Pain as a first class citizen


We have been trained to view pain in a negative light. But for me, pain has become just another part of life.
In 2011, at age 24, I was diagnosed with several autoimmune conditions alongside fibromyalgia (a form of chronic pain). Over the course of the following year, I tried a variety of pain management techniques from CBT to physical therapy to diet changes to medications which altered
me mentally and physically. Case in point: I can recall a moment I found myself walking in Central Park, thinking pigeons were going to attack me. To my surprise, there were none in sight.
Doctors, friends, strangers really, anyone who felt like sharing their opinion — recommended I change career tracks and do less, which I thought would only result in more stress. I instead decided to try yoga and meditation techniques, simply going outdoors and breathing in silence for ten minutes at a time. After two years of actively following this daily regimen, I went from not being able to move to having control over my body without taking eight pills a day (though I still take Humira for managing my psoriatic arthritis). Put plainly, it changed my life.
Pain management is an interesting problem. The unique ways it
manifests in people makes it hard to treat. Whether you have anxiety,
fibromyalgia, migraines, or another type of pain disorder, you are
often still able to choose the right regimen that will bring about
your breath. It is amazing how much a deep breath and focus will do
for your mindset.
Now, although I am recommending yoga and meditation to everyone, it is
still difficult for me to do on a daily basis. The days I don’t make
time for a simple 10-minute meditation or 45-minute yoga class, my
body settles into its “comfort” zone of being in pain. Tingling and
sharp sensations shoot through my nerves, locking me in a continuous
fight-or-flight response. I have found that having accountability
partners to help keep you honest about your self-care can go a long
way. These need to be individuals who can call you out on your lies,
so you remain encouraged to do the things you know you should be
doing.
I am not downplaying the power of medication. However, there is so
much that can be done without it. Why not make these immediately
available changes a priority? Pain can be mitigated if you treat it
like a first class citizen.