Ouch! The Link Between Chronic Pain and Sleep
Lack Of Sleep Can Make You More Susceptible To Pain – Find Out What You Can Do About It.
When we’re not getting sleep, it can be a real pain. LITERALLY.
Sleep deprivation equates to our bodies being more susceptible to feelings of discomfort, meaning the pain is allowed to flourish.
But, when we create the conditions to support rest and relaxation, sleep acts a natural analgesic (science speak for a drug that relieves pain)
This is great news if you suffer from chronic pain.
After all, it’s easy to fall into a pain loop where poor sleep and pain feed off each other making everything worse…
How Can You Decrease Pain So You Can Get Great Sleep?
Glad you asked… Here’s my recommended list of adjuncts to trial:
???? Regular Exercise…
Walking, swimming and rowing, have been shown to ease pain in the short AND long term by promoting the release of endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers.)
Great resource: https://uihc.org/health-topics/exercise-treat-chronic-pain
???? Anti-inflammatory Diet…
As you know, inflammation = Pain. Eating a poor diet promotes overall inflammation in the body, and increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, AND pain. Eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can both help reverse/avoid these conditions AND reduce pain.
Great resource: https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/anti-inflammatory-food-list/
???? Meditation…
Getting into that quieter state of mind causes your body to release fewer stress hormones into the bloodstream. It also helps your brain release endorphins, a natural pain reliever.
Great resource: https://www.innerhealthstudio.com/meditation-for-pain-relief.html
???? Aromatherapy…
There have been some wild studies done on the relationship between lavender aromatherapy and pain. Researchers have found that lavender aromatherapy can have an analgesic (pain reducing) effect on par with certain opioids. Opioids last longer, but for a time period of about 30 minutes, studies indicate that lavender is equally effective at managing pain!
Great resource: http://bit.ly/SleepRemedyLavender (not aromatherapy, but my lavender flavor will boost relaxation chemistry in your brain to help you sleep!)
Lavender is actually our newest flavor option. In part, because I loved the taste test (and in part because I am prone to impulsive decisions), I jumped in with both feet and told our manufacturer to “let it rip.”
I didn’t think through the fact that, for some people, lavender doesn’t sound like something you’d naturally eat or drink (even though it’s been used as a flavor enhancer for centuries.)