Re: Appearances Can Be Deceiving...

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Fri Dec 3 13:58:00 1999


It is really unfortunate that we are sometimes judged by the way we look and act by our doctors, friends, and sometimes even by our own family. It is actually unfair!!

To help block pain signals from reaching the brain, chronic pain people need to consciously "think positive thoughts" and doing whatever is necessary to help bring on "a pleasant attitude" toward life experiences. These are known ways which will help to deter us from complaining and dwelling on negative thoughts. Negativity only increases our sensation of pain!

Humor is another way to block pain - humor in spite of how much pain a person is experiencing. "Put on a happy face" and find ways to "make light" of whatever life hands you.

I know that I somehow managed to include humor in my life - without realizing that humor is psychological technique; and without realizing that my use of humor was actually helping to lower my pain level.

Recently I read that humor can actually reduce a person's pain level. With practice, humor can actually become a comfortable part of a person's personality - a natural response which can be easily available to help to block the sensation of pain and thus help bring a person's pain level down to a more manageable level. Try it - it works!

- - - - - - -

At Fri, 3 Dec 1999, Sharonda Moore wrote: >
>Rhonda,
>
>One strong piece of advice - ignore. You can't even entertain what they say
>to you. Most people around us don't know what its like to go through long
>term illness. They conjure up images of people like Richard Pryor with MS,
>Muhammed Ali with Parkinson's - people have the visual signs of an illness.
>
>I am grateful for the people that are "healthy" looking coming out about
>their illnesses..Montel Williams, Michael J. Fox and others. Now the world
>can see that people with 40-60 hours schedules and kids and numerous
>commitments can be sick - even their coworkers didn't know.
>
>We hide our pain in the dark, it becomes an involuntary action. We don't
>want pity, be portrayed as the resident hypochondriac, or too much
>attention, or if we ignore it maybe it will go away. For whatever reason,
>we hide it. I simply get quiet - I don't yell out in pain or cry or
>anything obvious, this is my battle - so I understand.
>
>Concentrate on documenting how you feel and keeping good records for your
>doctors. Continue to do what you do, when we put on makeup and wear decent
>clothing - it sometimes can make us feel better, even if in a small way.
>
>Sharonda
>
>>From: rwhite@alston.com (Rhonda )
>>Reply-To: adhesions@obgyn.net
>>To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS
>>Subject: Appearances Can Be Deceiving...
>>Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 12:20:51 -0600
>>
>>Yesterday someone made the comment to me that because I don't look sick,
>>I will have a hard time convincing a doctor that I'm truly in pain and
>>need to have my adhesions dealt with. I do take the time some days to
>>put on make-up because it makes me feel better. I also dress relatively
>>well. I work in a conservative law firm so I can't wear jeans to work.
>>I've been overweight for years so I'm not exactly skin & bones.
>>
>>The person that said this to me said that she can't even tell when I'm
>>in pain. I work very hard to make myself look presentable and I have
>>the "stiff upper lip" mentality so I'm not one to allow casual/business
>>acquaintances to know I'm feeling. Am I to be penalized by the doctors
>>just because I don't look like I'm at death's door and because my manner
>>is almost always sunny? I was raised to never allow my personal feelings
>>to show to anyone other than immediate family.
>>
>>Ordinarily someone else's opinion wouldn't concern me but this person is
>>usually right on the money when it comes to things of this nature. It
>>really bothers me that I'm being judged on this basis.
>>

--
The 15th century proverb which summarizes the purpose of medicine is:
* To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always. *

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