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In this episode I interview suicide prevention expert Paula Fontenelle. Sharing her own experience with the loss of her father and how that changed the course of her life, she shares vital information on how we can prevent tragedy in our families and communities.Suicide is a highly stigmatized subject. So we don't talk about it, and that's a problem, especially if you struggle with chronic pain. According to a 2008 eight study, those with chronic pain attempt suicide 2.5 times more often than the general public, and suicide ideation is almost twice that of the general population in the US. Given the Corona virus, we are seeing a stark increase in mental health illness.  You will find more relevant information if read  Leo Sher's report, The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 113, Issue 10, October 2020, Pages 707–712, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa202. 

I'm taking a break from the "Movement" series to address handling and minimizing stress during the holiday season offering some suggestions for making this season less painful for those struggling with chronic pain. Simply put, stress and anxiety increases physical pain. We see a great deal more pain during this season because of stress, cold weather changes and the feeling the need to "do more" which with friends and family arriving. I close with a personal story about giving of ourselves.Be well and be blessed, David

This is the fifth installment on the mini-series on movement and exercise for pain management and reduction. Today's topic is "Balance." I want your input and feedback. As a thank you for your suggestions, ideas and comments, I'm giving away a fitness tracker will be to one lucky respondent. This "exchange" for input will be awarded to the person who provides a thorough and honest critique of my podcasts. I am on an unending quest to make the podcast have the greatest value for you. So navigate to https://www.strivingtothriving.com/pedometer-exchange/ and provide me with your suggestions, recommendations or ideas to make the podcast a success, and a resource for you.

This is the fourth installment on the mini-series on movement and exercise for pain management and reduction. Today's topic is "Strength Training." I want your input and feedback. As a thank you for your suggestions, ideas and comments, I'm giving away a fitness tracker will be to one lucky respondent. This "exchange" for input will be awarded to the person who provides a thorough and honest critique of my podcasts. I am on an unending quest to make the podcast have the greatest value for you. So navigate to https://www.strivingtothriving.com/pedometer-exchange/ and provide me with your suggestions, recommendations or ideas to make the podcast a success, and a resource for you.

This is the third installment on the mini-series on movement and exercise for pain management and reduction. Today's topic is "Walking." I want your input and feedback. As a thank you for your suggestions, ideas and comments, I'm giving away a fitness tracker will be to one lucky respondent. This "exchange" for input will be awarded to the person who provides a thorough and honest critique of my podcasts. I am on an unending quest to make the podcast have the greatest value for you. So navigate to https://www.strivingtothriving.com/pedometer-exchange/ and provide me with your suggestions, recommendations or ideas to make the podcast a success, and a resource for you.

This is the second installment on the mini-series on movement and exercise for pain management and reduction. As a thank you for your suggestions, ideas and comments, a fitness tracker will be awarded to one lucky respondent in December. This "exchange"  will be awarded to the person who provides the best and honest critique of my podcasts. I am on an unending quest to make the podcast have the greatest value for you. So navigate to https://www.strivingtothriving.com/pedometer-exchange/ and provide me with your suggestions, recommendations or ideas to make the podcast a success, and a resource for you.

In this brief podcast, I discuss both the need and how movement and exercise is critical to pain reduction.Chronic pain is a thief. It steals the fun, excitement and joy in life you once had. Things are different now. Your day likely starts and ends with the pain that restricts you from living the life you had. If you struggle with chronic pain living a sedentary lifestyle lacking joy from the activities you used to do, please reach out to me and allow me to walk beside you, and coach you so you can reclaim your life from chronic pain, and rediscover the greatness within you.

In this short podcast, I talk about the cost of dreams and what it requires to make your dream become reality. Those in chronic pain often give up in life, lose hope and stop dreaming. Chronic pain is not a sentence to death, but should rather be viewed in the context of changes we have to make in life. While those changes are difficult, one should never give up on turning their dreams into reality. If you struggle with chronic pain and you life is far from what you hoped and dreamed it would be, please reach out to me. Let's craft a plan to make your dreams your reality.

In the fifth installment of this series, Pain 101, I talk about one of the greatest struggles chronic pain sufferers must wrestle. It is one of the most common and detrimental experiences those with chronic pain must address, and do so in healthy, non-destructive ways. The subject in this episode is how to experience and move through grief. I discuss how grieving for those living in chronic pain differs from the experience of grief from loss from death or divorce. I compare the commonly referenced, “Five Stages of Grief” which is not appropriate for chronic pain, and introduce a more recent model for those in chronic pain vs. that of death.