Spiritual Ways Of Coping With Pain

Today's post comes from beliefnet.com (see link below) and offers ten tips for coping with your pain. You may not agree with all of them but there is little doubt that there is a great deal of common sense in these help tips. Even if just one or two can be achieved, you may find your pain lessened and that's the whole point.

10 Spiritual Tools for Coping with Chronic Pain

By Maureen Pratt

Chronic pain can make us feel isolated and helpless, especially if its cause is an illness or physical condition for which there's no cure or effective medical treatment. At times of deepest despair, finding ways to nurture our spirits can help us not only cope with the pain, but also discover nuggets of grace, comfort, and productivity that can move us through and beyond the helplessness and hopelessness we feel. Here are ten spiritual tools that can help you get started toward peace in spite of and in the midst of pain.

Find quiet

When we are in great pain, finding true peace and comfort is not easy. But it is possible, if we first try to still our worries and fears, both external and internal. Finding a place where there are no noisy distractions is a great start. Enjoying the outward quiet, we can then calm our inner selves and nurture peace within.

Just breathe

The act of breathing is not only a physical process, but it can also be a tool to move our pain, negative thoughts, and worry out of our bodies and hearts, replacing these with a better sense of self. In a quiet place, breathe in slowly and deeply, then let the breath out, expelling stress and pain with it. Feel the sharpness of pain subside as relaxation and calm take its place.

Listen to music

A beautiful piece of music can inspire our spirits and soothe our pain like no other sound. It can also help us get in touch with the absolute joy of living, even if we live with severe pain. Put on your favorite piece of music - instrumental or vocal - sit back, and close your eyes. Let the music carry you away from your immediate pain to a place of calm.

Lose Yourself in Prayer

So often when we pray, we ask for relief from our pain and leave it at that. Perhaps more effective when pain is oppressive is lifting up our pain and then resting quietly with the comfort that our concerns are being tended to by One greater that ourselves - and we do not have to take them back again.

Reflect in Nature

Pain can isolate us and make us feel very much alone. But in reality, we are part of an amazing world. A walk in the outdoors, a glance outside at a garden, a quiet moment with a beloved pet - each of these things can renew our sense of belonging to the world, help us to feel less alone in our pain, and make us grateful for our lives among such wonder.

Laugh More

Pain itself is no laughing matter, but the act of laughing can be physically and spiritually healing. It helps us breathe deeply, cleanses tense pain from our bodies, gives key muscles beneficial exercise, and lets us travel to an uplifting place of joy. Whether it's a joke, a cartoon, or the antics of a pet, find laughter and enjoy it often!

Reach Out to Others

When we are in pain, it can be easy to feel as if no one cares. But there are many in the world who feel the same thing - and we can make a difference in our lives and in others' lives by reaching out in comfort and care. A phone call to a hurting friend, a visit to someone in need, even an email to an online support group - all of these can help us become less isolated, and help others in the process.

Live in the Light

It's easy for our souls to be flooded with darkness when pain is sharp and overwhelming. We can combat this darkness by bringing on light. The flicker of a candle, the warm glow of one small lamp illuminating a dark room - light can help focus thoughts and bring comfort. Even in the darkness, be conscious of the light all around, and let it guide you to greater calm.

Take Care of Yourself

Often, there is no cure for what causes our pain. This can make us feel as if our lives are out of control. But the better we take care of ourselves, the more we will feel at least a little control over our circumstances - and our attitude toward pain. Taking time to follow a healthful regimen reflects on our spiritual health, too, and gives us a chance to rise above our pain and feel better - inside and out.

Never Lose Hope

Each day, there are new developments in medicine and in therapies to ease pain, inside and out. Hope is not just a feeling that things will be better - it is a tangible tool to motivate and guide us through the frustrations that accompany pain into positive actions that can make our lives better now and in the future. Without hope, our spirits wither. With hope, as with the Creator, all things are possible!

http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Physical-Health/10-Spiritual-Tools-for-Coping-with-Chronic-Pain.aspx

Coping With Chronic Neuropathy Pain

Today's post from fibrotv.com (see link below) is another self-help post which although it applies to life in general when you're in pain, is especially applicable at this time of year, when you're workload suddenly seems to double. It's full of useful tips to help you find a balance when the pain is bad and the pressure to act in a certain way means you can't just take to your bed. You may cringe at internet 'nannies' telling you how to behave but sometimes you're just not aware of how the pressure is building up and it's only when your body screams 'enough already!' that you realise you need to take a step back. This article may help you prepare a little better.

When The Mind Says Yes But The Body Says No
Posted on October 28, 2014 237 by Jen Reynolds Posted in FibroTV Blog

Many times when you are chronically ill there are things you want to do but because of symptoms they can be difficult. This is more so for people that have suddenly became ill and had full and busy lives before they became sick. The sudden reduction in physical activity can leave someone with a chronic illness to have feelings of guilt and feeling as if they are a burden to others. Also, many people with chronic illnesses have a people pleasing trait and have a hard time saying “No” which can sometimes leave the person with the illness physically and emotionally drained. So what do you do when the mind says yes but the body says no? Here are some tips!

Don’t Judge Yourself

When you have to cancel plans, rearrange appointments, or just flat out say no to an obligation because of illness the last thing you want to do is be self critical or judge yourself. Don’t let people make you feel guilty! You know your body and if you can’t do something it is because you can’t do it at the time. Be kind to yourself and gentle with your choices that are best for your health. There are enough people that will try to make you feel bad and/or guilty for not being there. You do not have to make that any worse by making yourself feel bad.

Evaluate What You CAN Do



If a person focuses on what they can do instead of what they can not do, the world opens up to many astonishing opportunities. This positive outlook reveals it self in the form of more energy, increased creativeness and a stronger sense of competence. Focusing on what you can do instead of focusing on what you can not do will make all the difference in the world! On the other hand, when you focus on your weak points and disappointments, the world becomes terrible place of “whoa” and anguish. You may start to believe that you cannot accomplish anything so you stop trying, which may cause mental distress. These anxious thoughts fill one’s day with trepidation and drudgery, and may weigh a person down with a sense of bleakness.

To modify your self-talk or attitude you must change that inner conversation or dialogue you are having. To stop it you must catch it in action. So, pay attention to yourself. You must connect to and listen for that inner voice whenever possible. What do you tell yourself all day long?

For those with children there are obviously certain things you must do for them as you are personally responsible for your kids and you can’t just say no about things like taking them to school, the doctors, Etc etc etc. I think it is important to be open and honest with your children and let them know when you are having a rough day. They know anyways! They pick up on your energy so being up front and telling them that “Today I might not be able do everything I like with you but I will try my best to do all I can for you.” can really help them to be more prepared and understand that you have limits that day. Your kids being told up front helps them be prepared if you do have to say no to something later in the day. If your children are older make sure they help out around the house when you are not feeling well. Most kids like to help out and don’t feel as helpless in the situation of a parent being ill if you give them a few things to do (even when they give you an attitude about it). Let’s face it!! You are not a super parent anymore and that is okay! Don’t try to be. That is a lot of pressure and can be unachievable even for a healthy person!

Make Large Meals With Leftovers For Those Days You Can’t Cook

We all have to eat and we normally eat unhealthy when we are not feeling well. We turn to fast food or heavily processed food because it is cheap, easy and fast! This is where larger meals when you are having a good day and feeling up to cooking come in handy. Just put the left overs in the freezer for a night you are not feeling up to cooking and reheat. Also crock pots are awesome! Toss in the one pot meal and it slow cooks all day and you have a very healthy and homemade meal that taste like you slaved in the kitchen for hours!

Take cat naps or/and mediate during the day

We all know stress and not enough sleep makes our symptoms worse so including short naps during the early afternoon (Be careful not to take naps too late or you will be up all night!) and taking time out to meditate will reduce your stress and pain.

Don’t know how to meditate? Try free guided meditation videos on Youtube! Not all meditations are the same and you have to find ones the resonate with you and relaxes you so browse a few! There are even meditations for every belief system and religion!

Weather permitting get outside AT LEAST once a day

Even if it is just sitting in the backyard or front porch, getting outside is good for your overall health!

Here are five good reasons to get outdoors:

Your vitamin D levels rise. Sunlight hitting the skin begins a process that leads to the creation and activation of vitamin D. Studies suggest that this vitamin helps fight certain conditions, from osteoporosis and cancer to depression and heart attacks. Limited sun exposure (don’t overdo it), supplemented with vitamin D pills if necessary, is a good regimen.

You’ll get more exercise. If you make getting outside a goal, that should mean less time in front of the television and computer and more time walking and doing other things that put the body in motion.

You’ll be happier. Light tends to elevate people’s mood, and there’s usually more light available outside than in. Physical activity has been shown to help people relax and cheer up, so if being outside replaces inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also mean more smiles.

Your concentration will improve. Children with ADHD seem to focus better after being outdoors. It might be a stretch to say that applies to adults, but if you have trouble concentrating, outdoor activity may help.

You may heal faster. In one study, people recovering from spinal surgery experienced less pain and stress and took fewer pain medications when they were exposed to natural light. An older study showed that the view out the window (trees vs. a brick wall) helped recovery in the hospital.

Find something creative to do if you are bedridden for the day

Nothing is worse for your mind/body/spirit than laying around thinking about all the pain you are in. What you think about expands. It is the natural law of attraction. Finding an activity that will make you feel like you have been productive even if you are not able to get out of bed can make a huge difference emotionally. Remember our mind and body are connected so when you are not doing well emotionally it will cause more physical symptoms! Many people have found new and exciting talents through chronic illness and downtime due to injury. What excites you? Is there something you always wanted to do creatively or to help others but you never had the time to do it before? Maybe learn how to knit or scrapbook? How about writing letters to those soldiers that are serving in another country or have been injured? Sit down and write down what you would like to try and maybe you will find a new passion and a new purpose!

http://fibrotv.com/2014/10/when-the-mind-says-yes-but-the-body-says-no/

Coping With Neuropathy Nobody Said It Would Be Easy!

Today's post from foxnews.com (see link below) is one which the cynics amongst you will hate and the optimists will love. However, if you disregard the slightly glib/new age titles for each tip, the content is very useful, if not essential, for people living with long-lasting nerve pain. It's true, we have to work on our own mindsets to achieve anything like a positive outlook about neuropathy - it's a never-ending grind and often, however positive you try to be, your body will stubbornly refuse to cooperate. Nevertheless some of the ideas here may help you feel better on any given day and for that reason alone, they're worth publishing. Try not to let cynicism take over because cynicism leads to depression and worse pain.

12 healthy ways to cope with a chronic illness
By Julie Revelant Published March 21, 2016

In 2007, Tami Stackelhouse, then 35, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that caused pain throughout her body, brain fog and extreme fatigue.

“I remember thinking, ‘If I could just close the door, turn off the lights and lie down on the floor of my office, I would be asleep immediately,’” Stackelhouse, of Tigard, Oreg., said.

Eventually her condition worsened, even forcing her to quit her job as a customer service manager, file for disability and spend day after day lying on the couch.

After months of searching for answers and working with her doctor, a turning point came when she found a health coach who helped her change her diet, find ways to be more active, reduce stress and get enough sleep.

“One of the things we came up with was a mantra of ‘Every day that I do what I need to do, I’ll feel a little bit better,’” she recalled.

With supportive family members and friends by her side, along with meditation, journaling and prayer, Stackelhouse found strength she needed to pull through each day until her symptoms subsided.

And in the process, she learned how to be kind to herself.

“Changing my attitude towards myself was the number one thing that made it all happen,” she said.

Receiving a devastating diagnosis or dealing with a chronic condition is no easy feat. In fact, studies show that approximately one-third of people with chronic illness also deal with depression.

The good news however, is that if you have a chronic illness, there are some simple strategies you can do to feel strong, calm and positive.

1. Don’t blame yourself— or your body.

When you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness, it’s common to view your body as the enemy or feel angry and blame yourself as though it’s your own weakness that is preventing you from healing.

Try to see the illness as the enemy instead and recognize that your body is working as hard as it can to support you even it’s sick, said Toni Bernhard, the Davis, Calif.-based author of “How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness: A Mindful Guide.” Bernhard has been living with a chronic illness for 15 years.

“Everyone struggles with his or health at some point in their lives and to blame yourself only adds mental stress and suffering on top of the physical difficulties you’re already facing,” she said

2. Use Google wisely.

Information is power, but if you’re obsessive by nature, you’ll get stuck, said Carolyn Daitch, Ph.D., an internationally-renowned psychologist in Farmington Hills, Mich. and author of “The Road to Calm Workbook: Life-Changing Tools to Stop Runaway Emotions.”

It’s OK to research reputable sources about your illness but if it’s causing you anxiety, put a time limit on it or ask a friend or partner to help you weed through all of the information and narrow down what’s important and relevant.

3. Find acceptance.

“If you spend your time denying where you are and being angry about it, it keeps you from taking constructive steps to make things better for yourself,” Bernhard said.

Instead of looking too far into the future, think about what you can do now, within your limitations, to be happy. And say to yourself, “I don’t like it, I don’t want it, but I can handle it,” Daitch said.

4. Focus on the positives.

When all else feels hopeless, it can be hard to stay positive, but it’s important to build “positive expectancy,” or a belief that things will get better, Daitch said.

When you know the illness is short term, it’s much easier to do, but even if you’re facing a long-term illness, you can still come up with things to focus on so you’ll stay positive.

5. Be kind to yourself.

Instead of putting yourself down when things get hard, be understanding and compassionate with yourself. Think about what you might say to someone else in need and use the same kind words when you speak to yourself.

6. Assess your support network.

Family and friends might feel uncomfortable or afraid of your illness. What’s more, some may not have the patience to deal with the unpredictable nature of your life, while others may not want to believe that you’re sick especially if you look perfectly healthy.

Although you can certainly try to educate them about your condition, if they can’t be supportive for you like you wish they were, forgive them and wish them the best if you decide to part ways.

“Holding bitterness and anger in your heart just makes you feel worse,” Bernhard said.

7. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness and meditation are effective ways to stay present and restore a sense of calm. In fact, meditation reduces anxiety, fatigue and pain in women undergoing breast cancer biopsies, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

To start a meditation practice, notice the thoughts, feelings and sensations in your body, but don’t fight or judge them. Instead, imagine them floating away like balloons.

“Although the goal is not necessarily for it to have it go away, indeed, if you move into the kind of calm, curious detachment, it usually does soften,” Daitch said.

8. Visualize health.

Visualization and guided imagery are powerful ways to calm the body and the mind. Try this: imagine your body as a symphony with many sections and instruments. Although one instrument might need to be tuned, focus on the healthy parts and say to yourself, “There’s strength within. There’s a part of me that’s strong and it can help other parts,” Daitch said.

9. Ask for a hug.

Studies show that sharing a hug with a loved one can help lower blood pressure, ease stress and boost oxytocin, the love hormone. What’s more, hugging may even prevent stress-induced illness, a recent study in the journal Psychological Science found.

10. Get support.
 
Reach out to other people you can confide in, those who have dealt with a chronic illness and/or find strength in public figures who inspire you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help either, whether it’s a friend who can help run errands or cook meals for you or a mental health counselor you can talk to on a regular basis.

11. De-stress.

Walking, yoga, aromatherapy and humor are all great ways to reduce stress and restore a sense of calm and well-being.

12. Set boundaries.

It’s natural for family members and friends to offer unsolicited advice or words of wisdom, but if it’s unwelcomed it can make you upset. Recognize that whatever they offer comes from a place of love and instead of reacting simply say, “Thank you, I’ll think about it.”

Julie Revelant is a health journalist and a consultant who provides content marketing and copywriting services for the healthcare industry. She's also a mom of two. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/03/21/12-healthy-ways-to-cope-with-chronic-illness.html