Music helps to some extent for me. On the weekends, when I really don't want to move around a lot, I will find my way to our music studio and play... it gives me relief while I am playing, but that's about it. During the week I work at least 12 hours a day, so I really don't get any time to myself to relax.

I started reading at night to help control my occasional anxiety, and I have found that this helps a little bit to get my mind off of the pain too. Meditation supposedly helps, but for me it just made me focus on the pain more! I guess everyone is different!

Welcome!

Breath control. Even if meditation isn't for you (it's not really for me) there are many books and even better, audiobooks on breathing - mindfully. It's no wonder to me that women in labor have been turning to (pardon my spelling) La Maz. It doesn't stop the pain, it just helps us survive it. When you get really good at it you can send the healing breath to what ever part of your body needs it. And you can feel the warmth that you directed there. As you can tell, I'm a fan. lol It does not necessarily stop the pain. It just refocuses the mind and that makes it more bearable. Hope my 2 cents help! {{{gentle hugs}}}

I get in the most comfortable position I can and do what I can to focus on something else. Worst case, a few deep breaths and disconnect from my body or focus on an object. Music, books on CD, reading, on-line chatting and games, watch TV and drawing. Coming on here and trying to help others :)

i have to find something to fiddle around with.
like rolling a rubber band around my fingers or shaking my feet/legs when im sitting.

shuffling playing cards...


it seems odd but it relaxes me lol

I bought a MacBook when I had my first back surgery so I could watch DVDs in bed. It hurts to lay on my couch and I can only sit in my recliner for a short while. My husband and I got a Netflix account when I got the laptop. We are lucky to have a king size bed and love to watch movies and documentaries together. I get on my heating pad and try to focus on what we are watching. It's a nice distraction.

Breath control is important I think because it helps calm you down and also increasing the airflow in your body.

As for something more constructive I'm a bit of a geek so I keep my mind busy with math, programming or webdesigning whenever I'm in too much pain to leave the house.

When I can leave I bring my Nikon D90 SLR and go shoot in the forests.

I doubt that it is much help to you but you never know. I find photography to be a calming hobby :)

i use to play hidden objects game but i have to be careful to sit all day.

I'll crank up the guitar and rock the garage. When I'm focused on my music it seems to let me escape my pain.

iam new here and was diagose with chronic pain snydrome, severe excucaiating pain. had a brain injury and this is the cause of it! but music helps, but can some times bring on anxiety. and at times i lay flat on the floor with no pillow or anything and if i have something cold like a tile floor works great. i need pepole who can understand what iam going through thankyou

Being on the internet helps me ;) Some nights I can't sleep from the pain, so I get on the internet until I'm so tired that my vision is blurry, and then I shut the computer and roll over and fall asleep.

Movies help me, but I have to be in the mood for one.

Music definitely helps. Inspirational.

Reading helps if I can do it.

Walking my dog helps because it gets me out of the house and I have to pay attention to what he's paying attention to since he is like a small child.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are more.

I use a form of meditation, but I would have to say it's my own brand. I used to play relaxing music when I did this, but I have done it so long I don't need it any longer. Instead I just lie back comfortably and let my mind drift. Then I picture a world that I have build myself, it is my safe haven where pain is not allowed. My safe haven, your's can be anything that suits, is a small lake surrounded by trees. I always wade out into the lake, the water is the perfect temp. And very bouyant. I float on my back in the water and allow the pain to ebb away. If the pain is really bad I imagine that the lake is surround by animals and that they are there to give me strength and to keep me safe. Now don't laugh....it works! :). It takes time to build your safe have and the more detail the better. Like I said I can slip into that meditation easily now after years of practice. On the practical side, I was in the hospital and had surgery one time and the nurses messed up my pain medication order so for the first night after the operation I had no pain medication. I made it through that night using this method. The next day my doctor was amazed. That's not to say I wasn't thrilled when they walked in with my pain meds. :) LOL

Well, i play my bodhran. Beating that drum has helped me a lot.

I also handsew dresses for dollies and make embroideries for my family.

cuddling with my shih tzuhs , starburst and velcro

i like to dream of things im going to do once i recover, keeps my mind focused on the future and not on the pain, i try and keep busy by talking online, interacting with other people, giving advice, takling advice and making new friends who understand exactly how ur feeling, good luck and big hugs to you x x x x x x

Playing with pets helps. I also recently discovered that it'spissible to download audiobooks from the local library onto my mp3 player, which has been great. If you're in too much pain to go out, they don't need to be returned - just delete them!