Anyone who has been sidelined by injury knows how it can make even the most mundane tasks, like getting dressed in the morning or walking up stairs, a major challenge. But for those who rely on their bodies to make a living -- dancers, actors, mail carriers, construction workers, athletes and more -- or those who enjoy staying active in sports and other activities, incapacitating injuries can be devastating.
From an emotional perspective, you may be feeling angry,depressed, and frustrated by the injury. And from a physical one, dealing with pain on a daily basis can take its toll.
While we most often associate pain with the physical symptoms, pain is also directly linked to your emotional health. This is why,according to the National Pain Foundation (NPF), those with chronic pain are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and feelings like guilt, anger, fear, denial, disappointment and loneliness.
Not only does pain increase the likelihood of emotional problems, but when someone with pain is feeling even slight levels of stress,anxiety or depression, the pain will feel more severe and be more disabling, according to the NPF.
So, if you’ve been sidelined by injury, healing your emotions should be an integral part of your recovery plan.
“When you are injured there are two paths to recovery. One is long, arduous and very difficult, and the other is easier, less painful and much more productive,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and Director of Training of Sedona Training Associates.
Which Path Will You Take?
Whether you take the difficult path or the easy one is up to you, and depends largely on your attitude and emotions, or more specifically, your ability to release those that are holding you back.
“When you allow yourself to dwell on wanting to change what happened or resist what is necessary to get better, you take the long and hard path to recovery,” Dwoskin says. “However, if you allow yourself to deal with what is in front of you at each moment -- and keep letting go as best you can-- you eliminate or lessen the emotional pain and suffering that comes from injury.”
Whenever you experience pain, either on a physical or emotional level, releasing the negative thoughts and feelings that you associate with it using a process called The Sedona Method will help the feelings of pain to dissolve -- even if the underlying physical condition is still present.
The Method consists of a series of questions that will help to quiet your mind and, at the same time, give you the clarity of mind you need to break the cycle of pain and suffering.
"You can also use The Sedona Method to keep yourself on track with physical therapy and to support yourself in letting go of physical pain. One great technique for releasing physical pain is to simply welcome the sensations that you are labeling pain and also welcome the beingness, emptiness or space upon or in which the sensations are appearing,' Dwoskin says.
“When you go back and forth welcoming both the sensations and the parts of your body that are free of the sensation, you'll find that the sensations either lessen or disappear,” he says. “Though remember that releasing is never a substitute for competent medical care.”
The sooner you begin releasing, the less control the injury will have over you -- and the faster you’ll get back in control of your life.
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