The Hidden “Pains” of Pain

The most obvious problem associated with pain is of course the discomfort itself.  And for many the word “discomfort” is selling it short.  Beyond the base cause of pain are often a number of symptoms, or “pains” if you will, that affect a person’s quality of life.

Depending on the location of the physical pain, mobility can be seriously impaired.  Sciatica, arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, and any other type of pain related to movement can make it extremely difficult to move normally.  Not to mention the fact that we try to compensate for the pain by changing how we move.  Since this typically isn’t how we’re designed to move, it can cause even more issues as the body is thrown out of alignment.

This lack of mobility and decrease in the ability to do the things we want to do can also affect us emotionally.  Feelings of frustration and anger are common as we just wish that the pain would go away.  Of course, these types of feelings tend to create more bodily tension and can increase the feeling of pain, which is clearly the opposite of what we want.

Mental characteristics such as focus and memory can also be negatively affected.  For many people who are in pain, the pain itself takes up a lot of mental attention, even if they don’t want it to.  Because it can be so overwhelming, it can be hard not to focus on it. 

While the unconscious mind can attend to an incredible amount of information, our conscious mind is limited to about 7 +/- 2 chunks of information at any given moment.  So if I can only handle about 7 things consciously and the pain is taking up about 50% of my mental attention, that is certainly going to have an effect on my ability to concentrate and complete mental tasks.  In this sense, it is easy to see how job performance and other activities can be affected as well.

Lastly, one significant area that can be a relatively hidden area affected by pain is our relationships.  For those who suffer from pain and are cared for by their loved ones, they don’t suffer alone.  Even though the people in their support network may not have the specific ailment, they are often affected significantly and in many different ways.  Even the little things may fall more and more on supporters who, although they may do everything they do willfully, are still affected in one way or another.

As you can see, the impact of pain is not limited to its physical properties but can impact a person in many ways and in almost every aspect of their life.  The length of time that a person has suffered from pain can also affect their spirit including their will to overcome their pain and their belief in their ability to heal.  That aspect can be the most damaging of all.

I certainly hope that anyone who is in pain doesn’t lose hope and that they keep looking and trying different ways to resolve their problem.  While its certainly important to take care of the physical components of pain, it is also important to remember to take care of the emotional, mental, and the relationship aspects as well.