Changing Pain

Changing Pain Daniel F. Cleary

Learning Objectives Utilize the power of intent Shift patient perspective Learn practical mind/body relief techniques Improve patient compliance

Intent Recognizing the power of our intent changes our relationship with the patient Whatever area of specialty we practice, our relationship with the patient will influence compliance and thus impact the outcome

Heroes

Think of a person whom you consider to be a hero in your life

Heroes (cont’d)

How would you feel if they honored you in some way?

Heroes (cont’d) I refer to my clients as heroes and remain in awe of their abilities and fortitude By regarding them in this way everything we do together becomes an adventure or quest to share

Heroes (cont’d) It also presupposes that they have the abilities required to step beyond the challenges they face and live their lives more fully

Heroes (cont’d)

As a Pain Relief practitioner my job is to assist individuals to recognize and utilize their abilities

Set Your Intent Focus upon learning new ways to experience ordinary things When we feel better we heal better Remembering this means that when we engage the individual they All-Ways improve

Tell me and I will forget Show me and I will remember Involve me and I will understand Confucius

Scan Your Body Now Notice –Your posture –What area feels best –Any aches or tension –Internal “TO-DO LIST” –Level of energy, attentiveness, curiosity

Scan Your Body Now (cont’d) Simply notice these things and anything else that comes to mind OBSERVE rather than JUDGE Place a quick copy of your impressions in a special spot in your mind for later

Breathing  Notice your breathing  That is all  Just notice  And continue to breathe… please

Perspective Hold your hand in front of you with the thumb pointing up and your fingers gently closed

Focus your attention on your thumb

Keep breathing

Please

Close either eye

 Now close the eye that is open  And open the eye that is closed  Blinking back and forth as quickly as you can  Keep breathing  Please

What happens?

Does the thumb move?

Who moved their thumb?

What actually happened? You literally shifted your point of view Which shifted your perspective And you kept breathing Did you notice?

Perspective Can Move Mountains!

Away and Toward Would you rather move:

AWAY FROM PAIN OR

TOWARD COMFORT?

How will you know when you get “THERE?”

THIS WALL

THAT WALL

This Wall Represents all the tears, fears and pain in your life

We generally move AWAY from pain

That Wall Represents all the joy, laughter and comforts in your life

We can move TOWARD joy

Away When we are motivated AWAY from pain, fear, etc. we must remain aware of it to measure our success and the more successful we are, the less motivated we become

Toward When we are motivated TOWARD comfort, joy, etc. we recognize success quickly and become more motivated as we succeed

The benefits of guided self-help modalities in addressing pain relief have been documented for years

Effective Suggestion Includes  Capturing attention  Creating expectation  Crafting outcome as real

As medical practitioners, you are the “authority” on whatever the patient has come to address:

YOU HAVE THEIR ATTENTION!

Creating Expectation Schedule addressing the painful signals for “later” But first, let’s play with imagination to see how we can find ways for you to “feel better now”

Tell Me About The Joys In Your Life By asking about the joys in life, we begin to searchout and recognize resources that engage pleasing emotional states Children, grandchildren, even pets are often resources Art, music, bowling, gardening or swimming may be resources as well

When the individual mentions the resource, we can notice a shift in demeanor; eyes will change focus and breathing may change Anchor the emotional state in any way appropriate to the individual. The recollection can often be used as an induction to trance (after all, memories are trance when we do them well!)

By having the individual experience the ‘good’ feelings and then send those feelings throughout their body, they make changes that can be used in the future Create anchors and then ask them to return to normal awareness, bringing as much of the comfort as they like

There Is No Outcome So Real As Experience  By listening and distracting, then dissociating and associating we can assist the individual to feel better  When we can do this in a simple, conversational manner, we take them by surprise and usually succeed  Then, with the personal experience as proof, we can begin our work together

Tell me and I will forget Show me and I will remember Involve me and I will understand Confucius

The easiest way to teach your patients these approaches is to learn and practice them in your life

Unless, of course, you have no stress in your life or don’t want to feel better at any level today

Take a deep breath and listen as you close your eyes‌

Ignore the man behind the curtain‌

And you may even discover‌

YOU LIKE IT!

THANK YOU