Living With Illness, Part Five
How to deal with chronic pain is a part of how we deal with illness.
For some, they will turn to medicine or self medicate.
Others will act if does not exist.
And finally some will give into their pain and remain in bed at home.
There is no right or wrong way of dealing with pain.
There are however a few things that you should think about.
When you are living in pain you may want to consider some alternative therapies.
Up until 20 years ago, Chiropractors were considered to be alternative.
However, science is changing.
We now have very good data on therapies like Hypnosis, Acupuncture, Massage, Reiki, Herbs and Chinese medicine.
All seem to have some validity to them.
I'm sure you or someone you know has tried one or more of these therapies.
If not, what do you have to lose? When dealing with pain there seems to be a higher success rate when there is a dual approach.
Meaning traditional and non-traditional can co-exist and often do.
Speak to your doctor about it but know that there are some physicians that still reject some of these alternatives.
While they are entitled to their opinion, it is your pain.
If you feel that you may want to explore these therapies do your research.
You may want to call your insurance company first and ask what therapies they cover (if any at all) and request a list of alternative practitioners in their network.
If you choose to search on your own, I would suggest a practitioner who belongs to some association.
This should ease your concerns knowing that they have met some basic educational requirements and have probably signed some sort of code of ethics.
You should also ask your potential therapist where they got their training and how long they have been in practice.
Trust your own judgment.
If you do not get a good feeling simply walk.
Please use common sense.
If it sounds too good to be true...
it probably is.
Support Person We talked about this in lesson one.
It is most important to have a Support Person by your side.
Not only to help you with keeping track of appointments and medicine, but to listen to and give you a shoulder to lean on.
You will need this.
This is by far the best thing you can do to help yourself.
Build a trusting relationship with this person.
Listen to their feed back.
Know that facing your illness alone has little benefit.
This is a time in your life where you will need a lot of human contact.
Call upon volunteers, friends and family.
Studies show that those who are living with an illness and who do not isolate themselves often live a longer and healthier life.
Support Groups Find and embrace a support group.
They are everywhere and they are for everything from AIDS to cancer to divorce or simple self improvement.
Having a community who can identify with your illness and pain will give you that sense that you are not alone.
It also affords you the opportunity to gain experience from the other members in the group (such as surgery/surgeons, medicine and health professional).
Support groups are great for giving and receiving information and support.
Note: You should feel comfortable in your support group.
If you do not, find one that you do.
It may take a group or two until you find one that feels right.
Mental Health You may consider a therapist to help you through your tough times.
There are many different types of therapist and counselors available to you.
Things to keep in mind when you are looking for a therapist are: Do you want a male or female therapist? What type of hours do they keep? What is their main course therapy? How available would they be to you if you need to talk? Have they worked with or have training that is in your area or diagnosis? (This would help but not necessarily important).
Again this is all about you.
You have to feel at ease with your therapist.
If you do not, it is best not to continue with that relationship.
The Spiritual Life Some resist this avenue when they are diagnosed.
If you have not embraced a spiritual life when you were healthy, you may not when you are ill.
Some may be willing to explore spirituality, yet others may be mad at God now that they are sick.
In the 20 years of working in the helping profession and spending the last 5 years living in chronic pain, I can tell you that it has been a great comfort to me.
There are also many studies that indicate a healthier and prolonged life when one is spiritual.
Still some may still resist.
That is okay.
Finding your own truth, what works for you is a very personal choice.
The 20 Minute Worry The thought process behind this theory (exercise) is to worry for 20 minutes (no longer than 30 minutes) each day about your illness and all that it involves.
Learn to make this a habit.
By doing this you are forced to deal with what you are experiencing today and only today.
Remember to stay in the now.
And tomorrow repeat the same process.
It isn't very often that you will find the answers to all your questions after 20-30 minutes.
After 30 minute we no longer seem to be thinking productively.
So why continue to worry and zap your energy if you are not moving forward? The 20 minute worry: Learn it, embrace it, and make it work for you.
Self Help For some people who are living with an illness, they will turn to self help books and techniques.
There is a lot to be said for the self help movement.
Affirmations, journaling, visualization, chanting and breath work can all be very powerful.
There are literally thousands of books, tapes and CD's that are available to you.
Since living with an illness affects you on both a physical and emotional level you may find that a dual approach works best for you.
Everything from self massage to self hypnosis will provide some benefit for you.
There is a world of information out there just waiting for you.
Get to the library, ask your friends or get online.
Again this is about you taking control of your health and life.
Bringing It All Together This article is just the beginning of choices and knowledge that lay before you.
Living with illness is no fun.
But you can have and return to some sort of normalcy.
Remember to push yourself when you can.
Know your limits.
It is okay to feel bad and it is to be expected.
Control what you can and don t beat yourself up over what you cannot.
Look for beauty and love often.
Make the most out of what you have.
For some, they will turn to medicine or self medicate.
Others will act if does not exist.
And finally some will give into their pain and remain in bed at home.
There is no right or wrong way of dealing with pain.
There are however a few things that you should think about.
When you are living in pain you may want to consider some alternative therapies.
Up until 20 years ago, Chiropractors were considered to be alternative.
However, science is changing.
We now have very good data on therapies like Hypnosis, Acupuncture, Massage, Reiki, Herbs and Chinese medicine.
All seem to have some validity to them.
I'm sure you or someone you know has tried one or more of these therapies.
If not, what do you have to lose? When dealing with pain there seems to be a higher success rate when there is a dual approach.
Meaning traditional and non-traditional can co-exist and often do.
Speak to your doctor about it but know that there are some physicians that still reject some of these alternatives.
While they are entitled to their opinion, it is your pain.
If you feel that you may want to explore these therapies do your research.
You may want to call your insurance company first and ask what therapies they cover (if any at all) and request a list of alternative practitioners in their network.
If you choose to search on your own, I would suggest a practitioner who belongs to some association.
This should ease your concerns knowing that they have met some basic educational requirements and have probably signed some sort of code of ethics.
You should also ask your potential therapist where they got their training and how long they have been in practice.
Trust your own judgment.
If you do not get a good feeling simply walk.
Please use common sense.
If it sounds too good to be true...
it probably is.
Support Person We talked about this in lesson one.
It is most important to have a Support Person by your side.
Not only to help you with keeping track of appointments and medicine, but to listen to and give you a shoulder to lean on.
You will need this.
This is by far the best thing you can do to help yourself.
Build a trusting relationship with this person.
Listen to their feed back.
Know that facing your illness alone has little benefit.
This is a time in your life where you will need a lot of human contact.
Call upon volunteers, friends and family.
Studies show that those who are living with an illness and who do not isolate themselves often live a longer and healthier life.
Support Groups Find and embrace a support group.
They are everywhere and they are for everything from AIDS to cancer to divorce or simple self improvement.
Having a community who can identify with your illness and pain will give you that sense that you are not alone.
It also affords you the opportunity to gain experience from the other members in the group (such as surgery/surgeons, medicine and health professional).
Support groups are great for giving and receiving information and support.
Note: You should feel comfortable in your support group.
If you do not, find one that you do.
It may take a group or two until you find one that feels right.
Mental Health You may consider a therapist to help you through your tough times.
There are many different types of therapist and counselors available to you.
Things to keep in mind when you are looking for a therapist are: Do you want a male or female therapist? What type of hours do they keep? What is their main course therapy? How available would they be to you if you need to talk? Have they worked with or have training that is in your area or diagnosis? (This would help but not necessarily important).
Again this is all about you.
You have to feel at ease with your therapist.
If you do not, it is best not to continue with that relationship.
The Spiritual Life Some resist this avenue when they are diagnosed.
If you have not embraced a spiritual life when you were healthy, you may not when you are ill.
Some may be willing to explore spirituality, yet others may be mad at God now that they are sick.
In the 20 years of working in the helping profession and spending the last 5 years living in chronic pain, I can tell you that it has been a great comfort to me.
There are also many studies that indicate a healthier and prolonged life when one is spiritual.
Still some may still resist.
That is okay.
Finding your own truth, what works for you is a very personal choice.
The 20 Minute Worry The thought process behind this theory (exercise) is to worry for 20 minutes (no longer than 30 minutes) each day about your illness and all that it involves.
Learn to make this a habit.
By doing this you are forced to deal with what you are experiencing today and only today.
Remember to stay in the now.
And tomorrow repeat the same process.
It isn't very often that you will find the answers to all your questions after 20-30 minutes.
After 30 minute we no longer seem to be thinking productively.
So why continue to worry and zap your energy if you are not moving forward? The 20 minute worry: Learn it, embrace it, and make it work for you.
Self Help For some people who are living with an illness, they will turn to self help books and techniques.
There is a lot to be said for the self help movement.
Affirmations, journaling, visualization, chanting and breath work can all be very powerful.
There are literally thousands of books, tapes and CD's that are available to you.
Since living with an illness affects you on both a physical and emotional level you may find that a dual approach works best for you.
Everything from self massage to self hypnosis will provide some benefit for you.
There is a world of information out there just waiting for you.
Get to the library, ask your friends or get online.
Again this is about you taking control of your health and life.
Bringing It All Together This article is just the beginning of choices and knowledge that lay before you.
Living with illness is no fun.
But you can have and return to some sort of normalcy.
Remember to push yourself when you can.
Know your limits.
It is okay to feel bad and it is to be expected.
Control what you can and don t beat yourself up over what you cannot.
Look for beauty and love often.
Make the most out of what you have.
