.
There are different ways of doing it.
Here is the way I do it with the people I see.
#thepaincoach #pain
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A thread.
Pacing is a strategy that is often recommended to help people suffering persistent pain.
There are different ways of doing it.
Here is the way I do it with the people I see.
#thepaincoach #pain
👇
The important principles:
* Plan your day
* Prioritise what matters
* Periodise your time like an athlete/peak performer
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* Plan your day
* Prioritise what matters
* Periodise your time like an athlete/peak performer
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Then,
•Flexibility: there are always circumstances that need to be considered; how am I? What is my best choice now? What will I definitely be able to do within my window of tolerance?
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•Flexibility: there are always circumstances that need to be considered; how am I? What is my best choice now? What will I definitely be able to do within my window of tolerance?
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How do you manage painful moments?
What are your existing ways of coping? Reacting?
What do they do for you?
Which ones work and which don’t?
Cont… #thepaincoach #pain
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What are your existing ways of coping? Reacting?
What do they do for you?
Which ones work and which don’t?
Cont… #thepaincoach #pain
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The ones that work you can build upon—they are skills. And then add more choices.
For example, some people find that breathing awareness is a way to apply the brakes when pain and emotions are becoming overwhelming.
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For example, some people find that breathing awareness is a way to apply the brakes when pain and emotions are becoming overwhelming.
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This is one way to self-soothe: bring calm and clarity to make the next best decision towards feeling better.
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Pain is a lived experience that needs a person to live that experience.
A person is made on non-person.
Just as a car is made of non-car.
#thepaincoach #pain
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A person is made on non-person.
Just as a car is made of non-car.
#thepaincoach #pain
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A person emerges from many cells, atoms, molecules, processes that are not that person and don’t have person-ness.
A car has wheels, doors, engine bits, seats, none of which have the properties of a car. They are just those things.
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A car has wheels, doors, engine bits, seats, none of which have the properties of a car. They are just those things.
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Of course we are much more than a car because we have an aliveness and consciousness—something it is like to be you. A stream of contents that forms that experience.
It is always a whole. Not a part.
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It is always a whole. Not a part.
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How do I understand your story?
How do I understand your world?
How do I stay in the room with you?
And see what you need behind what you say?
Are questions I ask myself.
#thepaincoach #pain
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How do I understand your world?
How do I stay in the room with you?
And see what you need behind what you say?
Are questions I ask myself.
#thepaincoach #pain
👇
How does my chatter go quiet? By being present. By using mindful breathing, and coming back to the present by breathing.
Then I can sit with the person, you, and be here to listen deeply.
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Then I can sit with the person, you, and be here to listen deeply.
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And outside of this time, living mindfully and by being present as often as I can strengthens this very presence.
#thepaincoach #pain #mindful
richmondstace.com
#thepaincoach #pain #mindful
richmondstace.com
Can you tell the difference between what is happening right now rather than your interpretation of what is happening right now?
This is what happens when you practice contemplation.
#thepaincoach #pain
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This is what happens when you practice contemplation.
#thepaincoach #pain
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There are commonly differences between the actual experience and the story we tell ourselves.
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This can cause problems. Particularly with persistent pain where people are often doing better than they think.
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We have beliefs about pain.
Most people have experienced pain (a rare few can’t) and have been told things about it.
The one thing the person knows is that it hurts and has a particular quality—the actual experience.
#thepaincoach #pain
👇
Most people have experienced pain (a rare few can’t) and have been told things about it.
The one thing the person knows is that it hurts and has a particular quality—the actual experience.
#thepaincoach #pain
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Then there’s the story. What we tell ourselves: What has happened? What it means? What’s the cause? The future? All are highly convincing yet often wrong.
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The misunderstanding of pain could be the most important reason why persistent pain has become a leading global health burden & why treatment outcomes are so poor.
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With chronic conditions such as persistent pain, fibromyalgia, CFS, ME and more recently Long Covid, people are still dismissed when their tests show nothing of note.
Cont… 👇 #LongCovid #MECFS #Fibromyalgia #pain #thepaincoach
Cont… 👇 #LongCovid #MECFS #Fibromyalgia #pain #thepaincoach
The idea that a negative test (or tests) means that there is nothing wrong is ignoring the plain fact that there is something wrong.
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The person has just explained how they are feeling. Have they been heard? Many haven’t and that is unacceptable. Even some doctors have not been believed by other doctors!
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Firstly, you cannot see pain on a scan or in the person. There is nothing to see.
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And just in case you are thinking brain patterns, you are seeing a brain pattern not pain. Those coloured pictures in studies are also created to show certain things that the authors want you to see, so read the method carefully…
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You want to grow as a therapist or clinician.
In particular, to help people who are suffering persistent pain, whatever their circumstances.
Different ages, backgrounds, circumstances, occupations.
Persistent pain affects people right across society.
Cont… 👇
In particular, to help people who are suffering persistent pain, whatever their circumstances.
Different ages, backgrounds, circumstances, occupations.
Persistent pain affects people right across society.
Cont… 👇
How well equipped are you to help them?
Do you understand pain sufficiently well to be able to help the person understand all their experiences?
Do you have the skills and toolbox to help them navigate the way forward to shape a positive future?
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Do you understand pain sufficiently well to be able to help the person understand all their experiences?
Do you have the skills and toolbox to help them navigate the way forward to shape a positive future?
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Do you have self-awareness and an ability to be present as we must?
Do you know your own philosophy? Play to your strengths?
This is just some of the work we do together, cultivating your beginner’s mind and openness to learning so that you can grow and flourish.
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Do you know your own philosophy? Play to your strengths?
This is just some of the work we do together, cultivating your beginner’s mind and openness to learning so that you can grow and flourish.
👇
There are different types of session that we have.
But first of all, they are always focused on you.
#thepaincoach #pain
Cont… 👇
But first of all, they are always focused on you.
#thepaincoach #pain
Cont… 👇
Initial session to meet, clarify what is happening for you in your world, and your picture of success.
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Growth sessions are those when we look at practices, tools, exercises, strategies and importantly, how to best implement them in your world. To make a difference. To create the conditions for your growth and to shape a positive future.
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How do you communicate?
To others and yourself.
Is it the same or different?
Can you listen deeply, to see the needs of the other person, but also yourself?
Can you recognise the roots of suffering?
Cont.
#thepaincoach #pain #communication #compassion
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To others and yourself.
Is it the same or different?
Can you listen deeply, to see the needs of the other person, but also yourself?
Can you recognise the roots of suffering?
Cont.
#thepaincoach #pain #communication #compassion
👇
See the nature and cause of suffering, which allows you to help.
You use loving speech to people you care about.
Do you use the same language to yourself?
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You use loving speech to people you care about.
Do you use the same language to yourself?
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You can practice compassionate listening to another person and yourself.
To understand. To validate. To be present. To help the other person and you to suffer less.
Mindful practice enables this.
richmondstace.com
#thepaincoach
To understand. To validate. To be present. To help the other person and you to suffer less.
Mindful practice enables this.
richmondstace.com
#thepaincoach
Pain has appeared in philosophy from ancient times.
But now, philosophy is contributing enormously to contemporary thinking and understanding of pain.
In particular, enactivism and embodied cognition.
Cont. 👇
#thepaincoach #pain
But now, philosophy is contributing enormously to contemporary thinking and understanding of pain.
In particular, enactivism and embodied cognition.
Cont. 👇
#thepaincoach #pain
Both are helping to question existing ideas. For example, enactivism takes us beyond the brain as an explanation for pain.
Pain is of course, not in the brain.
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Pain is of course, not in the brain.
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Enactivism sees a person with a lived experience (embodied) within a lived world (embedded), acting in particular ways (enacting) with emotions and an extended mind.
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Sunday self care.
What do you do to care for yourself?
Many people struggle with this, caring for everyone else, but not themselves.
Familiar?
Cont…
#thepaincoach #pain #compassion
What do you do to care for yourself?
Many people struggle with this, caring for everyone else, but not themselves.
Familiar?
Cont…
#thepaincoach #pain #compassion
To look after and care for others in the way you want to, you must care for yourself.
Thich Nhat Hanh: “When we feed and support our own happiness, we are nourishing our ability to love.”
#thepaincoach #pain #compassion
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Thich Nhat Hanh: “When we feed and support our own happiness, we are nourishing our ability to love.”
#thepaincoach #pain #compassion
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What can you do today to self-care?
Even just for a few moments.
* breathe
* have a bath
* go for a walk in nature
* tend to your garden
* make tea
* listen to music
* read a book
What else?
#thepaincoach #pain #compassion
Even just for a few moments.
* breathe
* have a bath
* go for a walk in nature
* tend to your garden
* make tea
* listen to music
* read a book
What else?
#thepaincoach #pain #compassion
Pain brings the body to the forefront of awareness. The absolute focus sometimes.
Posing the question, what do I need to do?
This is where people often get stuck. What should I do?
Cont…
#thepaincoach #pain
Posing the question, what do I need to do?
This is where people often get stuck. What should I do?
Cont…
#thepaincoach #pain
Often ranging from having too high expectations of oneself in the circumstances, and over-doing things, to complete avoidance. Neither result in success over time.
And what we want is success over time.
#thepaincoach #pain
And what we want is success over time.
#thepaincoach #pain
Setting expectations in line with reality is key.
A moment to moment art form that requires acknowledgment and acceptance of the current circumstances.
This is easier sometimes than others, and in itself a practice.
#thepaincoach #pain
A moment to moment art form that requires acknowledgment and acceptance of the current circumstances.
This is easier sometimes than others, and in itself a practice.
#thepaincoach #pain
