CALM Programme

07/06/2022

At CALM, we often hear patients say that they're keen to get involved in research. It helps to spread the word about chronic pain, and also allows you to contribute to improving services and treatment. There are two research opportunities available and looking for participants who have experience of living with chronic pain- of course, there's no pressure to get involved, but we wanted to share in case anyone might be interested:

>>> The British Pain Society have launched the Patient Voice Survey, to find out about routes into the Pain Clinics, the impact of Covid-19 on their pain and accessing support through pain services, self-management and the use of community pain teams. The hope is that this will help to spread the word about chronic pain, and to amplify the voices of patients so that they can share their comments and views. The survey should take 15-20 minutes to complete and will be anonymous: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NQLR7YF

>>> A trainee Clinical Psychologist, Georgina Forden, at the University of East Anglia is currently recruiting participants for a study on chronic pain. There's an information sheet attached, and information below from Georgina:

"We are looking for people with diagnosis of chronic pain, who are aged 18-65, to take part in research investigating the relationship between managing chronic pain and cognitive difficulties (such as memory, concentration and attention).

We know that low mood and problems with memory and concentration can be common in chronic pain. We want to find out if these problems make it more difficult to manage chronic pain. This will be useful because understanding what is difficult about managing chronic pain can help us to better support people with pain in the future.

The research involves completing some online questionnaires about mood, pain, memory and attention and will take less than 30 minutes to complete.

If you are interested in taking part then please email Georgina Forden at g.forden@uea.ac.uk. "

21/02/2022

In our first post of 2022, the CALM Team hopes that this finds you all as well as possible! We know that winter can be a tough time for people, so our psychologist Eleanor has put together some thoughts about light, and how it can be helpful for our wellbeing- both physical and mental.

🌺This month, we’re challenging you to see if you can see any Spring flowers, maybe daffodils, crocuses or snowdrops. If you spot any, you can email them to us or tag us on Facebook or Twitter, and with your consent, we’ll share them so that others can enjoy them too!🌺

05/07/2021

THIS THURSDAY 8th July: Cooking class at the Wild Cat Wilderness outdoor kitchen, free for all Lewisham residents!

Book your place online here:

Free cooking Demo - Lewisham residents only

18/05/2021

Hello Everyone,

This month we wanted to introduce you to a really lovely and exciting resource that Sarah has found out about.

Its called the "Footsteps Festival" and its an online, year long festival for people who live with persistent pain.

The organisers have put together loads of online events designed to increase the wellbeing of people with persistent pain and organised them into "Tents".

We’ve had a little browse around, and my top picks for upcoming events are:

In the Wellbeing tent, a workshop on the medicine of laughter (20th May)

In the "Into the Wild Tent" - a pet show/social (13th June)

In "Creative Corner" a workshop on Therapeutic knitting (2nd June)

In the "Street Kitchen" tent, a workshop on how to adapt cooking and make it easier on yourself when you have pain (4th June)

There are loads more events as well, and we would really encourage you to follow the link and have a browse around yourself, as there is probably something for everyone. You can also view recordings of events that have already happened if the information looks interesting. Just click on the link below.

My Live Well with Pain us for people who are living with persistent pain. It’s completely free to use and full of trusted techniques that people have found useful in helping them get on with their lives – despite their pain.

27/04/2021

With the world beginning to open up again, we’ve been thinking about change so our attachment this week is a reminder of what we talked about last July (when we were all in a similar situation!).It's a reminder that change can create different feelings for everyone, and there is no right way to feel.

The more people we speak to, the more aware we become that people can have really mixed feelings about moving out of lockdown. So, for me, I was soooo happy to get a haircut. It’s normal to feel both excited and anxious about getting back into things.

When you live with pain, getting back into things is likely to also mean re-establishing your pacing baselines. This is a good time to remember lots of our favourite advice at CALM:

1) Take things at your own pace. Its good to have movement and activity in your life, but do things at the speed and in the amount that is right for you.

2) be kind and patient with yourself. If you have taken time away from an activity, then it's not unusual if you need to take things more slowly/take more breaks than you used to. Don't beat yourself up about this. Allow yourself time and space to adjust to new things.

Our Challenges for this week are to consider:

1.) One thing you'd like to do more of? Have a think if there is anything you would like to start doing more of over the next few months. Meet up with people? Have a breath of fresh air? Have a swim when the pool is open again?Take a moment to think about how you might organise and pace this. Do you need to find your pacing baselines for some activities again? Do you need to build up to some activities?

2.) One thing you'd like to hold on to? Is it possible that there are things that lockdown bought with it, that actually you quite appreciate? It may be going for a short walk every day, speaking to family on Zoom, taking things a little more slowly...

3.) One thing a day that you can be pleased with/grateful for? Research shows that if we spend a little bit of time each day noticing little things that we appreciate, that we are grateful for or that we have acheived (tiny achievements really count!) this can help us to feel more happy and well! Keep a daily log, for a week, of things that you found pleasant, pleasing or you are grateful for.

20/04/2021

Lewisham Libraries Reading Friends are a local, online social group for Lewisham residents, to discuss hobbies and books. There are iPads for loan with library membership that include free data on a monthly basis, for members that need them.

More information and contact details are in the picture!

12/04/2021

This month, we’re thinking about crafting, and all of its benefits for wellbeing!

Did you know that there’s a growing body of research that craft activities can actually improve our physical and mental health? Some of the effects that have been seen include reduced blood pressure and heart rate, and positive impacts on memory.

Have a look at the picture for some more info on the positive effects of crafting, some ideas for things to try, and some suggestions about how to manage crafting with chronic pain.

Our challenges this month are:
1.) Work out your pacing baselines for any activity that you do sitting down, like knitting, or reading, watching TV or on the phone/computer. Then make sure that you take a short break or change of posture before your body has to tell you that it really needs one.
2.) Spring is the tine for seeds- plant a seed in a pot in your windowsill. Herbs and chillies can be great indoor plant, too.
3.) Take a look at this short introduction to decoupage, and then maybe revitalise a box, pot, frame or ornament in your own home:

https://youtu.be/W1kXtiO1b9A

02/03/2021

Did you know that Adult Learning Lewisham are holding an online Open Day on Thurs 11th March from 10am? There’s lots of free taster sessions, including yoga, hair plaiting and hand reflexology.

For more information, check out:

You can also contact the designated Safeguarding Officer by clicking on the green button below. Please be aware we will only respond if you are reporting a safeguarding concern.

08/09/2020

Check out this CALM video on pacing whilst using electronics by Tamzin and Sarah.

This is a short video on how to pace and change positions whilst using electronic devices.

08/09/2020

This month our focus is on how we can help others to help us.
The key here is keeping the balance - being clear about our needs and the things that we want, whilst also recognising the feelings and needs of other people too.
When we show that we have tried to understand things from the other person's point of view, this can help them to engage with us. It also means that you can work on finding a solution that provides benefits to both of you. Please see the attached picture for suggestions.

This months challenges are:

• Check out the action for happiness calendar that for September is all about self care, and take at least one of the actions per week: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/calendars
• Check out this information about cookery courses running locally in Lewisham - that will include some online sessions going forward:http://beinspiredlewisham.org/Free-4-Week-Easy-Quick-and-Tasty-Community-Lewisham-cookery-clubs/. Or try a new autumn recipe; https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/healthy-autumn-recipes
• At the turn of the season, take a short walk in your local area or to your favourite park looking for the signs of autumn - might be the lovely golden low light in the evenings, the chestnuts growing on the horse chestnut tree, rosehips, red berries, the first leaves turning. You might even be able to see these things in your garden or from your window.

07/09/2020

LEWISHAM COOKERY CLUBS ARE BACK!

GCDA are running 4 online cooking sessions open to all Lewisham Residents
Dates : Wed 9th Sep, Friday 11th Sep, Wed 16th Sep, Friday 18th
Time : 10.30am-12.00pm
OR
Try one of their 2 taster sessions: Monday 14th September or Tuesday 22nd September, 10.30 – 12.00. You don’t have to cook, just come along for a chat and find new recipes.
Call Georgia on 0208269 4895 or email Georgia@gcda.org.uk to register you interest, and enrol.