Name: Balance Brain Health
Address: Calgary Alberta Canada, AB
Telephone: (403) 764-0771

Having a support system

Surrounding yourself with loved ones aware of what you and your partner are going through can take away some of the weight you are carrying. Taking the time to spend with loved ones away from your injured partner will also give you time to relax, vent your emotional grievances, and allow you to feel their earned support. Asking loved ones to care for your injured partner when you are unable can also give you time to yourself without the threat of exhaustion consuming you. No one should ever have to go through times of stress without relying on loved ones who will help curate a healthy, positive environment for both you and your injured partner.

Set boundaries

When supporting someone that has suffered from an injury and the trauma that results from that, you also need to keep your own health in mind and set boundaries. Caring for your loved one day in and day out, or if your loved one is prone to lashing out on bad days, you must consider how these accumulated events might impact your mental health. Setting clear and ardent boundaries with your loved one can reduce the risk of a contentious relationship forming and exhaustion. Don’t push yourself too much and tell your loved one what your expectations are in how they treat you.

Coping mechanisms

Adopting coping strategies for you and your loved one can help you sustain a healthy relationship. Breathing techniques, meditation, avoidance of negative thoughts, and wishful thinking are healthy coping mechanisms to reduce stress and pessimism that might arise after an injury. Taking time out of your day to do any physical activity can also be great in reducing stress, and setting aside light activities to do yourself or with your loved one can enhance your relationship.

Don’t neglect self-care

When caring for a loved one with an injury, it is vital not to neglect to tend to yourself as well. Do things you enjoy, whether by yourself or not, and perform tasks that will better your wellbeing. Self-care can include following a skin-care regime, cooking, reading, or any activity that brings you joy. When pouring yourself into caring for another person, you should always set time aside to fulfill your own needs.

Seek professional help

If you find your mental health declining after the injury of your loved one, talking to a therapist or visiting a local mental health clinic sometimes is necessary to improve your health. Talking to a professional can give you coping mechanisms that can be helpful for you and your loved one to adopt into your daily lives. The more you can cope with the traumatic injury of a loved one, the more you will be equipped to help them manage as well.

Balance: Psychology & Brain Health can help you find balance in your life by maximizing functioning and minimizing disability through holistic, evidence-based, and client-centred care. Calgary cognitive psychologists and neuropsychologists Calgary offer cognitive assessments, behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy in Calgary, and insomnia therapy in Calgary. By utilizing a biopsychosocial model, we specialize in assessing, preventing, and treating factors that can negatively affect your brain health. This includes keeping in mind the biological (e.g. genetics, neurochemistry, medical conditions), psychological (e.g. mood, personality, coping skills), and socio-environmental factors (e.g. culture, social support, education) that individually and collectively impact our well-being. Call (403) 764-0771 today to book at our neuropsychology clinic, chronic pain clinic Calgary or MCI clinic Calgary.

According to the Canadian Pain Task Force Report from March 2021, nearly eight million, or one in five Canadians, suffer from chronic pain. Because of the immense number of people who are suffering, chronic pain has been deemed a public health emergency. These numbers have increased as the population ages, making it explicit that chronic pain isn’t just an isolated issue. Daily life when suffering from pain can become gruelling and dysfunctional, which is why managing chronic pain is so vital. Ascertaining ways to manage your chronic pain can assist in diminishing emotional grievances and can make functioning in your day-to-day life a little easier.

Here are some helpful methods to manage your chronic pain.

Meditation and breathing techniques

Adopting meditation and breathing techniques into your daily life is a useful method that will help ease your body into relaxation and reduce some of your chronic pain. Ignoring all your current thoughts and focusing on your breathing while repeating a mantra or phrase will place your body into a more relaxed state. Practicing deep breathing is another way to ease any tensions that could exacerbate your pain and reduce it significantly. Sitting in a quiet spot can help you find the tranquillity needed to allow the effects of deep breathing exercises to work for you.

Exercise

Although resting is important to do when you suffer from chronic pain, too much rest can also increase your pain levels. To minimize pain as much as you can, incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine can increase muscle strength and flexibility. Ask your healthcare provider what types of exercises are safest for you and what would work best to help manage your chronic pain.

Acupuncture

For chronic conditions like headaches, lower and upper backaches, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and menstrual cramps, acupuncture is a good way to relieve these acute aches. Acupuncture is performed to release endorphins, which are the chemicals that block out feelings of pain. Acupuncture can be a conducive way to decrease pain and it can also work as a preventative measure to avoid the risk and reduce the severity of migraines, cluster headaches and neck pain.

Stress reducers

Significant stress and anxiety can all contribute to worsening pain. Learning to manage your stress can also be helpful in managing your chronic pain. Taking the time out of your busy schedule to do relaxing activities that you enjoy, like listening to music or reading, is an affordable and easy way to lessen the stress you may endure during the day. Stress reduction is an assured way to alleviate some of the chronic pain you suffer from.

Therapy

Receiving therapy, whether physical or psychological, can greatly reduce both physical and emotional pain that is caused by chronic suffering. Numerous physical therapies can teach you to perform stretches and strength-building techniques that will help you manage your pain. More so, seeking help for your mental health can improve the ways you cope with your chronic pain and the mental health struggles that may derive from it.

Managing your pain

Chronic pain can feel completely consuming as it impacts every aspect of your life. Improving your suffering may feel may seem improbable, but it can be done through various daily methods. Chronic pain doesn’t have to define your daily life, and taking small steps to minimize and manage your suffering can be incredibly helpful.