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"YOU ARE THE CEO OF YOUR LIFE, NOT YOUR PAIN. WHAT YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS. LET GO OF PAIN AND START LIVING AGAIN"
The issue of coping with and healing chronic pain can be very tricky, especially if we have been suffering from it for years. Perhaps we went to many different practitioners, hearing conflicting and sometimes scary predictions or opinions of how to deal with or simply accept our own pain.
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We may have a strong desire to be pain free, but all of those other feelings flowing through our thoughts about the pain can cancel out the desire to get better. The body is confused. On the one hand, there is a strong desire to get better, but on the other hand lingers all of those thoughts about how that might be accomplished.
I applaud everyone who never gives up on himself or herself, searches for different ways to make pain go away and finds new techniques or practitioners who can help them. I personally believe that all pain can be fully healed, let go of, all without external enhancements.
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When we start our Myofascial Release process, it is very important to explain expectations and how therapy will progress. Everyone is different and heals at different rates of speed.
The intent of this Blog is very practical in nature and includes different, important aspects of chronic pain release that have physical, mental and emotional components. We are referring to releasing pain that does not have any underlying medical pathology.
1. As with any Myofascial Release session, initially we want to fully feel and connect with our body, feel and sense the area that is to be treated, fully owning it, sensing it, breathing and feeling underneath it with ease and detachment.
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2. Then, follow up on recommended stretches, releases, and breathing. I have noticed that those who do their own home program, are the ones that progress faster and more consistently. At some point, additional exercises will be added that include strength or balance deficits in your body. Remember it is all about balance. It is your own body, take good care of it. Nobody is responsible for it but you.
3. Deep inside, you must believe, strongly believe, that you are going to get better. You need to fully own it and be confident that you can do it. The therapist can guide you, encourage you, inspire you, but the ultimate work is yours. It is your own body. Nobody can really help you or fix you, but you.
4. After a few sessions, you should start noticing the changes that are happening in your body. Initially, they may be small changes, but notice them, appreciate them. The progress happens in small increments and baby steps. It is not going to happen all at once. But as it happens, you may be able to sleep one night better than you did before, notice that, appreciate that, and know that it is possible. It may just take time. It may be in a zig zag way, two steps forward, one step back.
5. Even when you start feeling better, keep listening and tuning into your body. We are so programmed to listen to our minds, that we forget that if we fully connect with our body and have an intimate connection with it, it will send us messages. Just breath and listen. Listen to your own body as to what it wants. It may need a rest, nap or a down time. Many times, we simply do not observe it, as we are too busy taking care of everyone else. Just stop and honor your body.
6. Start training your mind to spend a few minutes every day on visualizing, sensing and feeling how you want to be and NOT on what is. When we live with chronic pain, we all have a tendency to focus on what is, and not on what we want. I do understand that it is hard to direct attention elsewhere when we feel pain, but breaking this constant loop of pain has to start somewhere. See yourself in your minds eyes doing the activity that you love and enjoy, see yourself how you want to be and feel. It may sound like wishful thinking, and many times we feel that we cannot do it UNTIL we feel better, but sometimes you have to create a road map for your mind and body. If we just focus on the PAIN only, it shrinks us and we get the same thing, we just get more pain.
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7. Focus and appreciate what is working in your life, what is good, easy and peaceful. Many times, when we have chronic pain, we are so overwhelmed and consumed that we practically forget the whole world. I get it, I know it is hard, but trust me, when you start expanding your awareness beyond your pain and focus on and appreciate what is good, you are mentally taking some energy away from that pain and focusing it on other areas of your life that are working.
8. Appreciate your body. When we have chronic pain, I believe that many times we are really hard on ourselves and our body for letting us down. We may be harsh or critical on our own body that is doing so much for us. Many times I hear people say jokingly "oh just give me a new body"...think about it, if you said it to friend "oh I just need a new friend, not you"...well I am sure that person would not be very nice to you, right? Our body is a magnificent instrument and when we appreciate it and truly take care of it, it will work better with us, not against us.
9. Find little or big things that you enjoy or are passionate about, which are healthy and wholesome. Connect with nature, truly be present when you have a nice cup of tea, take a relaxing bath, open your heart to someone close to you, share your feelings with someone you can trust or write them in your notebook, connect with your higher self, forgive yourself and others.
Letting go of the past is very challenging for all of us. Often, we carry all that past emotional energy and store it in our body, carrying it with us like a heavy suitcase that we truly do not need. If you find your mind going back into the past, redirect it, and focus its attention on your breath and the present moment.
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