SPECIAL SECTION: NUTRITION & WELLBEING
1. Stop the stigma
Some of the most common causes of chronic pain for women are women’ s health issues such as period pain, endometriosis, pregnancy and postpartum complications and perimenopause. Many women don’ t speak up about their pain because of fear of the stigma surrounding these issues. There is also a common, albeit erroneous, mentality that because a lot of these gynaecological causes of pain are“ natural processes” for females, people are weak for not being able to just“ suck it up and push through”. This couldn’ t be further from the truth.“ Pushing through” just means you suffer in silence. Open up to those around you – family, friends and work colleagues. The only way people can support you is if they know what you’ re going through. There is no shame in seeking help and, if you do, you’ re paving the way for others to do the same.
2. Treat the physical and the psychological
Physical and mental health are intimately connected. It is no use treating one and not the other. If you live with chronic pain, you need to manage it in order to improve your mood. Ignoring your mental health will make managing pain very challenging.
3. Build your team
One of the common themes women report is feeling ignored by their health professionals. We know this can be hugely detrimental to both physical and mental health outcomes. One of the most important steps in managing pain and mental health is building a team around you that you trust and feel you can speak openly with. This team might include doctors, psychologists and women’ s health physiotherapists, to name a few.
The financial side of accessing a lot of these supports can be a barrier for some women, so it is worth speaking to your GP as you may be eligible for certain health plans that will make some of this more affordable.
4. Small actions, big results
When it comes to looking after your mental and physical health, little changes can go a long way. Eating nutritious, vitamin-rich food, drinking plenty of water, moving regularly, limiting alcohol and caffeine, and making sure you’ re getting good-quality sleep are all important for overall health and wellbeing.
If you live in pain, a lot of this can be challenging, but aiming for small changes can really help. Even just a few minutes of gentle stretching can improve your mood. Or try adding one extra vegetable or piece of fruit to every meal. If stress is affecting you at night, 10 minutes of breathing exercises before bed can really improve anxiety and sleep.
5. You’ re important, too
Women are very good at being available to everyone around them, but never themselves. But you are important, too.
It’ s not about putting yourself ahead of everyone else, just on equal footing. Make time for medical appointments, for exercise and for down time. It’ s essential for physical and mental health.
If you or a friend or loved one are struggling with pain, mental health or both, there are places you can go to get help. The first step is to see your GP, as they can connect you with services in your area. There are also great online resources at Beyond Blue( beyondblue. org. au) and Pain Australia( painaustralia. org. au).
COSTCO CONNECTION
Find items to help your health and wellbeing in warehouses and on Costco. com. au.
18 | JUL / AUG 2024 COSTCO CONNECTION