Coping strategies are very effective ways of dealing with pain and increasing your ability to do things. These strategies involve changing the way you think, feel and behave in response to pain. These methods provide the longest lasting changes because they help your body’s own pain control system to work the best. Practicing these methods over time can help change the way your pain signals are being sent to and from your brain.
It is important to use these strategies during a JIA flare-up. Use them before the pain gets out of control and combine them with other methods.
You may already know some of these methods and you will learn more throughout the treatment program.
Relaxation
Relaxation can help reduce your pain. Relaxation can also make you feel more in control and less anxious or tense. In the section “Relaxation,” you will learn about ways to relax. You might even be able to get more relaxed than you have ever been before.
Distraction
Distraction is a great technique to use when you are in pain but want to be able to do an activity. For example, using your imagination is a great way to distract yourself. It is like daydreaming except you are doing it on purpose. When you think of something you like, your body becomes more relaxed, and the stress you feel due to your pain is pushed out by pleasant thoughts. In the section “Distraction”, you will learn about effective ways to distract yourself.
Changing the way you think
You can reduce your stress or tension by changing some of your thinking habits. The section titled “Becoming aware of your thoughts”, will provide tips on how you can change less helpful thoughts into helpful ones.