Simple Comforts For Difficult Pain Days

The simple things in life are sometimes the things that bring most comfort, especially on difficult pain days. In my previous post, I talked about practical things that can help. Today, I want to share some of the small comforts and gentle coping strategies that help me through those tougher times.

It’s Really About Being Kind To Ourselves

If you live with pain, you’ll already know that there are no magic answers. There are medications and practical suggestions, as I mentioned in my last post, but nothing really helps 100%. Even when we do everything we can to manage our pain, sometimes we need a little extra comfort. And it’s often the simple things, the little comforts that can help get us through difficult pain days.

Living with pain is difficult, and on those harder days, being kind to ourselves can bring a little comfort and make things feel more manageable.

Simple Comforts For Difficult Pain Days

When my pain is bad, it’s often the smallest things that make life feel just a little more manageable.

They don’t fix anything, and they don’t take the pain away. But they can soften the sharp edges — just enough to get through the days.

This is a collection of the small comforts I come back to on difficult pain days.

Rest & Relaxation

Getting rest and proper relaxation probably brings the most comfort on difficult pain days. I practise a few different breathing techniques to help.

Belly breathing, which I explained in this post, really helps. Counting in your head while breathing can help too — count to four while slowly breathing in, hold for four, count to four while breathing out slowly, then hold for four again.

Mindfulness

People talk about mindfulness a lot, and sometimes it can sound complicated. But it really isn’t. For me, it’s simply about putting my focus on what’s around me, rather than on my pain.

There’s a simple mindfulness exercise that I sometimes do — I call it the 5,4,3,2,1 exercise. You try to focus on five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and finally, one thing you can taste.

Here’s an example of my own 5,4,3,2,1 exercise:

5 things I see
Kip lying sleeping beside me; the cross-stitch on the wall that my cousin made; the jewellery box Ian bought for me before we got married; the lampshade; the cobweb attached to it — and the spider in the corner!

4 things I feel
Kip’s soft hair; the heat from my electric blanket; the warmth of the mug I’m holding; the softness of my quilt.

3 things I hear
Ian rattling about in the kitchen making soup; a bird singing outside the window; Kip snoring softly.

2 things I smell
Ian’s soup; my star anise and cinnamon tea.

1 thing I taste
That delicious tea.

Comfy Clothes

Comfy clothes are a must, because, seriously, if you’re in pain, you don’t want tight waistbands and annoying fabrics. I’m normally lounging about the house in soft fleece tops and leggings or yoga pants — soft, comfortable, and easy to put on and take off.

I also have occasional PJ days, but I prefer to get dressed. For some reason, being dressed makes me feel as though I am still living a relatively normal life — even if I spend most of the day lying in bed.

Electric & Fleece Blankets

I always feel cold, and when my pain is soaring, the cold always exacerbates it. Whenever I go to bed, I switch on my electric blanket. That heat in my back almost instantly helps me to feel better within myself.

Also, I have several fleece blankets, so I can wrap myself up when I am in the living room. And my ultimate favourite — my electric throw. I treated myself to one a couple of years ago, and I’d be lost without it.

Comfort Food

When I’m in a lot of pain, I often don’t feel like eating a “proper” meal. But I also know I need nutritious food, especially as I take a lot of medications.

I tend to opt for soup — for me, it needs to be homemade because I have coeliac disease. I’ve never found any enjoyable gluten-free ready-made soups in the supermarket. Making a large pot, and freezing portions means I always have homemade soup on hand. A few other favourites are scrambled eggs, cauliflower cheese or sausage casserole — easy foods, but full of goodness.

Snacks and Treats

Sometimes food doesn’t have to be about nutrition at all.

I like to have a wee stash of treats tucked away for days when my pain is high, or if I just need a boost. A Wispa gold bar can feel like a lottery win in the middle of a difficult day.

Other favourites I keep on hand are gluten-free biscuits or cake. I can’t bake these days because of my pain, but I am lucky enough to have a hubby who loves to cook and bake. So, when he bakes cakes, we portion them and freeze, so I’ve normally got a nice sweet treat waiting for me.

Having a treat is part of self-care, and please don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. When life is difficult, a little indulgent snack can lift your spirits.

Try to Get Outside

If I can, I try to get outside, even if it’s just for a wee while when the weather is decent. (I live in Scotland, so that doesn’t happen as often as I’d like! 😂)

It’s lovely to breathe in fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.

Especially in the summer, it’s lovely to hear the outdoor sounds. I’m lucky because I live in the countryside, so I hear birds singing and bees buzzing. Small things like that can bring comfort and help me smile a little on difficult pain days.

Let the Light In

If I can’t manage to get outside, I open the curtains to let some light in. And if the weather allows it, opening a window can help bring in fresh air too.

Distractions

When I’m in a lot of pain, all I really want to do is sleep. But sometimes I can’t. In those moments, I need a distraction.

A distraction doesn’t take the pain away, but it gives me something else to focus on.

Sometimes I play games on my phone — I have a large selection, and on bad days I tend to move from one game to another because none of them can hold my attention for very long.

Films can be too hard to concentrate on when I’m having a bad day, and I really can’t manage to read a book, so I prefer something light and easy on my brain. I often turn to YouTube and watch funny videos — crazy cats, dopey dogs, and giggling babies.

Music can help too — sometimes I need something upbeat to lift my mood, and sometimes something calmer to help me relax.

You’ll find more distraction ideas in this post.

A Friendly Face or Voice

Catching up with friends or family — whether in person, on the phone, or online — can be a great comfort.

Not all the time though. Sometimes, when my pain is bad, I really don’t feel like chatting. So I don’t. But other times, it helps.

Depending on who I’m talking to, it can be a chance for a wee moan, or just a distraction with a normal conversation. Both have their place.

Pets

Aaah…pets. I honestly believe animals can sense how we feel. Very often, when I’m lying in bed on one of those difficult pain days, I get a visit from Kip. She likes to snuggle beside me, and there’s something incredibly comforting about it. Animals don’t need words.

Spa Treatment

Ok, I have never been inside a spa in my entire life. I’m sixty years old, and I’ve never had my nails done or my eyebrows waxed (ouch!!).

But I do enjoy my own little version of a spa treatment at home. I like using aromatherapy oils and (wait for it) soaking my feet in Epsom salts. I often use a nice-scented moisturiser and give myself a gentle hand and arm massage.

It’s a simple comfort, but it helps me feel a little better about myself on a difficult pain day.

Focusing on the Small Things

Small things really are big things when you live with health problems. I try to focus on the small things in life — the little moments that make me smile. Seeing snowdrops poking through the hard winter ground, watching a butterfly dancing in the air, or hearing the song of little birds — those things can still bring a smile to my face.

I Can’t Forget Laughter

Sometimes it’s hard to find a smile, never mind a laugh, when my pain is soaring. But I have a dog who not only gives snuggles when I need them, her antics can make me laugh too. And I’m very fortunate to have a lovely hubby whose goal each day is to make me laugh. I’ve probably heard his jokes a million times before, but I still laugh at them.

They do say laughter is the best medicine, and on difficult days, I think there’s some truth in that — even if it’s just giving a tiny moment of relief.

100 Small Things That Make My Day Better

Sometimes, Even Small Comforts Don’t Help on Those Difficult Pain Days

Those small comforts can make things slightly easier to cope with, but there are times when nothing seems to touch the pain. No amount of medication, meditation or even chocolate can make the day feel any lighter. When that happens, I rest without guilt, hoping that tomorrow might bring a small spark of hope.

What helps you on the really difficult pain days — I’d really love to hear the small comforts that help you. Feel free to share in the comments if you’d like.

Small Comforts Can Bring Brighter Days