Yolande Johnson

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• Do you experience chronic pain or headaches as a result of a trauma or an injury?

• Do you experience pain in response to a chronic health condition or medical problem?

• Do you experience heightened sensitivity to pain sensations?

• Do you find it hard to relax because of the pain sensations?

• Do you feel in a constant state of stress or anxiety?

• Do you find that stress and anxiety exacerbate your symptoms?

• Do you avoid activities you enjoy because of the effects of chronic pain?

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Using a combination of body-oriented therapies, sensory mindfulness activities, education, breathing and relaxation exercises we can help you:

• Improve your sense of well-being

• Learn new strategies to help you manage your pain or trauma symptoms

• Enhance your healthy coping mechanisms

• Reducing your stress response

• Increase your confidence in your ability to manage your symptoms

• Improve your understanding of the interplay between your emotions, your thoughts, your physical symptoms and pain sensations

• Create an individualised programme of self-management and self-care strategies, which we practice until you have mastered and integrated the techniques into your lifestyle

 

​As we know increased stress can activate our sensitivity to pain whether this is physical or psychological stress - working hard to meet deadlines, juggling work and home-life commitments, anxiety about exams, extra pressure to stay up late to complete tasks leading to loss of sleep, or poor ergonomic postures at work.

 

Often with chronic pain an anxiety response develops in response to the ongoing stress of living with persistent pain, and the poor postures and movement patterns you develop to try and avoid the pain.

 

Increased pain symptoms can also be a response to stressful life events and daily hassles producing unhelpful behaviour which then increases your symptoms. For example, hyperventilation or breathing pattern disorders have been shown to lower a person’s pain threshold, while relaxation methods can increase your capacity for tolerating discomfort allowing greater participation in lifestyle activities.

 

By differentiating the various mechanisms that are causing your heightened sensitivity to pain sensations and increase in pain related symptoms, we can identify the barriers and facilitators to achieving a more positive relationship with your body. Assessment involves identifying your symptoms, your triggers, and which aspects of your lifestyle that influence your symptoms both negatively and positively. By understanding your personal response and reactions you can learn more adaptive ways of responding.

 

Through sensory mindfulness and breathing strategies we practise calming the stress response and activating the more supportive relaxation response.  Achieving the relaxation response on a regular basis calms and connects all the bodies systems allowing a greater sense of wellbeing and control over a healthier body and mind.