When you have chronic pain you make excuses.  It’s inevitable.

The pain creeps up on you and cancels your plans. It may be escorted by depression and fatigue. After a while your friends think your blowing them off and you stop getting those invites. You’re no longer comfortable sitting for hours at a movie or chatting. and you can forget events that require you to stand for the duration. Even with the best of intentions, a flare can knock the wind out of your sails pretty quickly.

What You Want, Really, Really Want….

You want a community of people who understand what you’re going through.

You don’t want to deal with stigma, drama or anything that’s going to piss you off or make you sad.

You want to laugh. You need to laugh!

You want to create something  without being intimidated

You don’t want to drop a lot of cash, cause – life

You want to make something meaningful, beautiful, and soul lifting

You want to not feel pain for a few hours (days if possible)

You want to be creative when the time is good for you

You want what a recipe for making your soul feel good.

 

Some help

Join a group or community that you share an interest with.

Make sure that the people/community you decide to join have no judgements about your illness, or your decided course of wellness whether it’s cannabis or other natural remedies or pharmaceuticals.

There are a few artists offering free workshops online that are very  empowering. These are a good way of taking your time to create projects you choose, and they allow you to participate at times that are god for your schedule. They also most often include a community of like-minded people. Many are uplifting or soul shifting projects in nature./

If you have mobility and inclination sign up for a workshop outside the home. Mobility, socializing and creative practice are all components to good overall health and wellness for those with chronic illnesses.  Look for our upcoming workshops this spring…

Personal experience, classroom observations and research data show that the act of creating lessens pain, heightens pleasure and stimulates serotonin. I have seen Parkinson patients in my classes have their tremors completely cease when they pick up a paintbrush. One client who suffers from completely body tremors requiring assistance to walk at times comes to mind. He is draw linear lines freehand when he has a paintbrush in hand. Many clients reported a decrease or absence of pain when engaged in a creative project.

The seven realms of a positive life experience for people with chronic pain are:
medication/medical – support community/social interaction – exercise/movement – spiritual practice – nutrition – healthy sleep ethic – creative pursuits
I’ll be discussing the seven realm in detail in upcoming posts.

And finally don’t be so hard on yourself. Worrying can intensify your physical pain.
Accept your limitations, know when to relax.

Ti