Better than a BandAid

This morning as my two kids were taking baths in the kitchen sink, I suddenly heard a scream, followed by another scream and another. Then both kids were crying their little hearts out. I was standing about two feet away and rushed to them as quickly as I could. I immediately discovered the trouble. Lance, my one-year-old, had grabbed the faucet lever and turned it to hot. The poor kids were under a stream of scalding water!

After a big fluffy towel, lots of hugs, and cups of milk, both kids quieted down. They were fine, just a little stunned. So was I. Two feet away is two feet too far, I guess!

From the time we are kids, we are treated for scrapes and owies much like I treated my kids. When we’re hurt, we want attention, comfort, and food! Unfortunately, we do not always have access to a hug, and eating can pile on more hurts if it gets out of hand. So what can we do to comfort ourselves when we are in pain?

Here are a few ideas that might help if and when we get an injury and need some comfort:

Look through a photo album of good memories and people you love. This takes the mind off the pain, and may release chemicals that reduce the pain-processing areas of the brain.

Inhale green apple scent. I have read about studies that have linked a sniff of green apple to reducing pain of a migraine headache. Who knows if it works, but it’s worth a try.

Assume the best. Studies have shown that people who were told to expect pain to be mild-moderate reported less pain than people who were told to expect moderate-severe, even when the procedure was the same for both groups. (I certainly wouldn’t sign up to be a guinea pig in that study.)

Spend time with your BFF. This could be the most affective way to help with any pain, be it physical or emotional. An extra hug can change the horrible to manageable.