baby & toddler
L&L | AUGUST 2019 | 51What is pain?
According to the International
Association for the Study of Pain, it is
an unpleasant sensory and emotional
experience associated with actual
or potential tissue damage.
“When you experience pain or
discomfort,” says Annemarie, “the
message sent to your brain is screened
by the limbic system (where you process
your emotions). If you experience fear
and anxiety at the same time, the
pain impulse is intensified, and you’ll
experience more pain. Pain is, therefore,
not equal to the severity of an injury
and you can even experience pain if
you’re in a state of terror and convinced
that there’s an injury – even if there isn’t
one. However, if you’re relaxed and
experience feelings of joy and pleasure,
your brain doesn’t see the need to go
into protection mode and you won’t
experience the pain as intense – or
even feel it at all. This is what you need
to remember when your child is faced
with any form of medical procedure.”
What you can do
As a parent, you’re an essential member
of every medical team and are your
child’s most important source of
support, explains Annemarie. “However,
you have to deal with your own anxieties
first, so you can be calm enough to
do this. Your own fear of needles – a
fear that often started when your
vaccinations were handled incorrectly
and you were subjected to unnecessary
fear and pain – is the reason many
parents find it difficult to support their
children during healthcare encounters.
Unfortunately, this fear can be easily
projected onto your child. Children
are sensitive to adults’ feelings and will
evaluate a situation according to how
you react. So if, for example, you try to
approach the situation as an exciting
adventure to explore together with your
child, she will cope much better.” »