Helping Yourself

Before the dressing change:

• Remember to take any painkillers you have been prescribed beforehand
• If it is to be done at home, choose a quiet, warm room

During the dressing change, you may feel better if you are in control:

• If you want to remove the dressing yourself, you can stop when you need to and start again when you are ready
• Ask a carer or friend to hold your hand or talk to you
• Try relaxation techniques to take your mind off it:
  • Listen to music or talk about something interesting
  • Count up to one hundred and then down again
  • Focus on taking slow, rhythmic breaths