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A slight tangent (but not really)
Jun. 3rd, 2018 11:28 am Rather than struggle to reconstruct the eaten post, I've decided to tell y'all about the VA's pain management and coping skills class I am taking again. I first took it a few years ago, when VA took away everyone's pain pills that actually worked, and was quite surprised to be presented with the latest cutting-edge psychology research ... that I learned back around the turn of the millennium as magic. I decided to retake the class, not just because my back has been acting up this past month (weather-related, IMO) but because I am curious if anything has been added since the first go-round.
Along with keeping a sleep diary for the week, our other homework assignment is something they call "the signal breath." In a nutshell, you draw in a full, deep breath, hold for a second or three, then as you exhale you say to yourself, "Relax, relax, relax." Second deep breath you say to yourself, "Calm, calm, calm." For the third breath (because you should always do things in threes!) you say to yourself, "Let go, let go, let go." (of the tension) Personally, I prefer to say "release" instead of "let go," but it's my mind so I doubt anyone will quibble over it.
The story behind it is the Long Beach (California) VA system had numerous chronic pain patients who were running out of their pain meds before they were supposed to be, so someone gave this a go and discovered those numbers turned around in an impressive way. In fact, several patients who had been running out early started having some meds left over at the end of the 30 day period. This caught the attention of quite a few administrators as well, since not only does this mean the patients were getting better pain management (a good public relations side effect) but this also was saving a little money on the pharmacy side of things.
The doctor instructing the course also took pains to mention this time that the idea is to train the mind, so we ought to practice our homework whether we are in pain or not. He also noted that the Long Beach patients from the original experiment said, "This is not a miracle cure, but it will take the edge off enough to make it manageable." He also compared the mental training to getting a new dog, and teaching it its name by repetition and positive reinforcement (treats and/or affection).
I recall from last time (and looking ahead) that we'll also cover a "happy place" meditation as well as doing a guided meditation ... also things I learned in the coven. So, VA is teaching magic and mental training, and calling it the newest research in psychology.
Along with keeping a sleep diary for the week, our other homework assignment is something they call "the signal breath." In a nutshell, you draw in a full, deep breath, hold for a second or three, then as you exhale you say to yourself, "Relax, relax, relax." Second deep breath you say to yourself, "Calm, calm, calm." For the third breath (because you should always do things in threes!) you say to yourself, "Let go, let go, let go." (of the tension) Personally, I prefer to say "release" instead of "let go," but it's my mind so I doubt anyone will quibble over it.
The story behind it is the Long Beach (California) VA system had numerous chronic pain patients who were running out of their pain meds before they were supposed to be, so someone gave this a go and discovered those numbers turned around in an impressive way. In fact, several patients who had been running out early started having some meds left over at the end of the 30 day period. This caught the attention of quite a few administrators as well, since not only does this mean the patients were getting better pain management (a good public relations side effect) but this also was saving a little money on the pharmacy side of things.
The doctor instructing the course also took pains to mention this time that the idea is to train the mind, so we ought to practice our homework whether we are in pain or not. He also noted that the Long Beach patients from the original experiment said, "This is not a miracle cure, but it will take the edge off enough to make it manageable." He also compared the mental training to getting a new dog, and teaching it its name by repetition and positive reinforcement (treats and/or affection).
I recall from last time (and looking ahead) that we'll also cover a "happy place" meditation as well as doing a guided meditation ... also things I learned in the coven. So, VA is teaching magic and mental training, and calling it the newest research in psychology.
