Coping with the Tyranny of Pain….
The past days I have been wrestling with what to share on this blog as it has been some time (4 Months) since I made an entry. The past months have been a cornucopia of physical pain, emotional exhaustion and challenging work as I have sought to make sense of the changes in my body, the challenges of midlife, a heavy work load and economy in recession.
I have been living with physical pain for some time now. When the spasms hit I can only say that I cringe and am reminded of my humanity. I don’t speak often of my pain because I don’t want statements of self pity to be beam in my direction. I am often reminded that I am not the only one who walks with pain. I listen daily to the emotional and physical pains of my patients. Sometimes it is overwhelming, sometimes it is chilling as I listen to the broken hearts that spin around an axis of grief.
As a therapist I see the world through peculiar lens. I get to listen to the stories of peoples lives in a way that many that have voyeuristic tendencies would squeal with delight. But for me it is not soap opera that is enacting itself before my eyes. Its real tears, real pain, real questions, real desire to find answers. For some it is a denial of the pain, but as they slowly discover that someone is listening there is an amazing transformation that unfolds before me.
Occasionally a patient will stop and ask me…So Andre or as many like to call me Doc. How do you do this day in day out…what gives you the courage to do this. I often smile and tell them it is a privilege to be present in people’s lives. There is a wonder and an amazement that I experience as I listen and see growth take place before me in my patients and in my own personal journey. But pain must be part of the journey. Pain comes before joy.
So what to do with your pain.
1. Find someone who will listen really listen.
2. Adjust your life to address the issues that will create health for you
3. Keep a journal to keep perspective.
4. Understand the stages and the work of grief
5. Take time to rest and this includes having a Mental Health Day
6. Learn to experience your inner Child/emotional self
7. Maintain your spiritual life
I want you to know that I see my Doctor regularly, take my medication and other exercises and refuse to given into the tyranny of pain. There are bigger issues to content with in this life and it is not going to prevent me from doing what has to be done one day at a time.
So my dear reader . What is your pain? What is hurting you today? Do you have someone to listen to you? What resources do you have access to address your pains? I would love to hear from you! Walk good till next time!
Hello Doc, or honeybearja as I have known you on twitter. As I read your post here my heart and my prayers go out to you not just in sympathy but in much empathy as I have also been dealing with a good deal of physical pain from many complications in my body as it has aged; even to the point of having to leave my regular Job of almost 20 years. Looking on the positive side though; I see it as an opportunity to serve the LORD in my ministry (where my heart really is) and therefore a blessing from my loving heavenly Father. All things are in his good hands with love for us all. I know and am sure of that more than any other thing in my life. There is a time and a season to every purpose under heaven; and the purposes of our sovereign, almighty, loving God and Father are always redemptive, reconciliatory, and restorative through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our God has not lost control of His universe or His children’s welfare at any time and has never been surprised or thwarted in his plans for good for each one of us by any enemy or condition caused by one (He created them too and uses them for His purposes). God works “all things together for good” even the difficult things for the resistance needed to build our spiritual stamina as we are formed in the image of His dear Son Jesus, for the purpose of eternal life with Him. Otherwise how could we enjoy This Gift of eternal life if we were not perfected? Would we not make a mess of that life too? Therefore as our beloved brother Paul in the Scriptures has said we should rejoice in our sufferings as we are assured that they are working for us a much higher and weightier good than the “light” afflictions we suffer now in comparison to the overwhelming unimaginable blessings to come.
God is Good all the Time,
And God is God all the time,
Dennis
Dennis Caldwell said this on August 8, 2009 at 1:52 pm |