You Know It’s Painful… Stop Pretending
By Dr. Tiffany T. Butler | January 10, 2023 | Read Time: 9 minutes
“Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it.” (J.K. Rowling)
Pain is common among the living, and so is healing. Throughout our lives, we will encounter situations in our lives that will cause us a great deal of pain. The pain from a bodily injury, the pain from a loss, and the pain of defeat. Pain, as harsh as it can be at times, is not an enemy. Pain does not come to hinder or destroy you; it is here to teach you. Our individual tolerance for pain has developed over time through our personal experiences. Since pain is subjective, meaning, no one else can experience your pain, only you truly know how much pain you can take before you do something about it. Although we do not experience the pain of others, we can offer empathy and compassion toward those who are experiencing pain because pain is relatable. We all will encounter pain at some point in our lives.
Here are 3 Reasons Why Pretending You Are Not in Pain Does Not Help You
#1: You Deny Your Experience
Without pain, how else would you know when there is a problem that needs your attention? Pain is the signal, a warning that you need to pay attention to you. Life has a way of getting our attention, even when we attempt to avoid or ignore it. Sooner or later, you will encounter something that will be unpleasant. This is your cue, a painful hint, that something in your life is out of alignment. When we deny that we are not experiencing pain when in fact we are, we miss an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and the world around us. In addition, we delay addressing the issue that is causing the pain we are experiencing.
Tip: Embrace what you are experiencing. I know it can be difficult at times; however, denial of pain is inadvertently denying yourself the possibility of getting better.
#2: You May Miss the Window of Healing at Your Best
Oftentimes a minor problem becomes a major issue because we don’t get help when we know we should. If you ignore the pain, you will not seek solutions to alleviate it. For example, an acute back injury can become chronic when it is not treated properly from the very beginning. In practice, I’ve witnessed countless people come into the office seeking chiropractic care after they have suffered from chronic back pain for years. The most common way in which people injure their backs from improperly lifting, or an overuse injury leads to muscle strain. More than 85% of back pain will resolve on its own, however, about 15% of people will continue to experience back pain. Therefore, if those who experience minor back pain do not take action to assist with recovery from a back injury when it initially happens or worse when it comes to chronic, they will continue to suffer. Now, the once acute back injury becomes a chronic pain issue. Chronic pain affects every aspect of a person’s life. Not getting help when the pain first occurs may cost more time and money; and more problems later.
Tip: The longer pain remains unaddressed or unresolved, the longer it will take to get better. In other words, it’s going to cost you time, energy, and money. Do what’s right for you. You deserve to heal from new and old injuries. You’re worth the investment. The quality of your life is determined by how well you take care of yourself and others. Start with you.
#3: You May Become a Victim of Pain
I define a victim of pain as someone whose life is controlled by pain. In other words, every decision they make, everything thing they do, is centered around pain. As stated in one of my previous blogs, “Pain will stop you, if you allow it.” Ignored pain is like unresolved debt, you know it’s there and you need to take care of it, but you think it will go away on its own. It will not. Until you take action to remedy the issue, the pain will continue to persist or remain unmanaged.
Tip: Take a moment to write down the things that are causing you pain. Got the list? Good. Next, beside each pain point, write the name of someone who may be able to help you address this pain. This could be a family member, friend, co-worker, community leader, or healthcare professional. Lastly, schedule a time within the next 48 hours to reach out to them. When you connect with them, let them know what you are experiencing and ask if they are willing to assist you with finding solutions.
Dr. Tiffany T. Butler (aka “The Pain Doctor”) is a chiropractor, author, and entrepreneur. She leads Harmonious Living Chiropractic: Fitness & Wellness Center, a pain management practice, in offering healthcare solutions that focus on patient-centered care. Her team consists of individuals who are passionate about improving patient outcomes by providing chiropractic care, in conjunction with therapeutic procedures. Their services have helped hundreds of people find pain relief and improved their quality of life. To learn more about Dr. Butler visit https://www.drtiffanybutler.com/dr-butler/ Connect with Dr. Butler on social media #drtiffanybutler
