The Holidays And Chronic Pain: 6 Tips
Decorating, planning, shopping, cooking and visiting with loved ones brings much to look forward to during the holidays — but for people with chronic pain, these things can also brings anxiety, stress and trepidation.
If you live with chronic pain, you know how challenging it can be to perform simple chores and everyday functions. The thought of adding the holiday “stuff” too can be daunting. It can really put a damper on what could be a wonderful holiday season.
Here are 6 holiday tips for a more enjoyable holiday season:
Start Early
Time flies. Before you know it, you have too much to do and too little time. This can mean over-exerting yourself to catch up, causing undue stress. This can really take a toll on your body, increasing your pain.
Pace yourself. Give yourself time to enjoy the festivities in a more leisurely fashion.
Give Yourself a Break
If you are one of those people who love to go all-out for the holidays, host elaborate parties, display the most dazzling decorations… please consider what you can let go of for this year.
Certainly you’ll always want to observe certain traditions, but try going through your list of to-do’s to see how you might lighten the load. Try it. See if you find yourself feeling more relieved than disappointed once something is not on that list!
Ask for Help
Not everyone has friends and family nearby to help, but if you do, ask them to lend a hand. Sharing your to do list not only helps alleviate some of the pressure on you, it also presents an opportunity for interaction with those you love. For example, if you have guests for dinner, make it a potluck! It’s takes some tasks off your list and creates a new tradition.
Opt for Convenience
Are you someone who likes to have a real tree for Christmas? Fine china on the dinner table for Hanukkah? The holidays are special. They warrant the best for the celebrations. BUT a little compromise can go a long way when it comes to the impact on your pain level.
It can be worth lowering the bar a little. And, if it helps to reduce your pain and makes you more comfortable throughout the holidays, isn’t it a worthwhile trade-off?
Don’t Forget to Take Care of YOU
This may sound like an impossible goal when you are in the flurry of seasonal festivities, but it’s imperative that you make time for self-care. The better you feel, the more you can participate.
While it’s not always easy to keep up with everything at once, try to do your best to look out for yourself. Don’t forget to find time to relax and recuperate when possible, to replenish your energy for that next holiday event.
Follow Doctor’s Orders
If you’re in the care of a pain doctor, remember to stay on track with your prescribed medications and treatment schedules. Skipping parts of your pain management regimen can diminish the progress you make, causing you more discomfort.
Bonus:
Try to stay positive by doing more of the things you enjoy when possible, and with people who bring you the most happiness. Avoid isolating yourself from the festivities, even if you can’t fully participate in all of them. Believe it or not, your state of mind plays a large part in your pain experience.