Hope and Empowerment In Chronic Pain

Chronic pain creates helplessness and loss of control. How do we get our power back?

Photo by Ron Smith on Unsplash

Chronic pain creates helplessness and loss of control. How do we get our power back?

Chronic pain is a complex condition. It has been understood now that how it is a biopsychosocial model approach to pain, chronic illness, and chronic symptoms.

It encompasses emotional well-being, relationships, and a sense of control over what is happening in one's body and life.

Over time, it can feel helpless, creating more frustration, fear, and even more of a sense of victimhood in the symptoms.

One of the most empowering ways to overcome this is to understand the mind-body interactions using practical strategies that can shift perceptions and attitudes while also being unique to each individual.

What does agency mean?

Agency is the ability to make choices, take actions, and influence one's environment in meaningful ways.

For chronic pain, suffering can mean having the power to impact their well-being and not being at the mercy of the pain.

How does chronic pain impact the agency?

Being in pain disrupts our sense of control over our well-being. It is a danger alarm from the brain that there is a threat to the body, and it is impossible to control. With more effort to try, the alarm gets stronger. This happens when someone tries to push through their symptoms.

Pain is often unpredictable, feeling a trapped sensation impeding the lifestyle we want, not knowing when we are going to be able to engage in life the way we would like to. Over time, this loss can accumulate and increase the threat and burden. Leading to a lack of connection to others, feeling you can't fight against it, depressed feelings, and anxiety.

Mind-body approaches that may help.

Science teaches us more and more about the power of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to learn and unlearn through neural pathways

The brain can wire and rewire itself. Hebb's Law states that nerves that wire together fire together.

When we understand how pain is generated in the brain and the power of neuroplasticity, we give individuals hope and a sense of agency to regain control over their lives.