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Adjusting to life with Chronic pain

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Posted 4/11/2013 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I should know better but I am having trouble adjusting to life with chronic pain and other people have told me about it.   I thought I was doing good but I was told by my psychatrist that I have not adjusted to it and then the pain clinic mentioned this to me a few weeks ago.  How does one do this?   I have been dealing with this for a couple of years now.
Posted 4/11/2013 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Millymilan...

I think that with your Bipolar and other depression issues this is making things much harder for you to adjust and I am sorry for that:(. Do you spend time with an actual counselor where you feel comfortable talking about your chronic pain issues? I think that talking things out is just as important as any type of medication that you are taking.

I spent about 6 months with my Pastoral counselor after my divorce just to work on my chronic pain issues and finding healthy ways to adjust emotionally.

I found that I had to mourn the "old" me where I never had to think before doing something as I am a true adrenaline junkie.....but I also learned that I can still do a lot of things and I need to focus on this instead.

I also met with my PM Dr. and Neurosurgeon to talk about what I truly shouldn't do that could possibly harm me further and what would just cause extra pain. The pain part I can handle and factor into my life as the joy I get from some activities is totally worth it.

I've learned that when I focus on others and not myself and every ache/pain that I have a much better day.

I still enjoy time with friends, family, volunteering, and being outdoors to enjoy God's lovely scenery..

Daily exercise, healthy eating, a good night's sleep, and yes, even drinking lots of water are all natural ways that help both my energy and pain levels.

I know it's easy to stay inside and not want to do anything that may cause even a tiny bit of pain...but then we really aren't "living".

These are just some of the thoughts/suggestions that have helped me. Again, I think you have to work harder at this with the chemical imbalance issues that you face, but it can still be done!
Posted 4/11/2013 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I liked how you put it in terms of mourning my old life. I guess that is how I have to look at it. I am seeing a counselor  every two weeks and it is something we need to bring up.   It is something I really need to look at.
Posted 4/11/2013 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
I think Snowbunny has made an excellent post here.

I had never before thought of coming to terms with any long term disease or condition as a mourning process but when I think of everything I personally have gone through when learning to accept, adjust, adapt, and live with my new realities mourning fits perfectly.

Generally speaking there are 5 stages of mourning

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

With the exception of the final stage there is no clear cut order to which people experience these stages and a person may experience more than one stage at a time.

As a final note here I would like to point out that acceptance does not mean giving up. All it really means is coming to terms with your new/current reality and being able to move forward in life.
Posted 4/11/2013 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Milly!

…dont be too hard on yourself here. Many of us are still adjusting to this chronic pain life….and the feelings you have are very normal. I have been suffering for the last 10 plus years, and still hang onto a bit of hope here and there. It just takes time…and there is certainly nothing wrong with being positive.

Take care,

SE
Posted 4/12/2013 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Milly I, myself, have been experiencing chronic pain for over 10 years as well. I still have times when I don't accept that I can't do things that I used to. There is no certain time that each of us go thru those 5 steps. Don't be too hard on yourself. Take care.

hugs
Loretta
Posted 4/12/2013 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
For my CP, my cancers, my other medical issues, what works for me, is total embracing and/or acceptance: that this is my lot in life. I can either choose to fight it and become bitter and miserable, or I can choose to accept what has and is happening to me. This is how my mind registers what I have been dealing with for years now. I don't feel punished or singled out for my woes, as it says in the good book, it rains on the just and the unjust.

So I try to make the best of a bad situation, and constantly adjust my reality to what is happening with me. Of course I would choose to be well and healthy in a heartbeat, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards for my life, and I am ok with that.

Worry and anxiety are self-defeating acts, that I seldom experience. Both are non-productive. You change what can be changed, and live with what you can't change.

I know this wouldn't work for all, but its how I deal with things in my life.

Never give up hope, there's always tomorrow.

david in sc
Posted 4/12/2013 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I am also struggling with coming to grips "acceptance"
1 1/2 years now .......but it is an every day battle .....
I also agree w/ snow bunny on the subject of a "mourning" process as there is a significant loss.

But you are not alone and life is still so beautiful

Keep your head up.
We r here
Josh
Posted 4/13/2013 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
When anybody experiences chronic pain it is necessary that the person accepts it psychologically. So, one can deal with the pain successfully if one is able to wander somewhere else from the pain. Deep breathing exercises and meditation can prove to be very helpful.
Posted 4/13/2013 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hello again Milly!

One of our mods in the Fibro forum posted this, and I thought I would post it here for you and all to read. It's about the benefits of positive thinking!

psychcentral.com/lib/2006/the-power-of-positive-thinking/

usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-10-12-mind-body_x.htm

Again Sherrine (Moderator)...from the Fibro forum came up with these links…so give her the credit. I enjoy sharing her links…as it makes it so much easier for me! LOL


Hope this helps!

SE wink
Posted 4/14/2013 8:07 AM (GMT 0)
The mourning process is a good way to explain what we go through as CPERS.

I only wanted to say that you can and likely will get stuck in one or more of the stages.

There's no timeline for how long it takes to work thru a particular stage and itsnot always clear if each of us pass thru every stage but its a sure bet from having spent years here listening to others that we all mourn the losses of the life we had before.

Vickie
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