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Pain, it's good?

Pain is good, right?  It alarms us when something is wrong and we need to take action.  So, it is good, right?

Well, something has been going wrong in my body for the last almost 15 years now I and I still have not figured out that cause.  Leaving me deemed, a chronic pain patient, lost between doctors.

In the last 6 months I have made more progress than I have in years.  I have poured money, time, energy, visited lots of doctors, had many tests done, had surgeries and procedures, and heard lots of opinions.  That didn't seem to bring me further than around the block, so I decided to look at what goes into my body- food, supplements, etc.

So far I have taken out and discover that the following triggers pain (headaches, facial pain, jaw pain, neck pain, anxiety or depression): gluten, diary, sugar, caffeine, soybeans, Brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts, sesame seeds, any artificial sweetener, Melatonin, and additives.

This process has been difficult (to be kind and gentle on my word usage) as I have had to eliminate things and re-introduce them, triggering pain.  As of late I have had a headache for 3 weeks that has not budged, luckily, I believe I have found this cause and the headache is dissipating.

But, pain is good, right?

It is.

Pain is my indicator, my gauge.  My guide.  My bodies way of telling me- yes or no.

But seriously, pain.  Is there no other way?

This is the main reason why I have taken up such a passion in mental health.  How can someone not be driven nuts with pain for some many years?   It motivated me to become a licensed Recreational Therapist, seek out many therapist to learn from, and eventually I'll go back to gain more initials behind my name in more schooling I desire.

Sometimes I am sad, overwhelmed, angry, confused.... but, I am happy now, despite my chronic pain. I have learned invaluable tools to choose happiness and to work through the emotions pain brings.

So, in those moments I have pain, I need to remember it is my gauge, my internal message board letting me know yes or no.  Eventually, I'll work through my chronic pain causes and in the mean time I can say thank you to pain.  As difficult as it is, it is needed to get me the answers I need.

Thank you,

Progress

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