Things to do when you are in pain
Reduce your stress
Stress will increase your pain levels. Think of a teacup that is half full. With this cup, there is lots of room to pour in more tea before it overflows.
When you are stressed, your teacup becomes very full. There is little room for more tea, or little room to compensate for more stress. The ability to cope is lost and pain becomes more intense. It is vital to reduce your stress when you are trying to help yourself cope with pain.
To reduce your stress, practise the breathing exercises that were described in the previous article.
Have sex
This might not be high on the list when you are in pain, but there is value in it. It will create a diversion from the pain for a few moments. It will connect you with your partner who is in need of your attention right now. They are suffering too, seeing you in pain.
They will be in a better place to serve you if you can connect with them like this.
Create a list of positive words
Many years ago, I had surgery that had an eight-week recovery. I made a list of thirty words that I found uplifting and read them daily. On my list was:
“laughter, fresh, refresh, sunshine, peace, calm, safe, clean, movement and yes!”
I tried to memorize the list and each day tried to get a bit farther with the amount of words that I remembered. On bad days, I read my list throughout the day.
I still have the list and bring it out on occasion.
Detach yourself from the pain
Words carry great weight. It is important when you are in pain not to invite it in. Watch how you talk about pain. Do you talk about, “My backache? My headache? I can't go for a walk right now because of my backache.”
When we connect to pain, it is more difficult to let it go. It is a very different scenario to leave your jacket at the restaurant than it is to leave the jacket at the restaurant. Speak of pain as, “The pain in my back.” The pain is transient and will pass.
Breathe out the negative feelings that are associated with the pain
Make a list of your emotions that you are feeling right now. They may include fear, anxiety, stress, and anger. Find a quiet place to sit or lie where you will not be disturbed. Take a breathe in, over four seconds. Say the words:
“I release all the anger that is associated with pain.”
Breathe out through your mouth, taking at least four seconds to blow all your air out. Repeat this until you feel calm and at peace with “anger.” Continue doing this with the list of your other words.
Before you get up, thank your body for allowing peace for this short time.
Practice affirmations
An affirmation is something that we repeat to create a reality in our subconscious. When we tell ourselves that we are healthy over and over, our body moves toward health.
If you have read about affirmations, you may have read to speak in the positive, and speak about what you want. All of this is true, but it is difficult to talk yourself into believing something that is clearly not true. For example repeating, “I am wealthy” when you are feeling very poor carries little weight. Instead, a more believable affirmation is, “I am moving into prosperity.”
When you are in pain, create an affirmation that is believable to you.
“I am moving toward full and complete health. I am moving toward being comfortable in my body.”
Be sure to use positive words that include what you want, not what you don't want.
“I am moving toward total relaxation” is more powerful than “I am moving out of pain.”
When you feel that jab of back pain, repeat your affirmation. Instead of thinking, “Wow, my back hurts!” repeat, “I release into the universe anything that doesn't serve me right now.” Or, “I invite the sunshine into my body to fill me up with joy.” It is important to say these things out loud.
Practice gratitude
This is an important part of generating happiness in all occasions but it is especially important now. The Universe will send to us whatever we focus our thoughts on. There are many books written about this and Dr. Wayne Dyer spent a lifetime writing about it.
If you tell yourself:
“I am always last.”
...the Universe will respond:
“Send being last. Ship!”
If you tell yourself:
“I always find a parking spot when I need one.”
...the Universe will reply:
“Send more parking spots. Ship!”
If you have never done this, try it. You will be amazed at how many parking spots suddenly come available to you when you do.
When you are in pain, it is difficult to be grateful. It is a powerful tool, however, and it will go a long way toward helping you move through the pain or temporarily ease the pain. Start a gratitude list and write down daily those things that you are grateful for.
Right now, my grateful list includes:
“I am grateful that we have electricity. I am grateful for the sunshine. I am grateful for extra time to sleep. I am grateful for my Troy.”
When you define what you are grateful for, the Universe will send more of what is on your list.