For a hot moment, I was utilizing learning a second language, Louisiana Kouri-Vini the native language of my mother, as a form of distraction. I was doing a good job at both learning the language and keeping my mind off the Fibromyalgia. But then I had my hip replacement AND I fell again and sustained another concussion. Family that lives with me have become distant, neglectful, and disrespectful. I descended into a deep depression. It became harder to think and concentrate and I went into a never-ending flare. With the start of September, Chronic Pain Awareness Month, I have pledged to myself to restart my Kouri-Vini Lessons. I will try to write something in Kouri-Vini every day. The sentences may or may not have anything to do with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain, but no matter what I write about, they will be a distraction.
Back in 2005, Dr. Malcom Johnson reported ...
"Engaging in thoughts or activities that distract attention from pain is one of the most commonly used and highly endorsed strategies for controlling pain. The process of distraction appears to involve competition for attention between a highly salient sensation (pain) and consciously directed focus on some other information processing activity."[1]
Johnson also warned, "There has been little examination of the use of distraction in chronic pain, but some ancillary evidence suggests that it should be used with caution."[2]
I've tried distraction and even discussed it in previous posts here in "Thoughts In From The Fog". I've had varying results. I think for me, in my personal experiences, that it depends on the varying situations surrounding and encompassing one's pain. Sometimes distraction works, sometimes it doesn't.
Over the years, I've paid attention to my body and realize that the level/severity of pain, level of energy, whether or not family or friends are being supportive (providing a helping hand, calling/sending text to check on me, or checking in on social media) and the type of distraction utilized (physical, intellectual, or emotional) are all determinants on whether or not the distraction helps to take my mind off the pain. I also realized that distraction has varying results merely because of the fact that distraction does not take away the pain, all it does it change your focus for the time that you are using it.
I made myself a chart to help me determine if a form of distraction is worth my time to utilize it.
Of course, distraction is most effective when pain is low AND energy is high AND those around me are supportive. However, let's be honest; it appears to me that we least need distraction when things are perfect (or near perfect); that's when our pain is low, energy is high, and family is supportive. So, who practices distraction when you least need it?
Endnotes:
[1] Johnson MH. How does distraction work in the management of pain? Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2005 Apr;9(2):90-5. doi: 10.1007/s11916-005-0044-1. PMID: 15745617.
[2] Ibid
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