Useful Books and Reading Material

 Useful Books, Audiofiles, Viewing and Links

Explain Pain- Dr David, S butler and Prof G.Loimer Moseley- Of all the books I have read this has been by far the most useful in explaing pain, with the best description of pacing and thresholds, making it understandable and clear. I highly recommend!

The Spoon Theory - "But you don't look sick'' by Christine Miserandino. This is a great 5 minitue read. Although it is about Lupus another condition, it is a great anaogy of living with pain and or a disibility and I think its great. Give it a go. Another site which explains it in relation to chronic pain is https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/patient/resources/pain-self-management/using-spoon-theory-explain-chronic-pain

The Power of Now by Echart Tolle- this book is all about living in the present moment, whilst thinking/worrying about the past and future can cause a lot of pain. The book draws from a variety of "spiritual traditions'' and describes methods of relaxation and meditation to aid readers in anchoring themselves in the present. These suggestions include slowing down life by avoiding multi tasking, spending time in nature, and letting go of worries about the future.

A Man's Search for Reason- Viktor Frankl- a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicling his experiences as an Auschwitz concentration camp inmate during World War II, and describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positively about, and then immersively imagining that outcome. Not a happy read but some interesting points on suffering and attitude to life.

 

Siddhartha- Hermann Hesse- The story of the spiratual journey of a man named Siddhartha in acient India at the time of the Gautama Buddha. The word Siddhartha is made up of two words in the Sanskrit language, Siddha (achieved) + artha (what was searched for), which together means "he who has found meaning (of existence)".

 TED Talks-

A different approach to pain managment- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLQJJDrbj6Q

Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D is an Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy and the Center of Integrative Medicine’s Associate Director of Neuroscience at Wake Forest School of Medicine. His program of research is focused on understanding and identifying the psychological and neural processes that mediate the relationship between self-regulatory practices and health. Specifically, Dr. Zeidan’s research has uncovered the specific brain mechanisms involved in mindfulness meditation-based pain relief. He is currently developing meditation-based interventions to best target chronic pain

How mindfullmess meditation redefines pain- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVwLjC5etEQ

Change the mindset, change the game- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tqq66zwa7g

 

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Dr. Crum says the biggest game changer is “YOU, by harnessing the power of your mind." She explores scientific results that show the influence of the mindset on the body, and how changing the subjective mindset produced different outcomes. Dr. Crum's work is inspired in part by the placebo effect, and has implications that stretch far beyond the realm of medicine.

Tara Brach Website - Mindful Meditations books and Audio CDs and Files- Tara Brach’s teachings blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. The result is a distinctive voice in Western Buddhism, one that offers a wise and caring approach to freeing ourselves and society from suffering. I have found her meditations to be very useful.

Jon Kabat Zin Website -  Jon Kabat Zin has a range of Mindful Meditation CDs specific for pain relief. 

An interview with Jon Kabat Zin - An interesting interview with Jon Kabat Zin on mindfulness specific for pain. 

Daioist Qi Gong In Ten Exersizes- Franklin Flick- Simple, easy exersizes to ground you. Popular Chinese medicine in balancing energies.

Reccommended by Jan:

Get out of your mind and into your life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Steven Hayes and Spencer Smith. - An Introduction to living the life you want whilst accepting the pain.

ACT Made Simple: An easy to read primer on Acceptance and Commitent Therapy- Russ Harris- An in-depth to living a life led by your values not your pain.

Be here Now- Fourteen Techniques for Mindful Living-Naomi Goodlet- Useful inks to other exersizes.