40 - Wednesday, November 20, 1985 - North Shore News Psychotherapies spell relief for chronic pain sufferers PEOPLE DEAL with chronic pain in one of two ways — by coping with it, or by making it a ca- tastrophe — and, depending on which they do, can be helped to combat the pain psychologically, says a University psychologist. Statistics show that chronic pain, whether from arthritis, migraine, backaches or unknown causes, disables more people than either heart disease or cancer. For any chronic pain suf- ferer, a Jong list of treat- ments is now available —~ acupuncture, narcotics, heat therapy, ice-water therapy, electrical stimulation, surgery and so on. Yet, as Dr. Josef Wang of the Mayo Clinic said, ‘‘Pain is the weak Jink in modern medicine.’ Unfortunately, many pain sufferers never find a cure; some may find themselves in worse shape after being probed and in- jected than before. “The patient may have had multiple neurosurgery or may have ended up taking a whole medicine chest full of drugs,’' says U.W.O. psychologist Dr. Gary Roliman. Some patients niay even be told that their pain is just a fantasy. ““Of course, this is just not true,’’ says Dr. Rollman. “There are lots of pains that do exist but with our present technology we just can’t find the reasons for them."’ “In the end, the patient may end up frustrated and angry at the whole medica) establishment,’’ he adds. To help pain sufferers who cannot find a medical solution, psychologists like Dr. Roliman are trying to devise alternative forms of treatment — psychotherapies — that spell relief. Several] years ago, Dr. Roliman devised « method of examining pain that asked two basic questions: ‘How intense is the pain?’ and ‘How unpleasant is the pain?’ In asking these two ques- tions, Dr. Rollman is trying to sort out the differences between the actual physical sensation of pain — how much does it hurt? ~— and the emotional reaction to the pain. As he says, an individual can experience intense pain ~ and still not find it unpleas- ant. Using his test. Dr. Rollman has separated peo- ple into two groups: “*ecopers’*’? and “‘catastrophizers."” Copers, who tend to be optimistic, can tolerate much higher levels of pain than the pessimistic catastrophizers, he says. Dr. Rolimun says his treatment for chronic pain involves an attempt at direc- ting the sufferer’s thoughts away from the pain. Tor some sufferers ibis involves learning how to distract one- self. “T tell them to count the numbers of tiles on the ceil- ing, for example, when the pain gets bad,’’ he says. For others, Dr. Rollman nay supegest letting the imag- ination take fhght. “Think of yourself on an island in the Caribbean,”? he Says. So far, Dr, Rollman has had success — but of the Ontario __ By HUGH WESYRUP wrong kind. He has suc- ceeded in teaching some people to tolerate more pain. But the kicker is that he has only been able to teach this to people — the copers — who can already tolerate high levels of pain. “Those who need help the most benefit the least,’ he says. “Perhaps the copers have already taught themselves of Western new and, hforgettable performance wt the strategies that 1 teach,”’ he adds, Dr. Rollman wonders whether the ability to handle pain is connected to other personality traits. “The catastraphizers seem to be pessimists, they look at the future and imagine the worst,”’ he says. ‘'On the other hand, the copers are optimists, they look into the unknown and say to themselves, ‘This looks in- teresting.’”° People who can’t be helped by Dr. Rollman's therapy might try ‘behavioral therapy,’ he says. In ordinary life, ‘‘we often reward people unintentional. ty for being unwell,” he says. ‘‘We let them stay in we SEN . eo. op ply ‘overwhetiniiig we yor throw ros he Arts : or both $6: " “Available at VIC/CBO 280-4444 N.V. Rec Centre 988-6166 . 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Behavioral therapy rewards the sufferer for do- - 7 . {ALM OS LNT Lee ela 4 PP! ing desisable things. ‘We praise the sufferer for sitting up ti bed rather than lying down, for walking rather than sitting,” Dr. says FJ ¢ ntfroduéing Our New foam . ~~. bodywave trora = + Gi coidwer intern . ‘Hacaré. prad © Regular, 56059 Now * : Capilano Village Market 301 Marine Dr., N.V. Rollman. ‘Eventually — pa- tients come to realize that pain doesn't have to be as debilitating as they previous- ly thought.** Nov. 19 to Dec. 22 Lynn Vatley Centre and CHOM radio. in conjunction with the Salvator Amy, are migased to bing you "The Angel Tea” for those less fortunate cnildten in out community We invite you to remove an Angel tay from the “Angel Tree on your mest visit te Lynn Valley Centre Purchase and wrap a gut for a boy or gut, teenagers, too! Com- plele and attach the tag to your gift and return if to the “Angel Tren’ 2 You will receive an “l gave to the Angel Tree” button as a symmbot of the: i the less fortunate child who will rece your quit endant! ks from This vear make yout Christmas extra special by sharing avait) a ceed child your community Visit the “Anger Tree! Christmas mali hours: 9:30-6:00 Sat. 12:00-5:00 Sun. 9:30-9:00 Mon. thru Fri. q commencing November 28 LY MAT LL LY CORE