Chronische Schmerzen: Was bringt ein Schmerztagebuch?
Ein Tagebuch kann dabei unterstützen, Auslösern von chronischen Schmerzen auf die Spur zu kommen. Was Betroffene dabei aber unbedingt beachten sollten, erklärt eine Schmerz-Expertin.
Many doctors and psychologists advise patients suffering from chronic pain to keep a pain diary, even though the exact cause of their pain may not be clear. Ulrike Kaiser, a psychological psychotherapist at the University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck, argues that such diaries should be called 'activities and mood diaries' instead.
Keeping such a diary sounds more motivating to patients. It helps them recognize patterns in their pain and identify possible triggers, Kaiser says, who is a member of the Presidential Board of the German Pain Society. At the same time, writing it down reveals the impact different activities have on their perception of pain. Besides noting the intensity of the pain and the activities performed, patients can also record their moods and common thoughts.
Intensive self-observation is recommended, but only for a limited time. Kaiser warns that making it a long-term project could lead to patients focusing too much on observing their pain, which doesn't help much in alleviating it. According to Kaiser, an activities-and-mood diary shouldn't be kept for longer than four to six weeks and only for a specific purpose, such as getting to know one's own pain and its triggers at the beginning of therapy.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
