Millions of people suffer from chronic pain, but practical tools are available to help you cope mentally and emotionally.
Talking Points:
- Chronic pain is a persistent form of pain that affects the sufferer for three months or longer. It takes an emotional and functional toll.
- The cost of chronic pain varies from person to person but it’s generally about feeling unable to do simple, everyday things. Plus it takes an emotional toll leaving you irritable and depressed.
- The Gate Control Theory says that sometimes the “gate” of pain reception is open and other times it is “closed.” There are factors that can “open” and “close” this gate. The problem is when the gate is open and it shouldn’t be. The solution is to find out how to keep the gate closed. If our friends and family seem to be against us, this opens the gate. If people baby us, the pain can seem unbearable, opening the gate.
- A well-balanced life can help close the gate. Exercise, eat well, nurture healthy relationships – these all have positive effects on us. Counseling, like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, can also help.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you or have you struggled with chronic pain? Or do you know someone who has? What happened?
- Do you think there is anything of merit to the Gate Control Theory? Have you seen some of these ideas to be true in your experience?
- How does being mindful of our pain help reduce its effects? Have you seen this to be true that accepting our pain helps us deal with it?
- Who are the people around you who can support you through pain? How can you be supportive of others through their pain?
- Would you say you have a well-balanced life (diet, exercise, work-life balance, relationships)? If not, what steps can you begin taking to find balance?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
