RSD(S)-CRPS Advisory Info & Support Group

Posted by twinklev

Support Groups are necessary for those who need understanding and comfort when dealing with chronic illnesses other’s don’t understand. We offer one you can feel at home in.

Years ago I had an RSD Support Group at MySpace. At the time it was one of the largest support group for RSD/CRPS there. As MySpace went through its changes and removing some features, I went to work as a volunteer Support Leader for MD Junction at the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Support Forum. I’ve been a Leader there since 2009 and second to the top in seniority.

Since I lost my group at MySpace, I waited to create another of my own until I felt confident with the venue I would decide to hold it at. Since millions of people are on Facebook for various reasons I chose to create it there since there are several options available and a very large and spread out community of pain patients.

Less than a year ago I created the RSD(S)-CRPS Advisory Info & Support Group. I was slow on the start up since within a week of creating it, I ended up in a severe and long lasting flare up. The Group is doing well and growing at a steady pace.

This time I am not running solo. In the past I’ve been an advocate and spokesperson for RSD/CRPS, promoting, advertising, endless hours of research, writing essays and articles, sharing accurate information, staying updated, maintaining my website etc the best that I could. All by myself. It’s really hard. At least for me these last couple of years. I’m in my 11th year of CRPS. My energy is minimal.

Now I have someone to work with me. And currently we’re both working on fundraising and awareness projects for the Power of Pain Foundation as a team and in conjunction with our group. My Co Administrator Wanda will be raising awareness via 2 Expo’s and I’ll be doing so by holding a balloon release project.

We’re also supporting the POPF via Causes. Our page is called “Help the Power of Pain Foundation Assist Those with RSD/CRPS & Other Neuropathic Pain Conditions”

Our group is devoted to the support and guidance of RSD/CRPS patients, family and friends of.

Our mission is to teach and be taught…

…It’s our hope to educate and learn.

We’re a family oriented group. Caring and compassionate. Stop by and take a peek. We would love to have you join us and become part of our online family.

We have a Wonderful Co Administrator (Wanda) and Great Group Leader’s. Our discussions include pain management, the pain we endure on a daily basis, medications, alternative methods of pain control, the use of vitamins and supplements, depression, biofeedback, cognitive beliefs, coping strategies, flare up protocols, clinical trials, various therapies and techniques, meditation, yoga, the use of distraction and modalities, physical therapy, each other and so much more.

We also allow you to share other RSD/CRPS related information sites, books, videos, including your own website, blog, foundation, organization, or media pages. This is for the purpose of spreading further awareness and information around the web and hopefully off also.

All we ask is that you don’t spam us.

We would also be thankful if you shared us with others as well.

Click on our banner above to go to our website

Hope to meet you in our Support Group!

Wishing you pain eased days and nights,

~Twinkle

Faces of Pain Video 5 by the Power of Pain Foundation

Posted by twinklev

The Power of Pain Foundation is a 501(C)(3) Non Profit Charity dedicated to the heath and welfare of patients and caregivers struggling with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy RSD, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome CRPS and other Neuropathic Illnesses such as Diabetic Neuropathy and Post Cancer Pain.

There are 10 million people diagnosed with RSD/CRPS in the U.S. alone. This is a chronic, painful, debilitating and often progressive autoimmune and neurological disorder that affects the Sympathetic Nervous System and the network of nerves along the spinal cord that send messages to the brain.

These are the faces of survivor’s

This video was produced by Twinkle and Kurtis VanFleet of RSD(S)-CRPS Advisory

The POPF and the Living with HOPE Radio Show

Posted by twinklev

Great news!

The Power of Pain Foundation (POPF) and Barby Ingle are now sponsoring the Living with HOPE Radio Show with your Host Trudy Thomas.

Trudy’s goal is to promote awareness for the millions of people who struggle with chronic pain daily. To let people know they are not alone in their struggle and that there is life after diagnosis. Trudy discusses various therapies and the emotional turmoil of having a chronic incurable condition such as
RSD/CRPS and coming out on the other side.

People often times wonder where the money goes that they donate to an organization or foundation.

The Power of Pain Foundation is a 501(C)(3) non profit charity. All donations are tax deductible.

We’re passionately promoting the Power of Pain Foundation so they can continue to serve patients and caregivers dealing with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Post Cancer Pain, Diabetic Neuropathy and other painful neuropathic conditions. Our fundraising page exists in an effort to help serve their the cause.

Beneficiaries include patients who are economically and socially affected by these invisible diseases. The POPF will help you face the challenges and life changes of chronic nerve pain, head on.

Donations are also used to serve the public in order to promote RSD/CRPS, Neuropathic and Chronic Pain awareness via Radio and other media. The sponsorship of the Living with HOPE radio show will serve that purpose.

~Twinkle V.

Living With HOPE | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

Posted by twinklev

Living With HOPE | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio.

Promoting Awareness- Your thoughts and stories welcome.

Posted by twinklev

In the effort to promote awareness, resources and information regarding Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, aka, RSD, RSDS and CRPS these sites have been created so that understanding might come from them.
RSD Advisory and RSD Advisor are mirror dot.com sites

www.RSDAdvisor.com and www.RSDAdvisory.com

Here at RSD Advisory-WordPress you can leave comments, add your own stories, and tell the world of anything you might like to add. Just add it to the comment area of this post or one of the blogs that best fits you.

Thank you for supporting my passion to promote education, to date there is still no cure.

Best of wishes to you all

~twinkle/ellaj

Major Depression

Posted by twinklev

Major Depression
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/major.htm

This is the most severe category of depression. In a major depression, more of the symptoms of depression are present, and they are usually more intense or severe. A major depression can result from a single traumatic event in your life, or may develop slowly as a consequence of numerous personal disappointments and life problems. Some people appear to develop the symptoms of a major depression without any obvious life crisis causing it. Other individuals have had less severe symptoms of depression for a long time (such as Dysthymic disorder), and a life crisis results in increased symptom intensity.

Major depression can occur once, as a result of a significant psychological trauma, respond to treatment, and never occur again within your lifetime. This would be a single episode depression. Some people tend to have recurring depression, with episodes of depression followed by periods of several years without depression, followed by another episode, usually in response to another trauma. This would be a recurrent depression. In general, the treatment is similar, except that treatment usually is over a longer time period for recurrent depression.

Professional debate continues regarding whether some people develop “endogenous depression” without any identified psychological causes. An endogenous depression is a biologically caused depression, due presumably to either genetic causes or a malfunction in the brain chemistry. But, all depression involves some changes in brain chemistry, even when the cause is clearly a psychological trauma. After psychological treatment and recovery from depression, the brain chemistry returns to normal, even without medication. To date, there is no hard research evidence to support the notion of endogenous depression. Sometimes this term is used to describe people who do not respond well to treatment, and sometimes it is a rationale to prescribe medication alone, and not to offer any psychological treatment for the depression. In general, the majority of people who require antidepressant medication for their depression respond to treatment better when psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, is provided in addition to the medication. Medication treats the symptoms of depression, and is often a vital part of the treatment program, but it is essential to treat the psychological problems that caused the depression.

Research has shown that cognitive therapy is the best treatment for depression, as compared to medication and other forms of psychotherapy. However, many people respond better to a combination of medication and cognitive therapy. It does not make sense to only prescribe medication, without offering psychotherapy as well, because of the added benefits shown in research studies. There are some people who respond positively to psychotherapy, but plateau at a mild level of depression, without complete recovery from all of the symptoms. Often, these individuals are maintained on antidepressant medication after they have completed psychological treatment. Remember, only physicians are qualified to prescribe medication. Your psychologist will refer you to your primary care physician, or to a psychiatrist, for a medication evaluation, if it appears to be indicated.

Symptoms of Depression
A Major Depression is marked by a combination of symptoms that occur together, and last for at least two weeks without significant improvement. Symptoms from at least five of the following categories must be present for a major depression, although even a few of the symptom clusters are indicators of a depression, but perhaps not a major depression.

Persistent depressed, sad, anxious, or empty mood
Feeling worthless, helpless, or experiencing excessive or inappropriate guilt
Hopeless about the future, excessive pessimistic feelings
Loss of interest and pleasure in your usual activities
Decreased energy and chronic fatigue
Loss of memory, difficulty making decisions or concentrating
Irritability or restlessness or agitation
Sleep disturbances, either difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
Loss of appetite and interest in food, or overeating, with weight gain
Recurring thoughts of death, or suicidal thoughts or actions
This list is a guide to help you understand depression. It is not offered for you to diagnose yourself. If you have some of these symptoms, don’t focus on how many symptoms you have. Instead, talk to a psychologist about how you have been feeling, to see if he/she can help.

First Person Description of Major Depression
It takes the greatest effort to get out of bed in the morning.
I am tired all day, yet when night comes, sleep evades me.
I stare at the ceiling, wondering what has happened to my
life, and what will become of me. Nothing is getting done
at work. I have projects to complete, but I can’t think. I try
to focus on my work, and I get lost. I keep wondering when
the boss will discover how little I have accomplished. My wife
does not understand. She keeps telling me to “snap out of it.”
I’m irritable all the time, and yell at the kids, then I feel
terrible later. Nothing is fun any more. I can’t read, and the
music I used to enjoy so much does nothing for me. I am bored,
but I feel like doing nothing. There are times, when I’m alone,
that I think that life is hopeless and meaningless, and I can’t
go on much longer.

Sleep problems, difficulty with concentration, chronic fatigue, irritability, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities – the list of symptoms does not convey the despair of depression. When you feel lost, hopeless, and don’t know what to do, you might be depressed. Even if you have just a few of the symptoms of depression, talk to someone who can help, consult with a psychologist, and find out what can be done to help you change!
Differences Between Major Depression and Other Depressions
The differences between Major Depression and other depressions, such as bipolar depression, dysthymia, or reactive depression, are primarily intended for psychologists planning treatment, and are of less concern to the average person. When you review the list of symptoms for major depression, and you have four symptom clusters, instead of five, you should not ignore it or forget about it. There is no diagnosis of Moderate Depression, other than to call it “unspecified.” Instead, ask yourself this question: “Does the depression interfere with my life, my relationships, my productivity or my happiness?” If the answer is yes, then don’t wait, talk to a psychologist soon.

Reactive depression is called an Adjustment Disorder with depressed mood. This means that something traumatic occurred in your life, such as a relationship breakup, or loss of a job, and you became mildly to moderately depressed as a result. Psychological treatment can definitely help you to feel better, and will help you get your life back on track sooner, rather than later, but you can still manage okay. If a life crisis occurs and you develop symptoms of a major depression, then it is a major depression, even if it is also a reactive depression.

Dysthymic disorder is a chronic, low level depression, that continues for years. Occasionally, individuals with dysthymia also experience a major depression, when a life crisis occurs. If you are depressed all the time, even if only mildly depressed, you should consult with a psychologist. You don’t have to live your life in depression. Often, a person has been mildly depressed for years, and a crisis occurs, and he/she finally consults a psychologist. In such a case, the treatment will probably take longer, because of the chronic depression underneath the major depression.

Depression, not otherwise specified, is a category used by psychologists when the symptoms do not fit neatly into one of the other categories. For example, a person has been mildly depressed for a long time, but not long enough to diagnose dysthymia. The specific pattern of symptoms and duration of symptoms will determine the proper psychological treatment.

Cyclothymic Disorder

Posted by twinklev

Cyclothymic Disorder
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section15/chapter189/189e.jsp

Less severe hypomanic and mini-depressive periods follow an irregular course, with each period lasting a few days. Cyclothymic disorder is commonly a precursor of bipolar II disorder. But it can also occur as extreme moodiness without being complicated by major mood disorders. In such cases, brief cycles of retarded depression accompanied by low self-confidence and increased sleep alternate with elation or increased enthusiasm and shortened sleep. In another form, low-grade depressive features predominate; the bipolar tendency is shown primarily by how easily elation or irritability is induced by antidepressants. In chronic hypomania, a form rarely seen clinically, elated periods predominate, with habitual reduction of sleep to < 6 h. Persons with this form are constantly overcheerful, self-assured, overenergetic, full of plans, improvident, overinvolved, and meddlesome; they rush off with restless impulses and accost people.

Although cyclothymic and chronic hypomanic dispositions contribute to success in business, leadership, achievement, and artistic creativity in some persons, they more often have serious detrimental interpersonal and social sequelae. Cyclothymic instability is particularly likely to be manifested in an uneven work and schooling history; impulsive, frequent changes of residence; repeated romantic or marital breakups; and an episodic pattern of alcohol and drug abuse.

Treatment
Patients should be taught how to live with the extremes of their temperamental inclinations, although living with cyclothymic disorder is not easy because of the resulting stormy interpersonal relations. Jobs with flexible hours are preferred. Patients with artistic inclinations should be encouraged to pursue such careers because the excesses and fragility of cyclothymia are better tolerated in such circles.

The decision to use a mood stabilizer depends on the balance between the functional impairment produced by unpredictable mood swings and the social benefits or creative spurts the patient may receive from hypomanic swings. Divalproex 500 to 1000 mg/day is better tolerated than equivalent doses of lithium. Antidepressants should be avoided because of the risk of switching and rapid cycling.

Dysthymic Disorder

Posted by twinklev

Dysthymic Disorder
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/dysthymic.htm

Dysthymic Disorder is characterized by chronic depression, but with less severity than a major depression. The essential symptom for dysthymic disorder is an almost daily depressed mood for at least two years, but without the necessary criteria for a major depression. Low energy, sleep or appetite disturbances and low self-esteem are usually part of the clinical picture as well.

People who have dysthymic disorder will often report that they don’t recall ever not feeling depressed, but they may be relatively functional in managing their life, although the symptoms are severe enough to cause distress and interference with important life role responsibilities. It is important to have a complete physical to rule out any physical illnesses that might be causing the depression. Also, if the person has a chronic medical condition that appears to be the cause for the depression (such as any chronic debilitating condition), then the correct diagnosis might be a Mood Disorder due to a general Medical Condition, even if all the criteria for dysthymic disorder are met. The question is whether the medical condition is physically causing the depression, rather than creating chronic psychological distress that is causing the depression.

Despite the long term nature of this type of depression, psychotherapy is effective in reducing the symptoms of depression, and assisting the person in managing his/her life better. Some individuals with dysthymic disorder respond well to antidepressant medication, in addition to psychotherapy, so an evaluation for medication may be appropriate. You should consult your psychologist if you have questions about treatment.

Identifying Dysthymic Disorder
Depression causes changes in thinking, feeling, behavior, and physical well-being.

Changes in Thinking – Many people experience difficulty with concentration and decision making. Some people report problems with short term memory, forgetting things all the time. Negative thoughts and thinking are characteristic of depression. Pessimism, poor self-esteem, excessive guilt, and self-criticism are all common. Some people have self-destructive thoughts during more serious depression.

Changes in Feelings – Many people report feeling sad for no reason. Others report that they no longer enjoy activities that they once found pleasurable. You might lack motivation, becoming more apathetic. You might feel “slowed down” and tired all the time. Sometimes irritability is a problem, and more difficulty controlling your temper. Often, dysthymic disorder leads to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

Changes in Behavior – You might act more apathetic, because that’s how you feel. Some people do not feel comfortable with other people, so social withdrawal is common. Some people experience a change in appetite, either eating more or less. Because of the chronic sadness, excessive crying is common. Some people complain about everything, and act out their anger with temper outbursts. Sexual desire may disappear, resulting in lack of sexual activity. In the extreme, people may neglect their personal appearance, even neglecting basic hygiene. Needless to say, someone who is this depressed does not do very much, so work productivity and household responsibilities suffer. Some people have trouble getting out of bed.

Changes in Physical Well-being – We already talked about the negative emotional feelings experienced during depression, but these are coupled with negative physical emotions as well. Chronic fatigue, despite spending more time sleeping is common. Some people can’t sleep, or don’t sleep soundly. These individuals lay awake for hours, or awaken many times during the night, and stare at the ceiling. Others sleep many hours, even most of the day, although they still feel tired. Many people lose their appetite, feel slowed down by depression, and complain of many aches and pains.

Now imagine these symptoms lasting for months. Imagine feeling this way almost all of the time. This may be dysthymic disorder, if several of these symptoms are present most of the time, for the past two years. Remember, all of the symptoms do not need to be present! Of course, it’s not a good idea to diagnose yourself. If you think you might be depressed, talk to a psychologist for a consultation. A licensed psychologist can assess whether you are depressed, and can determine the proper treatment for your depression. Remember, depression is treatable.

Treatment for Dysthymic Disorder
Psychotherapy is the treatment for choice for this psychological problem. Often, antidepressant medication is also recommended because of the chronic nature of the depression in Dysthymia. Psychotherapy is used to treat this depression in several ways. First, supportive counseling can help to ease the pain, and can address the feelings of hopelessness. Second, cognitive therapy is used to change the pessimistic ideas, unrealistic expectations, and overly critical self-evaluations that create the depression and sustain it. Cognitive therapy can help the depressed person recognize which life problems are critical, and which are minor. It also helps them to learn how to accept the life problems that cannot be changed. Third, problem solving therapy is usually needed to change the areas of the person’s life that are creating significant stress, and contributing to the depression. Behavioral therapy can help you to develop better coping skills, and interpersonal therapy can assist in resolving relationship conflicts.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Posted by twinklev

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body.

More than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, each with its own characteristic set of symptoms, pattern of development, and prognosis. Impaired function and symptoms depend on the type of nerves — motor, sensory, or autonomic — that are damaged. Some people may experience temporary numbness, tingling, and pricking sensations, sensitivity to touch, or muscle weakness. Others may suffer more extreme symptoms, including burning pain (especially at night), muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland dysfunction. Peripheral neuropathy may be either inherited or acquired. Causes of acquired peripheral neuropathy include physical injury (trauma) to a nerve, tumors, toxins, autoimmune responses, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, and vascular and metabolic disorders. Acquired peripheral neuropathies are caused by systemic disease, trauma from external agents, or infections or autoimmune disorders affecting nerve tissue. Inherited forms of peripheral neuropathy are caused by inborn mistakes in the genetic code or by new genetic mutations.

Is there any treatment?

No medical treatments exist that can cure inherited peripheral neuropathy. However, there are therapies for many other forms. In general, adopting healthy habits — such as maintaining optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a physician-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, correcting vitamin deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption — can reduce the physical and emotional effects of peripheral neuropathy. Systemic diseases frequently require more complex treatments.

What is the prognosis?

In acute neuropathies, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, symptoms appear suddenly, progress rapidly, and resolve slowly as damaged nerves heal. In chronic forms, symptoms begin subtly and progress slowly. Some people may have periods of relief followed by relapse. Others may reach a plateau stage where symptoms stay the same for many months or years. Some chronic neuropathies worsen over time, but very few forms prove fatal unless complicated by other diseases. Occasionally the neuropathy is a symptom of another disorder.

What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct research related to peripheral neuropathies in laboratories at the NIH and also support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current research projects funded by the NINDS involve investigations of genetic factors associated with hereditary neuropathies, studies of biological mechanisms involved in diabetes-associated neuropathies, and investigations exploring how the immune system contributes to peripheral nerve damage. Neuropathic pain is a primary target of NINDS-sponsored studies aimed at developing more effective therapies for symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Some scientists hope to identify substances that will block the brain chemicals that generate pain signals, while others are investigating the pathways by which pain signals reach the brain.

Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

Organizations

American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850
ACPA@pacbell.net
http://www.theacpa.org
Tel: 916-632-0922 800-533-3231
Fax: 916-632-3208

Neuropathy Association
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 942
New York, NY 10165-0999
info@neuropathy.org
http://www.neuropathy.org
Tel: 212-692-0662
Fax: 212-692-0668

Related NINDS Publications and Information

Chronic Pain: Hope Through Research
Chronic pain information page compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

The information provided here is in the public domain. My thanks to NINDS and the NIH for allowing it to be freely copied.

~twinkle/ellaj

Facing the Storm- Pain and Mental Illness by twinklev

Posted by twinklev

Facing the Storm
Pain and Mental Illness
by TwinkleEKV
Mental Health, a most fascinating area of study, but are all diagnosis’ correct? A diagnosis relies on symptoms, or should I say, for a doctor to give a diagnosis, he must rely on symptoms and underlying factors before making such a determination. Can a doctors determination of said illness be based simply on assumption? How about a pre conceived idea or notion that the symptoms are obvious to a specific illness or disorder? Perhaps you know someone that experiences mood swings, altered behavior, or sudden changes in personality with bouts of highs and lows without notable warnings and you probably never even see it coming. This seems to be a tell tale sign of a widely known and diagnosed disorder and before I mention it, many of you will already know where I’m heading.

Depression is defined as sadness, gloom, dejection. A condition of feeling sad or despondent. In Psychiatry it is defined as a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason. A disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death. Also called clinical depression. In Pathology, a low state of vital powers or functional activity.

Mania is defined as excessive excitement or enthusiasm; craze. An excessively intense enthusiasm, interest, or desire. In Psychiatry, manic disorder. A manifestation of bipolar disorder, characterized by profuse and rapidly changing ideas, exaggerated sexuality, gaiety, or irritability, and decreased sleep. Violent abnormal behavior. Insanity. Excitement of psychotic proportions manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood; specifically : the manic phase of bipolar disorder. An irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action. A mood disorder; an affective disorder in which the victim tends to respond excessively and sometimes violently.

Lets take a look at this again. Depression equals low and mania equals high. Common sense would lead us to believe that a “normal” mood would be at the center of both and in studying mental illness and Bipolar disorder, we would be correct. Imagine a pole, any pole, even a telephone pole. At the top is mania, in the middle is an even stabalized mood and at the bottom is depression.

Lets take a peek at hypomania. A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania, which generally does not impair a persons daily functioning and includes an enhanced mood and productivity.

A manic depressive is called Bipolar 1, the less severe form of Bipolar 1 is Bipolar 2, who’s characteristics include hypomania, instead of full blown manic episodes and then there is Unipolar, which by definition means that there is a depressive phase only.

Hmm! Wouldn’t that simply be depression? Lets review for a moment. Bi means two, Uni means 1. Bipolar 1 and 2 move up and down the pole, Unipolar means 1, it stays at the bottom. It’s said that mixed episodes do not exist in Bipolar 2, on the contrary, they do exist. It is but a mixed state of being, fluctuating, deflating and back again.

Have you wondered by chance where I might be going with all this? Let me introduce you to pain.

Pain is defined as physical suffering or distress, as due to injury illness, etc. A distressing sensation in a particular part of the body. Pain and ache usually refer to physical sensations (except heartache); agony and anguish may be physical or mental. Pain suggests a sudden sharp twinge. Agony implies a continuous, excruciating, scarcely endurable pain: in agony from a wound. Anguish suggests not only extreme and long-continued pain, but also a feeling of despair. A pang, twinge, stitch. afflict, torment; trouble, grieve. An unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder. Suffering or distress. A physical discomfort associated with bodily disorder (as disease or injury). A state of physical, emotional, or mental lack of well-being or physical, emotional, or mental uneasiness that ranges from mild discomfort or dull distress to acute often unbearable agony, may be generalized or localized, and is the consequence of being injured or hurt physically or mentally or of some derangement of or lack of equilibrium in the physical or mental functions (as through disease), and that usually produces a reaction of wanting to avoid, escape, or destroy the causative factor and its effects. Basic bodily sensation that is induced by a noxious stimulus, is received by naked nerve endings, is characterized by physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leads to evasive action. A symptom of some physical hurt or disorder. A somatic sensation of acute discomfort.

Now I’m going to propose a thought for others to think upon. When physical pain developes in a person, at some point emotional distress will take over. This is not an assumption, but fact. I don’t even need to get into information explaining the chemical imbalances that play a part in mental illness. Of course, it’s true. What I want to discuss is that when someone is in pain, acute, severe, mild to extreme, it takes so much energy inside ourselves that mental dilemma’s will develop. This can happen over a short period of time or a longer period of time. It might depend on strength, hope, the will to live, the ability to fight off the discomfort, attitude and a minimal level of stress. Stress increases pain, pain increases instability, instability creates lack of peace of mind. Thoughts of no longer wanting to live and exist expand and increase, however, there is a difference between suicidal ideation and suicidal intent.

On a good pain day the individual may have their high, creativity, feel happiness, smile and laugh, bounce around in a positive manner, demonstrate self esteem, feel excitement, desire, feel optimistic with the emotion that “no one can hold me back”. Mania?

On a bad pain day the person may feel hopeless, worthless, no longer have the will to live that they had on their “good pain day”. Lose hope, cry, feel agony, sadness, have no drive to get out of bed because either the physical pain or emotional pain has them beat. It is that the physical and emotional has grabbed them up once again. Depression?

On a so so day, he or she may feel fatigued, but flash a smile, hurt, but want to survive, their mood may be that of feeling “okay” considering what they endure through their day to day lives and hope flows through them. A stabalized mood? The center of that pole!

I am at the belief that pain is misunderstood and since many pain syndromes currently have no cure that many people are mis-diagnosed with a mental illness, namely Bipolar disorder as a means to justify that which cannot be accepted or explained.

I urge you all to think about this, I certainly do.

~twinkle/ellaj