Don't Let Chronic Pain Result in Social Isolation

People connect with friends and family through social activities and community events, sports and family gatherings.  When it hurts to be active, however, it's hard to stay connected. Friendships slip away and family members burn out. Chronic pain has a huge impact on people's social lives and often leaves them isolated, lonely and feeling socially rejected. Whether the person in pain is you or a loved one, we've got tips for staying connected.

If This Sounds Like You...

It's easy to feel alone and misunderstood when you live with chronic pain. It's also understandable if you don't feel like being social. Chronic pain actually changes the way your brain and body work together and frequently causes depression, anxiety, grief, fatigue, and loneliness.  New studies reveal that social isolation and feelings of rejection also translate to real physical feelings of pain. It's a catch-22 that you have to take control of.  What can you do? 

Talk to your doctor. If you aren't receiving proper medical support, you may not be getting readily available pain relief. Getting the right medications and therapies can make all the difference in your lifestyle and social life.Get support. Make sure your family and friends understand you're dealing with a medical condition, but don't make them your only support system. No matter how sympathetic they are, it's impossible for someone who hasn't "been there" to really get what you're going through. Investigate support groups and therapists who specialize in your medical condition.Don't get stuck being sick. Don't let your health condition take center stage in all your activities and relationships. Limit the time you spend talking about your condition and engaging in activities that are focused on illness. Cultivate hobbies, activities and friendships that support the healthy part of you.Just do it. Commit to staying connect with friends and family regularly and don't let yourself off the hook unless you're really unwell. Sometimes getting out the door is the hardest part. Once you're engaged in an event, it's fun. Try to:
- Schedule regular coffee dates. 
- Volunteer at church functions or community organizations
- Sign up for classes at a community center Exercise. Hit two birds with one stone and join an exercise class. You'll feel better physically and connect with other people. Choose classes like yoga, designed for your age group and abilities. Be a cheerleader. If you can't play sports or take part in another activity, sit on the sidelines and support your friends.Go online. The Internet makes keeps you connected even when you need to stay home. Some outlets include:
- Join online support groups. 
- Join Facebook or other social networking sites
- Stay in touch through email.

Staying close to someone with chronic pain is no easy feat. They can be irritable, tired, depressed, anxious and clingy.  That can wear down even the most supportive person. How can you help without burning out?

Insist your family member gets medical and psychological support.Consider joining a support group- Having a network that truly understands can be a lifesaver.Don't lose site of your own life - Stay connected to your other friends, family and priorities.Set reasonable limits so your "painful friend" knows when to lean on someone else. Ask your family member for appropriate help and support when you need it. Despite their pain, they still have valuable insights and contributions to make to your relationship.

View the original article here

Don't Let Chronic Pain Result in Social Isolation

People connect with friends and family through social activities and community events, sports and family gatherings.  When it hurts to be active, however, it's hard to stay connected. Friendships slip away and family members burn out. Chronic pain has a huge impact on people's social lives and often leaves them isolated, lonely and feeling socially rejected. Whether the person in pain is you or a loved one, we've got tips for staying connected.

If This Sounds Like You...

It's easy to feel alone and misunderstood when you live with chronic pain. It's also understandable if you don't feel like being social. Chronic pain actually changes the way your brain and body work together and frequently causes depression, anxiety, grief, fatigue, and loneliness.  New studies reveal that social isolation and feelings of rejection also translate to real physical feelings of pain. It's a catch-22 that you have to take control of.  What can you do? 

Talk to your doctor. If you aren't receiving proper medical support, you may not be getting readily available pain relief. Getting the right medications and therapies can make all the difference in your lifestyle and social life.Get support. Make sure your family and friends understand you're dealing with a medical condition, but don't make them your only support system. No matter how sympathetic they are, it's impossible for someone who hasn't "been there" to really get what you're going through. Investigate support groups and therapists who specialize in your medical condition.Don't get stuck being sick. Don't let your health condition take center stage in all your activities and relationships. Limit the time you spend talking about your condition and engaging in activities that are focused on illness. Cultivate hobbies, activities and friendships that support the healthy part of you.Just do it. Commit to staying connect with friends and family regularly and don't let yourself off the hook unless you're really unwell. Sometimes getting out the door is the hardest part. Once you're engaged in an event, it's fun. Try to:
- Schedule regular coffee dates. 
- Volunteer at church functions or community organizations
- Sign up for classes at a community center Exercise. Hit two birds with one stone and join an exercise class. You'll feel better physically and connect with other people. Choose classes like yoga, designed for your age group and abilities. Be a cheerleader. If you can't play sports or take part in another activity, sit on the sidelines and support your friends.Go online. The Internet makes keeps you connected even when you need to stay home. Some outlets include:
- Join online support groups. 
- Join Facebook or other social networking sites
- Stay in touch through email.

Staying close to someone with chronic pain is no easy feat. They can be irritable, tired, depressed, anxious and clingy.  That can wear down even the most supportive person. How can you help without burning out?

Insist your family member gets medical and psychological support.Consider joining a support group- Having a network that truly understands can be a lifesaver.Don't lose site of your own life - Stay connected to your other friends, family and priorities.Set reasonable limits so your "painful friend" knows when to lean on someone else. Ask your family member for appropriate help and support when you need it. Despite their pain, they still have valuable insights and contributions to make to your relationship.

View the original article here

Don't Let Chronic Pain Result in Social Isolation

People connect with friends and family through social activities and community events, sports and family gatherings.  When it hurts to be active, however, it's hard to stay connected. Friendships slip away and family members burn out. Chronic pain has a huge impact on people's social lives and often leaves them isolated, lonely and feeling socially rejected. Whether the person in pain is you or a loved one, we've got tips for staying connected.

If This Sounds Like You...

It's easy to feel alone and misunderstood when you live with chronic pain. It's also understandable if you don't feel like being social. Chronic pain actually changes the way your brain and body work together and frequently causes depression, anxiety, grief, fatigue, and loneliness.  New studies reveal that social isolation and feelings of rejection also translate to real physical feelings of pain. It's a catch-22 that you have to take control of.  What can you do? 

Talk to your doctor. If you aren't receiving proper medical support, you may not be getting readily available pain relief. Getting the right medications and therapies can make all the difference in your lifestyle and social life.Get support. Make sure your family and friends understand you're dealing with a medical condition, but don't make them your only support system. No matter how sympathetic they are, it's impossible for someone who hasn't "been there" to really get what you're going through. Investigate support groups and therapists who specialize in your medical condition.Don't get stuck being sick. Don't let your health condition take center stage in all your activities and relationships. Limit the time you spend talking about your condition and engaging in activities that are focused on illness. Cultivate hobbies, activities and friendships that support the healthy part of you.Just do it. Commit to staying connect with friends and family regularly and don't let yourself off the hook unless you're really unwell. Sometimes getting out the door is the hardest part. Once you're engaged in an event, it's fun. Try to:
- Schedule regular coffee dates. 
- Volunteer at church functions or community organizations
- Sign up for classes at a community center Exercise. Hit two birds with one stone and join an exercise class. You'll feel better physically and connect with other people. Choose classes like yoga, designed for your age group and abilities. Be a cheerleader. If you can't play sports or take part in another activity, sit on the sidelines and support your friends.Go online. The Internet makes keeps you connected even when you need to stay home. Some outlets include:
- Join online support groups. 
- Join Facebook or other social networking sites
- Stay in touch through email.

Staying close to someone with chronic pain is no easy feat. They can be irritable, tired, depressed, anxious and clingy.  That can wear down even the most supportive person. How can you help without burning out?

Insist your family member gets medical and psychological support.Consider joining a support group- Having a network that truly understands can be a lifesaver.Don't lose site of your own life - Stay connected to your other friends, family and priorities.Set reasonable limits so your "painful friend" knows when to lean on someone else. Ask your family member for appropriate help and support when you need it. Despite their pain, they still have valuable insights and contributions to make to your relationship.

View the original article here

When Social Drinking Becomes Dangerous

It's the end of a long week-or a long day-and if you're like many Americans, you reach for glass of wine, beer, or a cocktail to help you unwind. This behavior is considered normal as well as socially acceptable. Popular television shows like Mad Men glamorize drinking alcohol, which can make it hard to imagine a party, celebration, or sporting event without it.

In truth, about three out of every four U.S. adults never exceed the threshold for "problem drinking." According to an extensive survey conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), for men, that translates to five or more drinks in a day (for women it's four or more). Still nearly 17.6 million adults in the U.S. are alcoholics or have alcohol problems, and more than 79,000 deaths per year are attributed to alcohol misuse.

So, how do you know if the drinking you do in social settings is dangerous? First, here's some background on alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease with four main features, as defined by the NIAAA:

A craving or a strong need to drink.Loss of control or the inability to stop drinking once you've begun.Physical dependence shown by withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, or shakiness once drinking has ceased.Tolerance for having increasing amounts of alcohol in order to get a "high."

It's possible for a person to dangerously abuse alcohol-drink too much and too often-but still not be dependent on alcohol. Alcohol dependency often interferes with an individual's ability to meet work, school, and/or family responsibilities. Social drinking can be especially dangerous when driving or when taking certain over-the-counter and prescription medications. 

Heavy drinking is dangerous. It causes damage to the liver, brain, and other organs and can increase the risk of certain cancers. You're also more likely to die from car crashes and other injuries if you over do it, and both homicide and suicide rates are higher in this population. For men, excessive alcohol use can interfere with testicular function and male hormone production resulting in impotence, infertility, and reduction of male secondary sex characteristics such as facial and chest hair.

Problem drinkers habitually exceed the acceptable daily limit of two drinks for men (and one for women) or who binge, meaning they consume five or more drinks at any one sitting. Standard drink sizes are: 12 ounces of beer; five ounces of wine (the standard 750 ml bottle contains five drinks) or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor/spirits such as whiskey, gin, and vodka.

Problem drinkers (compared to alcoholics) tend to be younger, have been misusing alcohol for a shorter period of time, and are still able to hold jobs. They also tend to have better social support from friends and family.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol use affects more men than women. Men consistently have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women, says the CDC. And, among drivers in fatal motor-vehicle traffic crashes, men are almost twice as likely as women to have been legally intoxicated.

Protect yourself from alcohol misuse with these practical tips:

Don't have more than one alcoholic drink per hour. Alternate alcoholic drinks with club soda, soft drinks, or water.Always use a shot glass when measuring hard liquor to prevent under estimates.Never exceed 14 drinks per week.Don't drink on an empty stomach. Food helps delay the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.If you enjoy spirits, (gin, vodka, etc.) dilute drinks with a mixer. Drinks served "neat" or "on the rocks" metabolize in the body more quickly.

Sources:

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
http://www.ncadd.org

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov

View the original article here