A very interesting article. However... philosophy, while excellent for the mind and attitude, is often not grounded in science, nor should be a prescription for medical treatment of the physical body. Chronic pain, is one topic that "philosophy" should be VERY careful in discussing. Chronic pain is more than just a condition that can be treated with philosophy. Please keep in mind (from an AI generated source on the topic of how the body reacts to chronic pain):
Chronic pain can significantly impact the body by causing fatigue, disrupted sleep, decreased mobility, muscle tension, changes in appetite, impaired cognitive function, and can even lead to hormonal imbalances, all while significantly affecting a person's mental health, potentially causing depression, anxiety, and irritability due to the constant stress of pain.
Key effects of chronic pain on the body:
Physical effects:
Reduced range of motion and muscle weakness due to decreased activity
Tense muscles and muscle spasms
Fatigue and decreased energy levels
Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
Changes in appetite, potentially leading to weight gain or loss
Decreased immune system function
Hormonal imbalances, like decreased testosterone
Mental and emotional effects:
Depression and anxiety
Irritability and mood swings
Difficulty concentrating and cognitive impairment
Feeling of helplessness and hopelessness
Social isolation due to reduced activity levels
How chronic pain affects the body's systems:
Nervous system:
Chronic pain can lead to changes in the nervous system, causing increased sensitivity to pain signals, a phenomenon called central sensitization.
Endocrine system:
Chronic pain can disrupt hormone balance, potentially impacting stress hormones like cortisol and leading to imbalances in sex hormones like testosterone.
Immune system:
The constant stress of chronic pain can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections.
Brain Alterations:
Studies show that chronic pain can cause structural changes in the brain, impacting pain processing and contributing to mental health issues.
Those experiencing chronic pain should seek the advice and medical attention of certified health professionals.
Thank you for your comments. I did not intend to offer philosophy as a substitute for medical or related types of intervention. The article aims to help people cope with pain and reduce the intensity of pain and suffering, whether medical help is available or not.
Philosophy is a way of thinking, a framework to mentally face the circumstances of life. On many occasions, external help is necessary and, fortunately, many times there is someone with the knowledge and predisposition to help. But, many times, the will to face these adverse situations is equally necessary. That's where philosophy, the way of thinking, takes on its importance.
As anyone knows who has cared for a family member who chose to starve themself to death because of the huge amounts of pain they were in, this article is patent bollocks.
You can't ignore rheumatoid arthritis when it is literally eating your body away, and the slightest drift of cool air will trigger off horrific pain.
Have you had to sit with a loved one who can't be touched, because the cancer has crumbled their bones? Have you been in the same room when your mother asks the doctor if there is nothing he can do to release her from the agony? No, you can't have been, or you would never have written something this trite.
You have written better than this. You can write better than this. Please write better than this.
Pain has two components: the physical reality and our reactions to it. That's why some people (soldiers in combat, women during childbirth) can endure severe pain voluntarily. It is also true that some people can continue to work even through pain, while others find it difficult.
Barring severe cases where pain is truly excruciating (like those you describe), one can reduce the intensity of pain in many common situations by using one of the Stoics' techniques. This article does not suggest that all pain is psychological and that you can make everything go away.
Some of these suggestions come from Epicurus, who endured kidney stones, causing even urination to be extremely painful. He suffered from severe pain for an extended period.
I tried to write this article with care, hoping that some readers—not all—may find suggestions to help them reduce the suffering accompanying pain. No matter how it comes across, I never meant to minimize the reality of extreme pain. I've lived long enough to know otherwise.
A very interesting article. However... philosophy, while excellent for the mind and attitude, is often not grounded in science, nor should be a prescription for medical treatment of the physical body. Chronic pain, is one topic that "philosophy" should be VERY careful in discussing. Chronic pain is more than just a condition that can be treated with philosophy. Please keep in mind (from an AI generated source on the topic of how the body reacts to chronic pain):
Chronic pain can significantly impact the body by causing fatigue, disrupted sleep, decreased mobility, muscle tension, changes in appetite, impaired cognitive function, and can even lead to hormonal imbalances, all while significantly affecting a person's mental health, potentially causing depression, anxiety, and irritability due to the constant stress of pain.
Key effects of chronic pain on the body:
Physical effects:
Reduced range of motion and muscle weakness due to decreased activity
Tense muscles and muscle spasms
Fatigue and decreased energy levels
Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
Changes in appetite, potentially leading to weight gain or loss
Decreased immune system function
Hormonal imbalances, like decreased testosterone
Mental and emotional effects:
Depression and anxiety
Irritability and mood swings
Difficulty concentrating and cognitive impairment
Feeling of helplessness and hopelessness
Social isolation due to reduced activity levels
How chronic pain affects the body's systems:
Nervous system:
Chronic pain can lead to changes in the nervous system, causing increased sensitivity to pain signals, a phenomenon called central sensitization.
Endocrine system:
Chronic pain can disrupt hormone balance, potentially impacting stress hormones like cortisol and leading to imbalances in sex hormones like testosterone.
Immune system:
The constant stress of chronic pain can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections.
Brain Alterations:
Studies show that chronic pain can cause structural changes in the brain, impacting pain processing and contributing to mental health issues.
Those experiencing chronic pain should seek the advice and medical attention of certified health professionals.
Thank you for your comments. I did not intend to offer philosophy as a substitute for medical or related types of intervention. The article aims to help people cope with pain and reduce the intensity of pain and suffering, whether medical help is available or not.
Philosophy is a way of thinking, a framework to mentally face the circumstances of life. On many occasions, external help is necessary and, fortunately, many times there is someone with the knowledge and predisposition to help. But, many times, the will to face these adverse situations is equally necessary. That's where philosophy, the way of thinking, takes on its importance.
As anyone knows who has cared for a family member who chose to starve themself to death because of the huge amounts of pain they were in, this article is patent bollocks.
You can't ignore rheumatoid arthritis when it is literally eating your body away, and the slightest drift of cool air will trigger off horrific pain.
Have you had to sit with a loved one who can't be touched, because the cancer has crumbled their bones? Have you been in the same room when your mother asks the doctor if there is nothing he can do to release her from the agony? No, you can't have been, or you would never have written something this trite.
You have written better than this. You can write better than this. Please write better than this.
Pain has two components: the physical reality and our reactions to it. That's why some people (soldiers in combat, women during childbirth) can endure severe pain voluntarily. It is also true that some people can continue to work even through pain, while others find it difficult.
Barring severe cases where pain is truly excruciating (like those you describe), one can reduce the intensity of pain in many common situations by using one of the Stoics' techniques. This article does not suggest that all pain is psychological and that you can make everything go away.
Some of these suggestions come from Epicurus, who endured kidney stones, causing even urination to be extremely painful. He suffered from severe pain for an extended period.
I tried to write this article with care, hoping that some readers—not all—may find suggestions to help them reduce the suffering accompanying pain. No matter how it comes across, I never meant to minimize the reality of extreme pain. I've lived long enough to know otherwise.