HEALTH & WELLBEING
PATTERN MATCHING AND PAIN By Dr Andrea Haas, Inner Strength
Have you ever wondered why some things in your life seem to just spiral out of control, and you can’t put your finger on why? Well, it’s due to the brain’s innate quality to pattern match. Pattern matching allows us to not only learn quicker but also to be more flexible as human beings. We are not the only species to pattern match. If you look in a bird’s nest you don’t just see twigs, you also see bits of wool, rubber, wire and so on, because they all have something similar to a twig. Pattern matching is what allows us to pick up a new car and be able to drive it within minutes of sitting in it. We don’t require another six months of driving lessons! There are enough similarities between the old and new car. All qualities of the brain have a down side. It is through pattern matching that if someone has a car accident at a T-junction, several months later that person may have become too anxious to even get in the car. Through feeling anxious, the subconscious forces you to avoid all T-junctions, and then it decides that roundabouts are very similar to T-junctions, so you start avoiding roundabouts. And then one day the subconscious decides the slipway onto the motorway is very similar to a T-junction. Through pattern matching, a panic attack in Sainsbury’s may eventually result in general anxiety. It's pattern matching that can cause pain to get worse. You may have had your first episode
of backpain from bending over to pick something up. The brain becomes conditioned so that every time you bend over you get pain. However, bending over to pick something up is very similar to unloading the dishwasher, making the bed, driving the car. Through pattern matching, the brain decides to produce pain with all these activities. Eventually, it could potentially lead to pain on doing everything. Have you ever wondered why your pain seems to be affected by the weather? Let’s say your first episode of back pain was in the autumn, when you happened to slip on some wet leaves when it was raining. The brain takes a snapshot of that incident. This snapshot is like a 3D photo. This would include the weather, the temperature, the autumnal leaves, the smell, and sounds you may have heard. The next time it rains, the brain is triggered to produce pain. So, what can you do about this? In stead of getting frustrated that you have pain yet again, start pondering as to whether there are any similarities to the episodes, and any possible triggers. By doing this you will have a better understanding of what is going on, which will make you feel more in control rather than your pain being in control of you. Next time, we will be exploring the fact that the brain can not tell the difference between imagination and reality and how it relates to pain.
MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH In England, around 1 in 4 men will have a common mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during their lifetime. Statistics show that three times as many men as women die by suicide and that men aged 45-49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50. Men are less likely to access mental health services than women: only 36% of referrals to the NHS are for men.
support each other and get help when they need it. To find out more, go to www.secondstep.co.uk/stepladder or email stepladdersomerset@secondstep.co.uk or call Somerset Mindline on 0800 138 1692 which is available 24/7 for more information or if you need to talk.
Some men find it difficult to seek help for any kind of emotional distress. Those who don’t feel able to talk openly about their emotions might be less able to recognise the signs and to reach out for support or talk to friends and family, sometimes using harmful coping methods such as drugs or alcohol.
The Open Mental Health Alliance brings together all the mental health support services in Somerset – you can visit www.openmentalhealth.org.uk or call the Somerset Mindline number above.
However, men will access help that is meaningful and engaging and easy to access. Sometimes men’s sheds provide a great space for men to get together, doing and making something practical and finding companionship. There are sheds across the area – to find your local one, go to www.menssheds.org.uk/find-ashed or call 0300 772 9626.
If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please dial 999 or call the free Samaritans Helpline on 116 123. For more information about wellbeing in South Somerset, visit www. wellbeingsouthsomerset.org.
Stepladder is a part of Open Mental Health Somerset and works with communities, groups and organisations across Somerset to find new ways for men to connect,
Dr Andrea Haas 07770 672122 www.andrea-inner-strength.co.uk
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