Pain
Pain is something we all experience at some time in our lives. The question is where does pain come from and how can we treat it effectively? No one wants to live with pain and no one should have to.
A different way of approaching pain comes from the Mind Body perspective. The idea is that our thoughts are powerful enough to cause a chemical reaction (via neuropeptides) producing either positive or negative effects in our body. From this perspective pain is seen as a result of ‘guilt’. When we are feeling guilty we unconsciously have the need to punish ourselves. The way in which we do this is by creating pain in our body.
guilt + punishment = pain
Let me give an example, over the weekend I went on a full day hike with a group of 12 adults. About halfway into the hike one of the women, a General Practitioner complained of a headache which had started about an hour into the hike. She went on to say that over the past year since she went back to exercising she often got headaches during or after exercise.
Establishing that she had 2 young children I asked her if she ever felt guilty about taking time out for herself when she went running, went to the gym or on a day hike? She responded that yes she did, she didn’t like leaving them and worried about their safety when she did.
The headache was a form of self punishment born out of the guilt of leaving her children. I explained this to her and suggested that she could start thinking about things differently. For example when she felt a headache coming on during her time out, she could immediately become aware that she may be feeling guilty and change her thoughts consciously.
Re-framing the experience by telling herself that exercise was beneficial to both herself and her children, making her a fitter, healthier mom better able to cope with the demands of motherhood. Also noticing the fearful thoughts that crept in that some harm would come to her children with her being away from them, and affirming to herself that they were in safe hands, encouraging a sense of trust that she didn’t always need to be with them, that they would be ok without her.
As we consciously become aware and begin to work on changing our thoughts, we have the power to change our bodies response. In her case this could be effective enough to stop the headache from forming. Perhaps spending the hike thinking positive thoughts about her children, affirming their safety, and enjoying her day out would be more beneficial for everyone.
Next time you experience pain in your body, ask yourself what you could be feeling guilty about? Then affirm in your mind that you no longer choose to punish yourself. Repeat these words a few times. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.
