From Pain to Purpose: Managing Chronic Pain Naturally
Pain is a real butthead. I’ve lived with chronic pain for over two decades now. It started with migraine headaches after my son was born, then, as I became an overachiever at work and ignored the signs that my body needed regular breaks, I added chronic neck and shoulder pain to the pity party.
I’ve seen chiropractors, homeopathic doctors, general practitioners, neurologists, surgeons, acupuncturists, physical therapists – if they have anything to do with someone in pain, I’ve read an old magazine in their office. I even went through an eight-week pain management program at my HMO. I soaked up all I could from the above providers, and yet they still could not entirely help me. Inevitably, I’d go back to my general practitioner and say, “who’s next?”, like I was WCW great Bill Goldberg. Where my wrestling fans at?
What most of the above providers had in common (minus the homeopaths) was their predisposition to prescribe medication. They’d begin with anti-inflammatories, move on to muscle relaxers, then eventually dispense opioids.
In the early 2000s, alternative health options were not as established as they are today, so finding something else that worked effectively was challenging. I remember going to a Chinese herbalist and buying a bag of dried insects, some kind of special tincture to help with my pain and allergies. I called it my “bug juice”. I could literally see the bug bodies floating in the tea as I drank it. I was desperate to get off the pain meds. I’m gagging a little now as I’m writing. I think I managed to get about a week’s worth of that tea in me. I couldn’t hack it. This is also how I knew I should never audition for my favorite reality show, Survivor.
So, I relied on the medication given to me by my trusted doctors. Back then, opioids were given out like vitamins to chronic pain sufferers. While risks were shared, they were not made out to be as scary as they are today. I needed something so I could keep working my ten-hour days. My physical therapy exercises alone were not working. I took the meds. Then, I became addicted to opioids.
Out of The Woods
The National Institute of Health estimates that over 5.5 million Americans ages 12 and older live with an opioid use disorder. I was a light user, taking pain meds a few times a week and supplementing with over-the-counter medication. For reasons I won’t get into here, I was afraid to take more.
While opioids provided temporary relief, their risks and side effects made me seek alternative solutions. It was during this search for a safer and more sustainable options that I discovered essential oils. These natural remedies offered me the support I needed to manage my pain without the dependency that came with medication.
It wasn’t until I discovered essential oils that I knew I could give up opioids. I’d finally found something else that could support me and help with the daily pain I experienced. I still have pain every single day of my life, but I can function with it and I don’t let it play a main character in my story.
Recovery wasn’t a straight path; it was more like a winding mountain trail with plenty of detours. But along the way, I discovered natural remedies that helped me reclaim my life.
Here are some natural supports that have helped me manage my pain:
Essential oils: These provided a natural way to alleviate discomfort and reduce my reliance on medication.
Mindfulness and meditation: Practicing these techniques helped me regain control over my pain and my life.
Physical activity: Gentle exercise and stretching routines contributed to my overall well-being.
These tools didn’t make the pain vanish, but they gave me back my sense of control, and that made a huge difference.
The biggest thing I’ve learned from pain is that it doesn’t go away and we can’t always expect it to. There are good days and bad days. A guided meditation or good stretching routine may take pain from an eight on the pain scale to four and that’s a win for me. Learning to live with pain and accepting that pain will always be there for the rest of your life is the biggest challenge for a chronic pain sufferer.
Pain isn’t the enemy. It’s an important signal that your body sends to you. Most of us have learned (or been trained) to ignore it. Listen carefully workaholics and overachievers – if you are sitting at your desk and you have a headache – stop working. If you are going on your tenth hour of work and your neck is knotting up and hurting – stop working. Do not, I repeat, do not pop a pill and work another two hours. Pain is your body telling you to rest. This is not just for your physical health; it’s for your mental health as well. Once you start ignoring physical signs, your mental health will suffer as well.
The Toll on Mental Health: More Than Just Physical
Here’s something people don’t always talk about – chronic pain isn’t just about aching joints or throbbing muscles. It sneaks into your mind, affecting your mood, your relationships, and even your sense of self. Some days, pain made me irritable, anxious, or depressed. It was hard not to feel like my world had shrunk to the size of my symptoms.
But acknowledging the mental side of pain opened the door to real healing. It helped me find the right kind of support, new coping tools, and – most importantly – remember that I’m more than my pain.
The Mind-Pain Connection
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that pain loves attention. The more I obsess over every ache and twinge, the bigger it seems to get. It’s almost like pain is an attention-seeking toddler – give it a spotlight, and it’ll throw a tantrum! Redirecting my thoughts (and sometimes even laughing at the absurdity of it all) made pain feel just a little less powerful.
Science backs this up, too. Our minds have a way of amplifying discomfort when we fixate on it. But the good news? We can train our brains to focus on other things.
I just listened to a meditation where the instructor asked us to focus on any part of our body that wasn’t in pain. Through the whole meditation I focused on my knees and calves – never a problem there. Miraculously, my headache began to go away by the end of the meditation. Just the act of pulling focus away from the pain for a few minutes helped me. Try it now if you like to meditate. Sit in quiet (or with music) and focus on part of the body that isn’t in pain. Focus on your breath, breathing easily in and out, and the non-painful part of your body only. Let me know in the comments if it worked for you.
Additional Techniques to Get Out of Your Head
When pain tries to steal the show, here are some strategies I use to put it backstage:
Gratitude Journaling: Each morning, I try to jot down three things I’m thankful for. Some days, it’s “I got out of bed!” – and that’s perfectly enough.
Distraction Techniques: Whether it’s a funny podcast, a puzzle, or a walk outside (even a slow one), giving my mind something to process besides pain really helps.
Breathing Exercises: Deep, slow breaths send a signal to my body to relax. Count to four as you inhale, hold for two, and exhale for four. Repeat.
Connect with Others: A quick chat with a friend or joining a support group can remind you you’re not alone (and sometimes, laughter really is the best medicine).
Create a “Feel-Good” Playlist: Music lifts my spirits and helps me shift focus away from discomfort. Check out my Music that makes you feel playlist on YouTube.
You’re Not Alone—There Is Hope!
If you’re living with chronic pain, I hope my story resonates. Recovery isn’t perfect, but it’s possible. Natural supports, mindfulness, and a focus on mental health can help you reclaim your sense of self. Most importantly, remember that you’re not alone – there’s a whole community of us cheering you on, one small victory at a time – no bug juice required.
Learn more about the essential oils that support emotional and mental health. Participate in a calming meditation that will ease pain and anxiety. Join the Empower Your Emotions webinar today!
