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| Studies have shown that mind/body techniques can improve the health and well-being of persons suffering from chronic illness, including chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The Mind/Body Chronic Pain Service gives patients tools they can use to better cope with and, in some cases, lessen their physical symptoms as well as the anxiety, frustration, and depression that often accompany pain-related illness. Anyone experiencing daily pain for more than three months and patients with CFS or fibromyalgia could benefit from these services.
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Identify factors or situations that may contribute to your symptoms |
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Reduce the intensity and/or frequency of fatigue, pain, and other physical symptoms |
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Accept and better cope with certain chronic conditions |
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Regain a sense of control and well-being |
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Individual counseling sessions with a psychologist to apply mind/body approaches to pain-specific issues and/or |
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Participation in the weekly Medical Symptom Reduction Progam |
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Elicitation of the relaxation response through techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and mindfulness |
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Ways to pace yourself and schedule activities to reduce the exacerbation of symptoms |
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Safe and gentle stretching exercises |
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Healthy eating and other positive lifestyle behaviors |
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Skills to help you communicate more clearly and assertively with caregivers as well as colleagues, friends and family |
In addition, patients examine and restructure negative thoughts that can interfere with their coping abilities, such as "I'll never be able to work again." With the cognitive/behavioral strategies we teach, patients realize what they can still do and the thought becomes "I'll work again; it may just be in a different capacity" or "I may not be able to hold a traditional job but I am still an integral and important member of my family."
A recent analysis of patient outcomes showed: More than 85% of our patients felt they were better able to manage symptoms; significant decreases in physical and mental fatigue; and significant decreases in distress and discomfort.
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