Stepping Out of Chronic Pain- Small Glimmers of Joy

Stepping Out of Chronic Pain- Small Glimmers of Joy

When you are living with persistent or chronic pain it is extremely common to become entirely focused on it. For many, it is the last thought they have before they go to sleep and the first thought to wake them in the morning. It isn’t just the physical symptoms driving this but also the endless loop of worrying, rumination and fear, otherwise known as the “what ifs”. What if my pain keeps me awake tonight? What if I wake up tomorrow and it is worse? What if I never get better? What if, what if, what if. It is exhausting, I know because I have been there.

When we become obsessed by our physical symptoms it can lead on to increased levels of stress and anxiety and depression. This is driven by feelings of hopelessness.  Our pain starts to dictate our decisions, activities and plans. It determines what we can and can’t do. It impacts our happiness on a level that is difficult to explain to someone not going through the same thing. Somehow in our struggle we seem to lose our power and sense of freedom.

If you can relate to this, I know it is hard to believe, but this can be turned around. Hold on to the knowledge that you have what it takes to make a recovery. For many this is a gradual process, and it starts with the smallest glimmers of joy.

The neural pathways responsible for driving your pain can be reprogrammed. Your brain is just as capable of unlearning your pain as it was at learning it! Your brain is plastic, which is fantastic news!  Interestingly the fear of a diagnosis or the symptoms themselves are enough to keep your brain producing even more pain, it does this as a stress response and protective mechanism. By learning to reduce your fears, regain control over your thoughts and beliefs you can gradually diminish your pain.

When working with clients, I help them overcome the mental hurdle of believing that they are physically damaged beyond repair. The outcome is to develop an entirely different mindset and foster a new relationship with their mind-body symptoms.

I help them move their focus to other things outside of their pain universe, which has dominated for so long. When they start to notice even the smallest glimmers of joy in everyday, mundane life it cultivates feelings of being content, peaceful and happy.

So, you might like to have a go. Could you concentrate on how the first mouthful of your favourite morning beverage is today? Can you really savour how delicious and satisfying it is? How at peace you might feel whilst fussing your favourite four-legged friend? Have you noticed the light dancing through the trees today?  How innocent and funny your child is? Small, simple and blissfully uncomplicated things. Even if you were to notice just one thing today that lifted your spirits and cultivated joy, could it be two tomorrow and so on?

There is so much in life that is vibrant, you just need to look to find it and feel it’s presence.

Book a call to discuss stepping out of pain- contact me Contact

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