Pain can make us feel isolated and helpless, especially if its cause is an illness or physical condition for which there's no cure or effective medical treatment. At times of deepest despair, finding ways to nurture our spirits can help us not only cope with the pain, but also discover nugget of grace, comfort, and productivity that can move us through and beyond the helplessness and hopelessness we feel.
Here are ten spiritual tools that can help you get started toward peace in spite of and in the midst of pain.

>*Find Quiet*
When we are in great pain, finding true peace and comfort is not easy. But it is possible, if we first try to still our worries and fears, both external and internal. Finding a place where there are no noisy distractions is a great start. Enjoying the outward quiet, we can then calm our inner selves and nurture peace within.

>*Breathe Deep!*
The act of breathing is not only a physical process, but it can also be a tool to move our pain, negative thoughts, and worry out of our bodies and hearts replacing these with a better sense of self. In a quiet place, breathe in slowly and deeply, then let the breath out, expelling stress and pain with it. Feel the sharpness of pain subside as relaxation and calm take its place.

>*Listen to Music*
A beautiful piece of music can inspire our spirits and soothe our pain like no other sound. It can also help us get in touch with the absolute joy of living, even if we live with severe pain. Put on your favorite piece of music - instrumental or vocal - sit back, and close your eyes. Let the music carry you away from your immediate pain to a place of calm.

>*Lose Yourself in Prayer*
So often when we pray, we ask for relief from our pain and leave it at that. Perhaps more effective when pain is oppressive is lifting up our pain and then resting quietly with the comfort that our concerns are being tended to by One greater that ourselves - and we do not have to take them back again.

>*Reflect in Nature*
Pain can isolate us and make us feel very much alone. But in reality, we are part of an amazing world. A walk in the outdoors, a glance outside at a garden, a quiet moment with a beloved pet - each of these things can renew our sense of belonging to the world, help us to feel less alone in our pain, and make us grateful for our lives among such wonder.

>*Laugh More*
Pain itself is no laughing matter, but the act of laughing can be physically and spiritually healing. It helps us breathe deeply, cleanses tense pain from our bodies, gives key muscles beneficial exercise, and lets us travel to an uplifting place of joy. Whether it's a joke, a cartoon, or the antics of a pet, find laughter and enjoy it often!

>*Reach Out to Others*
When we are in pain, it can be easy to feel as if no one cares. But there are many in the world who feel the same thing - and we can make a difference in our lives and in others' lives by reaching out in comfort and care. A phone call to a hurting friend, a visit to someone in need, even an email to an online support group - all of these can help us become less isolated, and help others in the process.

>*Live in the Light*
It's easy for our souls to be flooded with darkness when pain is sharp and
overwhelming. We can combat this darkness by bringing on light. The flicker of a candle, the warm glow of one small lamp illuminating a dark room - light can help focus thoughts and bring comfort. Even in the darkness, be conscious of the light all around, and let it guide you to greater calm.

>*Take Care of Yourself*
Often, there is no cure for what causes our pain. This can make us feel as if our lives are out of control. But the better we take care of ourselves, the more we will feel at least a little control over our circumstances - and our attitude toward pain. Taking time to follow a healthful regimen reflects on our spiritual health, too, and gives us a chance to rise above our pain and feel better - inside and out.

>*Never Lose Hope*
Each day, there are new developments in medicine and in therapies to ease pain, inside and out. Hope is not just a feeling that things will be better - it is a tangible tool to motivate and guide us through the frustrations that accompany pain into positive actions that can make our lives better now and in the future.

Love and Blessings to You and Yours !

By Maureen Pratt

Thank you for sharing that

Your welcome..glad your back to appreciate it!

To the above I would add the following:

> Nutrition

Many conditions are affected by diet one way or the other. Many conditions can be somewhat alleviated by supplements and nutrition.

> Herbal

There are many herbal and homeopathic remedies proven for millenia

I highly reccomend this book, its indexed by herb and medical condition and has detailed info on side effects and ineractions with drugs and other herbs:

http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Herbal-Healing-Easy-Use/dp/0895298694

> Exercize

Your muscles and cardiovascular system need to be strong for you to be strong. For example strengthening the lower back and abdominal muscles helps alleviate lower back pain.


> Narcotics

Many people fear them or the stigma associated with them. However chronic pain rewires your brain and your suffering affect those around you. My ex reused to take any kind of medicine. She has an arthritic foot and disc issues. Her constant complaining and days lost laying around were a pointless waste of life. If it takes a couple percocet to allow you to go to your kids sports game or recital take the damn thing. You need to at least occasionally provide relief to avoid the negative physical and psychological effects of constant suffering, not just for you, but those that love you and want to see you happy.


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I know the post was about spiritual, but I wanted to add those as I have alot of experience in this area. I have learned a ton about it the hard way.

I am 32 and have been in constant pain since my hand was crushed and degloved at the age of 19. It still works but betwen arthritis, nerve damage, and poorly executed (by the navy) skin grafts, it hurts all the time. Two years prior I was attacked in Los Angeles and recieved 3 skull fractures and an orbital blowout, I still cant feel part of my head, and the hand incident came just when I was getting over that. In my mid twnties I badly injured my knee and just had it repaired a couple weeks ago...hoping at least that stops hurting. In my mid twenties by back started hurting. Turns out I have multiple herniated discs, and the L5/S1 extrudes material every so often that hits my sciatic nerve and buddy that **** hurts! Through a holistic philosophy, eating right, herbs, supplements, spiritual/meditative actiities, I still do everything I always have and spend about 80% of the time with no painkillers save maybe an nsaid. Hope this helps someone somewhere!

Thanks for sharing that, I'm sorry you were the victim of such violence

Thanks for that, Ill refrain from discussions about illegal immigration outside of the politics forum;)

Living with chronic accute pain most of my life the only thing that has consistently worked for me is not fighting it and kind of letting my senses float on top of it like smoke over fire.

appreciated..