Why Elsa 🎤 From Frozen Had It Right: Sometimes, You Do Need to Let It Go.
Recovery and living well with chronic illness and pain is a process of letting go. Why?
A common misconception in chronic illness and pain recovery requires constant controlling and managing of the pain or condition.
Recovery and living well with chronic illness and pain is a process of letting go. Why?
. . . 👐it is about releasing many deeply held beliefs, expectations, and attachments that are perpetuating the negative reinforcing patterns of chronic pain and chronic physical symptoms.
What are some things that need to be released and let go of:
Letting Go of Control
✳️ Chronic illness and pain often bring a sense of loss of control over your body and life. Letting go of control is about remembering the body is resilient and can adapt and heal. By letting go of control, you allow your body's natural resilience to take over, fostering a more balanced and harmonious recovery process.
Releasing Old Identities
✳️ Identifying strongly with roles in life such as careers, family roles that continually highlight, or activities that they might no longer be able to perform due to their condition. Recovery can mean finding new ways to define yourself that are not tied to past abilities and not letting these roles define your worth.
Letting Go of Perfectionism
✳️ Perfectionism, a learned personality trait that once served us, exacerbates the stress and frustration that come with chronic illness, placing more pressure on the body. Learning to let go of the need to be perfect and understanding what protection is about creates a more compassionate and realistic approach to self-care.
Releasing Expectations
✳️ Part of perfection is letting go of expectations about how life "should" look and be. Accept the current reality and find ways to create a fulfilling life despite what is happening.
Letting Go of Unhelpful Thoughts
✳️ Chronic illness often brings negative thoughts, such as feelings of hopelessness, fear, or guilt. Awareness of the thoughts can gradually let go of their hold on you, often through practices like mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral techniques, or other therapeutic approaches.
Releasing Resistance to Change:
✳️ New routines, treatments, and lifestyle changes bring space and ease. Letting go of resistance to maintaining the status quo makes space, allows for smoother adjustments, and reduces emotional distress.
Surrendering to the Healing
✳️ Recovery is often non-linear, with ups and downs. Letting go of the desire for immediate results, changing our intention and tone, and surrendering to the ongoing healing process allows you to be more patient and gentle with yourself.
Give up the Self-Blame
✳️ People with chronic illness may blame themselves for their condition or for not recovering quickly enough. Letting go of self-blame and having self-compassion create a supportive integrative environment for the mind and body to heal.
Releasing Attachment to Pain and Suffering
✳️ Chronic pain can create a solid attachment to suffering as a core part of your identity. Recovery involves letting go of this attachment and creating space for new, positive experiences to enter your life.
Letting go is profoundly transformative and can lead to greater freedom, acceptance, and well-being, even in the face of ongoing challenges.
Embracing Uncertainty
✨The future with chronic illness can feel uncertain. With this comes fear and despair. Learning to let go of the need for certainty and learning to live in the present moment can help reduce anxiety and foster a sense of peace.
👐 ✨Living well with chronic illness and pain involves treating yourself with kindness, prioritizing self-care, and seeking support. It's about accepting your place compassionately and gently taking steps toward a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
This has an amazing and super helpful piece. Thank you for putting this together.