PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
exceptionalsmiles.com
(440) 483-1003
5825 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 121 Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
INSIDE
1 From Drive-In Memories to Dental Skills
2 The Joy of Doing
What People Are Saying About Us
3 Where Technology and Tradition Create Better Smiles
Shrimp Taco Soup
4 Turning Memories Into a Coping Tool
EASING EVERYDAY PAIN WITH NOSTALGIA
WHY OLD MEMORIES CAN SOFTEN DISCOMFORT
If you have ever sat in a waiting room and scrolled far enough on your phone to hit an old photo or song from your childhood, you may have noticed something. For a minute, the noise in your head quiets. The ache in your shoulder or the sting of a blood draw might not feel quite as sharp. The warm rush that comes with “I remember this” is nostalgia, and it may do more than make us smile. In a recent study, adults had a heating pad that went from cold to very hot placed on their forearms while they looked at images. In some trials, the pictures came from their childhood, like old cartoons and commercials. In others, the pictures were newer and emotionally neutral. The heat remained the same, but people rated the pain as lower when viewing nostalgic images. Brain scans showed why. Areas of the brain that help “turn the volume down” on pain became more active. Of course, nostalgia isn’t medicine, but the study shows it might take the edge off everyday discomforts. The findings also offer real support for the next time you know discomfort is coming. If you are sitting in a waiting room before an in-office procedure, or trying to get through a tough stretch at physical therapy, pull up an old photo that makes you smile, or play a song you loved as a teenager. In the study, people looked at pictures, but the same idea works with music, keepsakes, and even familiar smells from a past time in your life.
None of this replaces real medical care, and it’s not going to erase serious pain. But for those everyday aches and stressful appointments, it can help. You might even make a small “comfort file” on your phone with a few photos and songs tied to good memories. Then, when something feels uncomfortable, you can reach for a nice distraction that might make you feel better … just sitting in your pocket.
4
(440) 483-1003
Published by Newsletter Pro • NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator