Relaxation

More ways than you think

Living with persistent pain can be stressful. Unfortunately stress can make your pain worse by causing the muscles throughout your body to become tense or to spasm.

Relaxing – easing your stress and muscle tension – can help reduce your pain levels. There are so many things you can try to help you relax.

Ways you can relax:

• Focused and controlled breathing
• Mindfulness meditation
• Gardening
• Visualisation
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Listen to music
• Catch up with friends
• Get a massage
• Laughter
• Visit a museum/gallery/library
• Distraction
• Read
• Play with your pet
• Guided imagery
• Take a warm bath or shower
• Play a musical instrument
• Do some art and craft
• Get back to nature – a stroll by the sea, a walk in a park

Personal perspectives

For me it’s a bubble bath and a book. The water is warm and soothing, the bubbles smell lovely, and the book takes me away.  – Mary

My own strategies encompass meditation, various forms of exercise, including swimming and walking, as many coffee-dates with smart and caring friends as I can manage, and at least an hour of downtime every day with my music and my books. – Matthew

My partner gives me a head massage. It’s so relaxing I often fall asleep mid-massage! – Karen

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