Counselling
Management of pain includes medication, surgery, rehabilitation and physical therapy. Apart from these, psychological treatment especially patient counselling is also an important part of pain management. Counselling is done to help the individual understand and manage the thoughts, emotions and behaviors that accompany the discomfort and pain of a disease. If a patient understands the disorder and its associated symptoms, it will be easier to manage the condition, heal the pain and tackle the consequences related to it. It can actually reduce the intensity and ill-effects of pain.
Why counselling is required?
Counselling mainly aims to identify the real cause of pain. It may be physical or emotional or psychological reason. So depending upon the cause of pain, a counselling plan is designed that will develop a sense of independence and self-worth in the person. It also includes realistic methods to analyse and improve the mind-body connection.
Tools of Counselling
Counselling not only involves lot of discussion between patient and the counsellor but it also includes some tools that may help the patient to better cope with the pain and disorder. These include:
- Teaching relaxation techniques like Heartfulness relaxation
- Changing old beliefs about pain
- uilding new coping skills
- Addressing any anxiety or depression that may accompany pain
- Distraction techniques
Advantages of Counselling in Pain Management
- Helps in acquiring skills to face the daily challenges of life causes by disorder and especially pain associated with the disorder
- Tackles both physical and emotional aspects of pain
- Reduces feeling of anger, frustration, and resentment in the individual
- Relaxes the person and reduces stress
- Redefines the personality of the person so that he can better cope with the pain
- Alters brain processes for pain sensations