Where to Start
Wherever we turn, whatever happens, the quality of our lives will always, ultimately, reside with our inner selves. Within the chronic pain syndrome and/or living with disabilities, the essence of our beings, our inner wisdom, guides the ship. That does not mean you can be expected to overcome pain and hardship without help just by having a positive attitude. Get your help, use any means medicine offers to attack your situation. Just don’t count you out!
TIME magazine, March 7, 2011 issue has a fantastic review of pain and viable treatments in their articles about “Understanding Pain.” It is imperative reading for those in pain, their caretakers and loved ones. Not only do the articles review complicated information about the brain and physiological aspects of pain, the articles provide essential information about a number of alternative treatments, e.g. acupuncture, massage, herbal supplements. TIME says we are in a “pain revolution.”
Struggling to Gain Control
Disabled persons who have lived with their disability for some time have usually made adjustments and have, at least partially, accepted living with their disabilities. However, numerous realizations for the newly disabled are the intimate restrictions that are now levied on every part of their lives. Their disability limits their abilities to carry on with normal activities of their choosing, self-esteem is lost due to new behavioral limits, and, sometimes for the first time in their lives, they have to depend on others to manage even the smallest self-care activity. From the first, acute pain may develop into chronic pain.
The courage to face every day and overcome challenges is an on-going process for the disabled. Medical products and adaptive devices can alleviate certain of these challenges; however, the solution to adaptive living is a combination of medical and psychological treatment, adaptive equipment, finding your inner strengths and wisdom, and reducing stress. Again, this is not a solo endeavor. Engage helpers wherever possible, but let’s return to what you need to do within your psyche to build peace and quality of life.
The least you need to know:
1.Your inner resources are a source of strength.
2. The essence of your being, your inner resources, guides the ship.
3. Get help that you need, just don’t count yourself out.
The mission if you choose to accept requires:
1. Become more centered within and build confidence that you can go on.
2. Use yourself as one of your helpers instead of fear mongering and undermining your confidence.
