What Is The Purpose of Pain?. When a change of perspective can change…
By: Dr Wayne Phimister
Tags: Covid 19 Crisis, Covid Diaries, Healing, Physical Therapy, Chronic Pain

What Is The Purpose of Pain?

Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash

Let’s start with a simple question: what is chronic pain?

Or even better: what does chronic pain mean?

The reason this subject came into my mind is that I recently finished a book called ‘Quantum Revelations’ by Paul Levy, which uses basic principles of science into helping us with chronic pain and other medical problems.

And this is important because your perspective on pain MATTERS!

Think: Mind over Matter.

I know, maybe you have been dealing with horrendous pain for years and you can find this statement a little offensive. However, let’s dive together into this interesting and controversial subject because if we can make progress with it, there is a possibility of finding a purpose for your suffering. And one of the reasons is that purpose gives us a reason; and if you got a reason, you can do almost everything.

When I ask my patients about what is the purpose of pain for them, I find different answers, such as compassion; they are learning to have empathy for other people that have more pain than them.

And that is a beautiful reason because they are connecting with the other, and they just understand them because they are walking on the same path of suffering.

Another way is helping people in groups, pain groups, which fulfill them a lot by just teaching what they have learned along their way.

In addition, they also learn about healing, about their brains and neuroplasticity.

So, there are ways of getting a purpose ; and my suggestion if you have not found one is that: maybe have an open question — say ‘what is the purpose of my pain?’ and write it down on paper. It can definitely be a fresh start.

So let’s dive into the specifics of Quantum Revelations.

HOW DO YOU SEE CHRONIC PAIN? GOOD, BAD, BOTH, NEITHER?

There was a very interesting question posed there: do you see pain as bad, good, both good and bad, or neither good or bad?

It is an answer that implies a long process of reflection; however, we will analyze all the possibilities and see what we can learn from them, and maybe give you some insight into the purpose of pain.

IS CHRONIC PAIN ALL BAD?

Firstly, the most typical answer for people is that when they are struggling, the pain is bad. If this attitude is their opinion, it is a harmful thought to have in their brains; because we know through epigenetics that you have negative thoughts, you are creating pain circuits in your brain.

IS CHRONIC PAIN BOTH GOOD AND BAD?

The second answer is both. Maybe it is good, maybe it is bad. Having an open mind is one of the principles of mindfulness that allows us the possibility of helping and healing our pain, and perhaps finding a purpose for it.

IS CHRONIC PAIN NEITHER GOOD NOR BAD?

In the third place, you can say that it is neither good nor bad. That is a more advanced opinion, where non-judgment comes in, yet another principle of mindfulness where you accept things as they are, you do not judge pain, it is something that it is there, and that opens the possibility of finding it a purpose.

IS CHRONIC PAIN ACTUALLY GOOD?

And finally, pain is actually good. I have a lot of patients who say that it is a good experience.

The neuroplastic nature of the brain can literally change the way you live it. For example, I am used to telling my knee-pain to go away, I have a little laugh about it, and it goes away. This happens because there are enough neural circuits in my brain for the resolution of pain. Then, it goes away and it is not a chronic condition anymore.

IN CONCLUSION!

In summary, if we see pain as a good thing, we can grow from it, lessen the stress in our brains; and then, I strongly believe that our bodies and brain can heal quicker from it.

If you loved this article give it a clap and leave a comment (either in the Facebook comments or here in this article). I also do regular livestreams on different topics related to medical science. Come join me on those and get your questions answers!