Today I want to touch on the topic of pain during medical procedures in children. Every parent is faced with the need to examine and treat their child from time to time. And medical procedures are often at least uncomfortable, and sometimes quite painful. Unfortunately, there is still an opinion that pain is a necessity, something normal, “I was in pain too, and it’s okay, I grew up.” And only in some private discussions are very common stories about how in childhood one had to endure such pain or a situation that then the person refused the help of doctors even with serious illnesses. What happens to the child, where does the injury come from? The child initially believes that the parent loves and protects him, the child trusts the parent. Then the following happens: a loving parent brings this child to a stranger, hands him over, smiles at this person and leaves. As a rule, without warning the child about anything. And this person, without explanation or demand, begins to do something with the body, while the child experiences fear, pain and a feeling of vulnerability. He can't do anything, he has no choice. And his only defender left him. What conclusions can a child draw from this situation: Am I bad? Why did mom (dad) leave? Does Mom (Dad) know what they are doing to me?; The world is a scary place, because at any moment a smiling person can hurt me; My body does not belong to me, anyone can do anything with it; I am helpless, I cannot influence the situation, etc. Another situation is when my parents are nearby, then the situation becomes even worse: My parents want me to be hurt - I’m definitely bad. No one will ever protect me or save me, because the one who should is standing and allowing this to happen. With me and With my body you can do this, you can hurt, and since my parents allow it, it means it’s normal, that’s the way it should be. There are also such aggravating moments as parents’ assurances before the procedure that it will not hurt. And then the child stops believing his parents. If parents and doctors say during the process that it doesn’t hurt, then the child loses touch with reality and his body. He feels pain, but he also believes the parent, who says that there is no pain. And also after, when the parents say: what was there to cry for, two minutes, that’s all, there’s nothing to cry about. The child’s feelings and experiences are devalued. This also includes comparisons with other children (but that girl didn’t cry!) or arguments like: “Boys shouldn’t cry.” And all this happens not because of the cruelty of the parents, but from the desire to help the child and at the same time ignorance of how to help, and from one’s fear and uncertainty before the authority of doctors. And also from the fact that in our society it is customary not to take into account the needs of the psyche , but it is customary to separate the psyche and body, as if they can exist without each other, but this is the topic of the next post. The consequences of such injuries can accompany a person throughout his life, influence the choice of a partner, behavior in emergency situations, and increase the risks of various diseases. What can be done in a situation where treatment is necessary: ​​1. Talk to a child, even an infant. Communicate what you plan to do. If you are going to the doctor, say that you are going to the doctor. 2. Tell the truth. A prick in the finger is painful. No, it's not a mosquito, it's unpleasant, but you will be nearby.3. Warn and ask permission before any manipulation or even touching the child by the doctor. That is, if this is an infant, then he needs to be warned, an older child should be asked before the examination.4. To be nearby, now you can achieve presence during almost any procedure; if it is an operation under anesthesia, then be present during the introduction of anesthesia and during recovery from anesthesia.5. Talk about faith in a child. That he is strong and resilient. That he has already encountered something similar and managed it, and now he can cope too.6. And here it is very important: do not agree to very painful procedures without pain relief and confidence.