Emotional and physical pain activate the same areas of your brain and these areas are connected in ways that we are just beginning to understand. Pain affects every aspect of life and needs to be listened to and addressed. Since I am not a medical provider dear reader, I am going to trust that you will make an appointment with a doctor or psychiatrist when you need one. The purpose of this article is to provide tips for the pain that is constant, treated, but unresolved. Many of us parent, work outside the home, volunteer, and entertain in the midst of trauma, physical affliction, or emotional suffering. We do it every day at the risk of relationships, jobs, or ridicule. There is hope; I have some tips.
These are things we can do to ease pain.
Name it to Tame it. This system helps to manage pain by distinguishing the type of pain, naming it, and using the knowledge of the name to reduce anxiety so that the pain can be managed. Once pain is identified, there are ways to reduce its hold and effect on the body. When you name pain, the brain stops reacting and begins the regulating process.
Physical Strategies: Hot Epsom salt baths for aches, ice packs behind neck for headaches, ice pack on chest for anxiety, tai chi because emotion needs motion, diet change for inflammation issues, getting regular sleep, drinking plenty of water, and massage. This is not an all inclusive list. Please know that there is a healthy pain relief plan for you. Please don’t give up.
Emotional Strategies: Journaling for pain expression, meditation for training the mind to help the body, support groups for commiseration and helpful tips, and resting while watching television for distraction are all good strategies.
Community: Meaningful ties to communities can lower levels of pain through connection, hugs/holding, and rituals/routines.
“You might tell yourself: Just this moment or Just these few moments. Or you might set a short limit: Just these next 10 breaths, being with sensations. Then, if it’s still tolerable, move on to the next 10 breaths, and so on.” – Tara Brach
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
– Desmond Tutu