@JWenner_Author I keep a blanket or quilt in the car at all times because you never know—hubby driving and blasting the A/C, impromptu picnic at the park, freezing at the ballfield. And hopefully never need it for an accident.
Good morning to every therapist showing up for their clients AND recovering from trauma, managing difficult family issues, and working on their own mental health. Keep slaying and keep healing. Your experience is your foundation for empathy and connection.
Today on "WTF things on the therapists subreddit," someone asked what to do when a patient goes silent in session. Everyone falls all over themselves talking about absolutely insane interventions. Very few say, "you sit in silence." Unreal. https://t.co/R5qtktnEKG
When I used to walk into a patients room, who I knew had been experiencing pain, I would do what I called a “reverse” pain level assessment.
The standard assessment is “On a scale of 1-10, 1 being the least pain, and 10 being the most, what number would you give to your pain right now?”
The reverse assessment asked “On a scale of 1-10, 1 being the least comfort, and 10 being the most, what number would you give to your comfort right now?”
The standard assessment required them to rapidly sort back through all past pain they have felt-thereby bringing THAT pain into their consciousness, and compare it to the pain level they are experiencing in this moment, so they can decide what number is appropriate. The whole process amplifies their pain level, because it it ignites the neural pathways of pain & requires them to focus on PAIN.
My reverse assessment asks them to rapidly sort back through all past COMFORT they have ever felt-thereby bringing THAT comfort into their consciousness, and compare it to the comfort level they are experiencing in this moment, so they can decide what number is appropriate. The whole process amplifies their comfort level, because it lights up the neural pathways of comfort, & requires them to focus on COMFORT.
Not surprisingly, the patients I was caring for, routinely asked for/needed 15-20% less pain medication than they did during the shift I was relieving, or during the shift that was relieving me, later.
This applies to OTHER areas of life, as well. Read it again. There is a part of you that will “get” how this applies to those other areas of life….even if you…don’t.
Enjoy.
Republicans say that donald trump‘s indictment is a “sad day in America”.
And frankly that’s fucking bullshit.
You wanna know what IS a sad day in America…
It’s a sad day in America when Republican lawmakers compare going to school to going to war.
It’s a sad day in America when the MURDER of 9 year olds isn’t enough to inspire action or to motivate change.
It’s a sad day in America when instead of doing SOMETHING, ANYTHING about the goddamn guns, the response is to blame the doors, the lack of MORE guns, the pot, the porn, and the transgender community as a whole.
It’s a sad day in America when parents like me have to memorize the clothing our kids are wearing as they head off to school for fear that we will need to remember them in order to IDENTIFY their bodies.
It’s a sad day in America when we are told that ‘nothing can be done’ by the same party banning books, African American history & bodily autonomy.
It’s a sad day in America when a lifelong criminal conman FINALLY faces consequences for his actions, and an ENTIRE political party beholden to him loses their collective f’ng minds while also being willing to sacrifice our KIDS to the gun lobby at the same fucking time.
Now that, that is a sad day in America.
The six horsemen of an impending hurricane, in order of severity:
- Publix begins selling hurricane cakes
- Midwestern family starts checking in
- Disney closes
- Editor asks you to check out plywood supply at Home Depot
- Jim Cantore arrives
- Waffle House closes