Hope & Hummingbirds
Friday, March 14, 2014
Life Lessons from A Decade of Pain
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Believe for More Courage
Today I ask for more courage for Day 5/10 of my IV Ketamine Therapy.
I ask because sometimes its easy to focus on the present suffering. Its easier to believe the experience in my mind is always true. Oh how many times did that thinking fail.
I will TAKE the courage already gifted to me. I choose to believe everything I need is already there...waiting, a part of me, a gift from God.
Wherever my eyes go, my mind follows. Today, I will look up and have a sky experience. My pain will not rule this day.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
By Marianne Williamson
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Joy in Pain on a Thursday
I woke today in shock at the fire in my body. CRPS feels like burning lighter fluid filling and swelling every artery in your body. Muscles pulsate to electric vibrations you cannot find the source of. Shaking and weakness, fatigue and fire. The brush of a sheet sending terror to the brain and back down.
Pain formerly unspeakable.
So many hurting people. So much pain...sigh.
But.
If I stay giving weather reports of my pain to a diary or loved one, it prolongs the day and 2718 days later that gets a little boring for everyone. Its not life. Its not living. Besides, it's Thursday!
I Am healing. I know JOY in suffering. I KNOW peace.
Gratitude fills me to the top of my head and down through my body and out of my toes. Inhale the gratitude, exhale the joy. I used to hide in pain.
I would only emerge into public when I could appear "normal" ( whatever that is). I missed the love. I was looking down. Afraid to speak about my suffering and to appear negative, and also in fear of unsolicited advice or judgment, I grew detached. I was silent. Fear kept me from the compassion that was waiting. I felt intermittent joy in moments but was not fully freed to express it in my heart. I was looking sideways.
Today I look up. When I look down or sideways there is no lasting relief !
I look up and my body responds. I am filled with peace and comfort...and joy.
I will express that joy through the pain and this fire...It better watch out. Fire recede! Stand back. It is Thursday and my Joy is on the loose. Nothing can stop it.
I will sing at the top of my lungs...wherever I am: In my house or quietly at the hospital...to the song only I can hear in my head. "Come to Me, You're Not Alone. "
I have learned to expect the unpredictable and look for the unprecedented.
What's in store? I don't know. But I am looking up and its got to be good. It's only 8:00am! Thursday, its a gift to be unwrapped. A blank page. The beauty is in the surprise for me. I believe Good things are on their way. To me. For me. And For You.
Comfort beyond explanation or imagination WILL hit and take my breath away.
Like right now.
Deep breath.
Exhale.
Today I might see a hummingbird. Or finally catch that blue woodpecker outside my window on Instagram. Thursday, we got this. I am handing the reigns to upstairs.
Pain is unpredictable. Tears will come at night.
But joy... Joy always comes in the morning.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Diagnosis to Freedom... It's a Process
1. SHOCK & DENIAL-
You will probably react to learning of the loss with numbed disbelief. You may deny the reality of the loss at some level, in order to avoid the pain. Shock provides emotional protection from being overwhelmed all at once. This may last for weeks.
As the shock wears off, it is replaced with the suffering of unbelievable pain. Although excruciating and almost unbearable, it is important that you experience the pain fully, and not hide it, avoid it or escape from it with alcohol or drugs.
3. ANGER & BARGAINING-
Frustration gives way to anger, and you may lash out and lay unwarranted blame for the death (OF YOUR OLD BODY) on someone else. Please try to control this, as permanent damage to your relationships may result. This is a time for the release of bottled up emotion.
Just when your friends may think you should be getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection will likely overtake you. This is a normal stage of grief, so do not be "talked out of it" by well-meaning outsiders. Encouragement from others is not helpful to you during this stage of grieving.
5. THE UPWARD TURN-
As you start to adjust to life without your dear one, your life becomes a little calmer and more organized. Your physical symptoms lessen, and your "depression" begins to lift slightly.
OKAY. GETTING PAIN UNDER CONTROL IS MOST IMPORTANT. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU WILL FEEL THE UPWARD TURN. YOU WILL GET INTO A ROUTINE. DEPRESSION WILL LIFT BUT YOU MIGHT NOT TRUST IT. THERE IS A TEMPTATION TO DO TOO MUCH HERE AND RELAPSE.
6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH-
As you become more functional, your mind starts working again, and you will find yourself seeking realistic solutions to problems posed by life without your loved one. You will start to work on practical and financial problems and reconstructing yourself and your life without him or her.
7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPE-
During this, the last of the seven stages in this grief model, you learn to accept and deal with the reality of your situation. Acceptance does not necessarily mean instant happiness. But you will find a way forward.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Emotional & Behavorial Cycle: The best tool I have ever found
Well.. I did it. You might be thinking... why no elevator? Why didn't you stay in a hotel?
The truth was... having to go through the struggle of getting to that group meeting placed me in a vulnerable place to HEAR. My m.o. before was to go inside and turtle and figure it out... then come out and share. I had no choice there.
GETTING PAST YOUR FEAR IS EMPOWERING. IT TAKES YOU TO SEE THE OPEN DOORS.
I heard the cheers of the patients and the male receptionist at his desk at the bottom of the spiral stairs...(George happened to be the size of football player with a booming and sweetly sarcastic voice, "Kaitlyn! What you doin' girl? You're late. You have surgery or something? You gotta leave earlier. Whoa! You played that crab soccer out in California huh? Hustle, hustle! You gonna beat the traffic traffic down those stairs! 3, 2, 1... alright! Now in an hour you can do it backwards. He he he."
I sent a few empty threats in return. "When I get up I will throw my crutches at you, George."
HUMOR HELPS YOU GET THROUGH ANYTHING.
Okay. So what did I get in the group? A photocopied piece of paper that I refer to daily and have been for seven years.
The "Emotional and Behavioral Cycle" of families and patients in chronic pain. If you are interested in joining me as I share this tool on conference call, please comment or contact me.
I hope you can use and share the revised version I created.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Reflecting...
You Deserve to Relax
"I want to sing like the birds sing not worrying about who hears or what they think." - Rumi |
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? As if you should take time to relax, but don't have any idea of how to start. SO much to do, so many people you don't want to let down, and your body is aching and burning with an unpredictable disease you cannot control. You are exhausted from explaining why you have to change plans. If only you could just have five minutes of peace...
Good news!
The American Chronic Pain Association has a brief five minute video that you can use from your desktop, mobile device right in bed.
- Find a place where you have privacy.
- It is extremely important that you do not use an instant message program.
- Resist the urge to facebook.
- Silence your telephone.
- Shut the television off.
- Tell your family members gently, that you need privacy and quiet. It is better to inform before than be irritated during your relaxation.
Now...get comfortable, but do not lay down on your side. You don't want to fall asleep during the relaxation exercise.
Notice your breaths, your heart rate, your thought process right now.
What is your pain level?
Your coping level?
Now you are ready...enjoy!
http://www.theacpa.org/videoPlayer.aspx?id=4
Now that you have watched the video... again, notice your breaths, your heart rate, is your mind settled down? What is your pain level? Coping?
If you have additional time, try journaling before you finally take that nap.
Let me know if you enjoyed this particular video... I am in the process of creating my own and building a collection of favorites.
If stress makes your symptoms worse, then relaxing surely makes it better. It does for me ;)