Drs. Yvonne & Scott Rheinschmidt, Ph.D., L.P.C.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
(Hb 12:11)

For the last Mindful Moment in October we wanted to briefly share some thoughts on dealing with pain in our series on “Respect Life”. Pain is a part of the human experience and is felt physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Unfortunately, pain, in any of its forms, can have a very negative impact on our ability to enjoy life. And for some, chronic unrelenting pain can diminish the ability to respect life lending to the problem of euthanasia, aka. assisted suicide. In this Mindful Moment we wanted to offer some guidance on dealing with pain in a positive way.

We have all experienced pain in its various forms and typically work through it with time and support from others. However, when pain becomes a chronic long-term problem it can wear us out and really interfere with being able to function like we want. Science explains that physical pain consumes most of our brain’s resources so that we are actually unable to think about and deal with other parts of life such as close relationships, work, and fun. So, the question is, how can we deal with chronic pain problems in a positive way?

Below are listed ten practical steps for slaying the giant of pain (From the book, Chronic Pain: Biomedical and Spiritual Approaches, Harold Koenig):

1. Obtain a comprehensive medical evaluation
2. Use simple, safe medications and noninvasive treatment
3. Exercise and pay attention to diet and weight
4. Consider inexpensive safe alternative therapies
5. Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
6. Consider psychotherapy and behavioral treatments
7. Add low-dose antidepressants, gabapentin, and muscle relaxants
8. Seek treatment in a Chronic Pain Clinic
9. Consider surgical therapies or other mechanical treatments
10.Consider narcotic analgesics

In counseling we understand how debilitating chronic pain can be, so we want you to know that we are here to offer support and encouragement as a positive way to deal with pain regardless of the type.