In 2001, Jason Bing watched the 9/11 devastation unfold on a television in his college dorm. Fired with patriotism, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to one of the toughest training sessions offered. The goal of basic training at his camp was to push recruits to their limits while instilling the fundamental skills of foot soldiering. But it did more than that—it also introduced them to a military culture that seemed to regard pain as good and complaints about pain as a sign of weakness.
Archives for July 2015
Empathetic Healing
When chronic pain enters the picture, everyone is affected. Few places is this more true than with the role of a caretaker. A caretaker can feel someone else’s pain on an emotional level in ways equal to similar to the physical pain. But a caretaker also has at his or her disposal the amazing healing power of empathy.
Knowing the difference between the two and finding ways to deliver empathy can provide transformative benefits to a person with chronic pain.
Prescription-Free Healing Pleasures of Summertime
Prescription-Free Healing Pleasures of Summertime
By Dr. Lynn R. Webster
Now that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has heightened its warning that taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, it’s a good idea to find alternatives that come with no side effects. Fortunately, summertime can be the perfect prescription-free alternative to ibuprofen. Try these mindfulness activities for worry-free, side effect-free healing that everyone can enjoy — and that even the FDA isn’t worrying about!
Growing Spiritually Through Pain
Walter Anderson was energized by the work he did and the people he surrounded himself with. Active in his church, family and business, dedication and persistence ruled his life and were at the core of everything he pursued. When Walter started suffering from intense chronic pain after a routine knee surgery, he tried to attack his illness with the same ferocity he would apply in other aspects of his life, but all his efforts proved unsuccessful.
Patient Story: A Support System Is All the Difference
I met Rachel Hutchins after she made the monumental decision to prioritize her own health – a difficult choice for a woman who had lived a long and painful life, both physically and emotionally. She grew up in a fractured and abusive home, where her father and brother succumbed to drug addiction and destructive habits. Though she vowed never to follow in their footsteps, frequent migraines and an ovarian cyst leading to severe pelvic pain helped her fall victim to drug abuse.