You may be feeling hopeless this time of year because your pain is overwhelming. You may think that it is too much and consider ending your life, to end the pain.
I met a woman recently who told me she just wanted “…the insanity-inducing, life changing, soul-crushing pain to stop – at any and all costs, including death.” She was home bound, in bed most of the time, couldn’t drive, and had to use assistive devices when she did get out. She looked and sounded relatively “normal”, but she was suffering with “…an invisible chronic pain”. She had been a successful career woman, had been injured at work and although healed, still was experiencing intense pain. I realized she was suffering from Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
If you are feeling like you want to give up because of chronic illnesses or pain, below are some brief tips that might help:
- Find a specialist who is an expert in Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. Make an appointment.
- As difficult as it is, don’t isolate yourself from friends and family. You may think they wouldn’t want to be around a “Debbie Downer” but, most just need to know what they can do to help. Maybe it is just to listen, maybe it is to sit and read to you or watch a movie together. These people would be so sad if you weren’t in their lives.
- Don’t give your pain all your power. Focus on what you can control. Try to get up, move to a chair. Listen to an audible book or watch a funny movie. Take your mind off your pain.
- Go to www.pacificrehabilitation.com/resources/. There are some great mindfulness recordings to listen to that will allow you to take more control of your pain.
- If you come to that place where you think you are done – you can’t stand the pain any longer and are considering suicide, call 1-800-273-8255 (the suicide helpline). There is always someone there to talk with you no matter what time of day or night.
