magazine interview

I'm an award-winning writer researching for an article on the connections between pain and certain psychological issues, such as Stoicism (denying pain and all emotions); Catastrophism (always expecting the worst); Excessive Optimism (wishful thinking); Inflexibility; and People-Pleasing (needing to be liked by everyone). Has anyone here been working with these tendencies in themselves as one way to help manage their chronic pain? If so, I'd love to find out how you're doing it and how it's helping or not helping.Thanks!

Approved.

Peter

I'm a professional writer who has covered health issues, especially holistic health, for a number of magazines, reading and interpreting studies, speaking with a variety of experts and lay people with a range of views. I understand that people with pain are naturally sensitive ab the idea of psychological or personality traits contributing to pain, fearing that this will lead to "blame-the-victim" or "all-in-your-head" conclusions. The point of my article, however, is to offer readers, who are people with pain and the practitioners working with them, one more possible avenue to help manage pain. Medical research in all fields has begun to take a strenuous look at how our thoughts, behaviors, and emotional states affect our physical health, and this information is offering us more options for healthcare.

Today I had a very enlightening conversation with a woman who's had fibromyalgia for 15 years and an acoustic neuroma 3 years ago, all resulting in serious, life-changing chronic pain. This is a woman who ran two marathons, who describes herself as driven, perfectionist, and stoic, someone who could always push through anything. What she realizes now is that those qualities are making it hard for her to accept her present situation, and, in some ways, making it worse, because of the shame and the guilt and the self-disappointment she feels. Here's a simple but powerful example she gave me of how her stoicism, or tendency to ignore her feelings and push through anything, exacerbates her pain: when going through a pile of ironing, she has trouble allowing herself to take a break, because she's accustomed to always finishes everything. But if she doesn't take a break, she is in terrible shape by the end of the ironing. So she is learning to be less stoic, to pay attention to her small pain, and to take a rest, so she doesn't end up with the debilitating pain.

I'm interested in hearing from people who have similar self-awareness, especially around these tendencies: Catastrophism (always expecting the worst); Wishful Thinking or Excessive Optimism (where maybe they aren't as proactive as they could be); People-pleasing; and Inflexible my-way-or the -highway thinking.

I hope this helps!

As you wish. I assure you however, that this article is intended to do more good than harm for people, including myself, who are dealing with chronic pain.

I agree with PAlady. In a former life, I use to manage clinical research trials at one the top five major teaching institutions. I am surprised that you are not willing to identify a few of your works and which journals, magazines, and/or periodicals they appeared in. By reading some of your previous works we would have a better idea on whether or not we would care to participate.  I would also be interested is what awards you claim to have won.

I think the thing that's bothering me most is the unfortunate use of terminology in the original post and the fact that every item listed is classified a destructive behavior.

Stoicism is much, much more than just "denying pain and all emotions."

"Catastrophism" isn't even a psychological concept.

Excessive optimism, inflexibility, people pleasing.. none of these are healthy behaviors to begin with and certainly aren't healthy coping mechanisms.

Then you take all of those destructive and unhealthy behaviors and combine them with this belief that chronic pain patients have some inherent negative reaction any suggestion of a mind/body connection.

Frankly, I just can't see anything positive for the chronic pain community coming from an article based in these concepts and beliefs.

I respectfully withdraw my request, as I have met with such suspicion and resistance in this forum, and have made contact with people through other venues who are more than happy to share their stories, insights, and perspectives with me.