Living with Pain
Do you have physical discomfort that does not seem to have a cause and does not improve? Perhaps you do "all the right things" to take care of your body and you still have pain. This may leave you feeling frustrated and discouraged. You may find yourself spending more time making doctor’s appointments and sitting in waiting rooms than actually living your life. It may be your experience that even with all the time you spend focusing on your health and visiting different kinds of doctors, holistic practitioners and healers, you do not feel like you are getting better. Possibly you worry that no matter what you do, you will never feel truly good again.
Living with chronic pain can zap your energy and your zest for life. You may feel like you can no longer do the things you once enjoyed. You may feel stuck. You may feel hopeless or depressed, or give yourself a hard time for not knowing how to feel better. It can feel like you are in a downward spiral.
The cause of pain is not always clear; effective treatment options can be unclear, as well. Some methods treat only the symptoms and do not address the underlying causes, which can be helpful on one level and discouraging on another level. We may lose faith that we can truly heal and live more freely.
Why does pain occur?
Pain is a natural body response. It sends us a signal and calls for our attention. For example, when we touch something hot, it hurts and we move our hand away. If it did not hurt, we would be at a greater risk of being burned. Experiencing pain is part of being human and part of what protects us from our environment.
When pain becomes chronic or severe, it is also calling for attention. The reason for the pain may be less clear. We may have had previous physical or emotional trauma. We may have chronic tension. In one way or another, the flow of our energy and our body's natural healing rhythm is blocked. When we are unable to respond to the pain and whatever message it is sending us, the pain persists. This does not mean that we are doing something wrong when we are in pain. We are not at fault. We are simply experiencing the reality of our body's reaction.
Befriending pain
When we are in pain, our natural inclination is to move away from it. That is what we do. The path to healing invites us to lean into our pain and get to know it. Through mindfulness, body awareness, imagery and compassion, we can learn to relate to our pain in a gentle way and explore what we need. What does this pain have to tell us about our past? What does this pain tell us about how we hold our bodies? What does this pain tell us about how we are treating ourselves in this moment?
Blog posts that explore relating to pain with curiosity and compassion:
Our body, mind and spirit want to heal. By listening to the messages in our pain, we can explore what needs to be expressed and supported for deeper healing to occur. Sometimes we need help to treat ourselves with kindness and listen to our bodies. Oftentimes, we are in pain today because there was some pain in the past that was too big and scary to feel. As we begin to acknowledge and feel that old pain, we need someone with us. We need to know we are not alone and that others have been through this, too.
The blend of somatic therapy and spiritual counseling I offer can be an effective approach to lessening physical pain and exploring the underlying roots of discomfort and tension. You can learn powerful tools to relate to your pain with gentle awareness. You can learn practices that help your body relax. Together, we can bring curiosity to whatever you are feeling and explore your path to healing.
Questions?
How does this work?
I use a holistic, mind-body approach to explore the underlying causes of pain and discomfort. Developing mindfulness helps your system calm down. As you learn to notice what you are feeling without judgment, what you are feeling has more room to flow. You become less stuck in old patterns and muscle tensions. Additionally, using body awareness, imagery and simple drawings, you get more in touch with what you are feeling and begin to hear the messages in your pain. Your body has something to tell you. Befriending your experience and honoring your symptoms is the path to wholeness.
How long does it take to feel better?
There is no one, simple answer to this question. Some people may feel relief right away as they are able to acknowledge and express what they are feeling in their bodies. For some people it takes longer to begin to feel a shift and notice a difference. The pace of healing is different for everyone. My method is to ease into this work and meet you where you are without pressuring you to go beyond your comfort level. I will establish a safe, compassionate and caring environment for you to explore your inner world. That, in and of itself, can feel like a relief.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept insurance. Contact me for current rates and availability. Seeking this kind of help and support now may prevent further health complications down the road. Investing in you, in your body, may be the best decision you can make. Consider this kind of healing work as a step toward getting your life back and feeling more whole again. It is possible to heal, to feel better, and to feel more alive. I would be honored to walk that path with you.
Next Steps
Pause for a moment. Notice your breath. If you read through this whole page, you may need a moment to connect back to yourself. What brought you here? Can you sense what you are feeling in this moment? Can you sense within yourself what you may want or need next? Notice that.
If you would like more information and want to talk, contact me for a free phone consultation. I can be reached at (860) 378-8016. During weekdays, I typically return phone calls within 24 hours.
If you are ready to set up an appointment, contact me via phone or send send me a message on the contact page.