This week I thought I’d talk about mindset, mainly because it’s been brought to the forefront by a specialist physio that I’m seeing. A task she set me off with, has been to make a mental note of my thoughts that occur straight after a subluxation or injury. This is because automatic negative thoughts can worsen our experience of pain - thoughts like “I’m going to be in this pain forever.” Now, I know as a younger person I definitely had these types of thoughts, but I can recognise that now my automatic thoughts are more of frustration actually, mixed in with a few curse words. But also that these thoughts pass fairly quickly and then I get on with dealing with the situation instead.
My experience of pain is definitely better as a result. Mindfulness techniques have helped me a lot, as well as the gentle noticing and curiosity about my thoughts - a constant checking of things like, am I catastrophising? I find this topic incredibly interesting, the link between our experience of pain and our psyche, I hope that more research is done in this area. Especially as, these changes in mindset can take a long time, and often need professional help. I wonder if there is a way to reach the outcome faster somehow, or if we can further our experience of pain to an even better place? What I will say is that I fought the changes for far too long, it felt like I was almost giving in to the pain, but instead, it’s almost like you can embrace and comfort the pain within your brain, in a similar way that you can with grief. This sort of practise involves acknowledgment of the pain, offering self compassion, gentle stretching, indulging your senses - smells can really help me.
In some way, the most helpful thing for me is to practise some gratitude, and really focus consciously on the fact that even on the worst days there are always parts that make us smile, or laugh, or even cry when we desperately need to but can’t. These things have made a significant difference for me. And in sharing, I also hope that can give some hope to anyone else out there of any age that you can move to a better place, if I can, anyone can, and I so wish I could go back and tell Little Lara that too. If you feel “stuck” - I really recommend seeking some help to progress, for example a therapist and/or physiotherapist that specialise in pain management.
Yep, a really interesting topic for discussion bout feelings, thoughts, energy, bodily sensations, attitude and behaviour..the lot and its interweaving shape and texture when living with chronic pain and disability from an HSD or EDS.
I agree that dealing with grief from loss of a loved one has similar symptoms and tone to all the grieving to be done from a loss of activity, ability, mobility, all the ‘ities’ that may be replaced by disability of varying kinds as these HSDs/EDS progress/regress.
The balance between effort to maintain varied skills and activity , and accepting the loss, is a fine one. Requires much present centred awareness and witnessing of our experience that something like a yoga or meditation or breat…