Take Care, Susan
At Mon, 10 Jul 2000, Sherry Marie wrote:
>
>I suffer from adhesions and fibromyalgia. Chronic pain has become a
>part of my life. I try to consider pain to be a part of living. It is
>an expected and necessary part of our interface with the environment.
>Pain can be viewed as a reminder of being alive. Fear, anxiety and
>depression can modulate one's perception of how bad the pain is. One's
>pain threshold can be elevated or lowered based on emotional responses.
>Chronic pain persists long after we would expect it to go away. It can
>disrupt virtually every aspect of our normal pattern of living. And it
>may ultimately require us to make some major, long-term changes in our
>life-style. All pain is real, whether or not physicians can find a
>clinical reason for it. It's your body and you know if something hurts!
>Doubting your own perceptions will just add emotional pain to the
>physical pain you are already experiencing. I feel a support group
>helps to give validity to your personal experience, as well as allow you
>to vent your feelings fo depression or anger. Realize that it's O.K.
>Sherry Marie