I had another session with Michelle, the clinical psychologist from the pain team last week. We focused on techniques to build confidence when walking. A couple of evenings prior to that I had taken the dog out at dusk and had barely got a couple of houses up the road when I stumbled over an uneven bit of the pavement. I realised it then knocked my confidence for walking the rest of the time we were out.
I explained this to Michelle and she said we well use the next few sessions to focus on coping mechanisms to help avoid some of the anxiety associated with such events, and with slopes and uneven surfaces. We spent some time looking at my natural breathing, and how to breathe differently when faced with such situations of low confidence. I’ve been practicing the techniques, not least of which I did this morning when out on a walk/scooter with my grandson ( it was him that did the scootering). It really seemed to help me tackle some areas I would’ve ordinarily given up on.
We went out again later in the afternoon to a beach to find some pebbles we could use for my grandson’s school project. The ramp down to the beach was quite steep but I made it down. As we walked along the beach we came to an area where it was very rocky. The choices were to head back to the ramp or get across the rocks and then head back up to the car via some dodgy stone steps
After some deliberation I decided to tackle the rocks and was pretty chuffed to have made it across unaided. I focussed as much on my breathing as on where to place my feet, and it worked.
Well done. It sounds really promising.
I heard (via Sue) that you had a good time with the family. It sounds as though you are feeling so much better mentally as well as physically.
Letâs have a chat some time this week- or weekend- and Iâll give you a catch-up on whatâs happening here as well Lots of love Mum xxxx.
I’m potentially paying for it a bit this morning, but nothing too bad, just more pain than normal of a morning.