How I Healed
(from fibromyalgia and trauma-induced chronic pain)
(from fibromyalgia and trauma-induced chronic pain)
When I tell people about my recovery, they often inquire, “How did you heal?” That question cannot be answered in one or two sentences. Furthermore, the answer that I give is personalized to me. To get well, individuals have to navigate their own healing journey. If you suffer from chronic pain, your recipe for recovery may be quite different from mine.
My essential ingredients for becoming pain free follow. Do not let my long list overwhelm you. These are practices that I have employed over twenty-plus years. It is not humanly possible to do them all at once. Take the ideas that you like and leave the rest. Many of the recovery techniques remain embedded in my life, even now that it is relatively pain free.
My essential ingredients for becoming pain free follow. Do not let my long list overwhelm you. These are practices that I have employed over twenty-plus years. It is not humanly possible to do them all at once. Take the ideas that you like and leave the rest. Many of the recovery techniques remain embedded in my life, even now that it is relatively pain free.
Below are excerpts from How I Healed from Fibromyalgia and Trauma-Induced Chronic Pain, the longest essay in Knight's memoir. Purchase the book to read the full essay.
Excerpt from section entitled - Healthy Lifestyle Choices:
Sleep
Get enough sleep at night. I need nine hours per night. I probably always will.
I still have sleep problems and nightmares. It is my only current post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom. I have a special pillow, which I take with me wherever I go. I am extremely picky about mattresses when I travel. I call hotels prior to my stay to find out what kind of mattress they have..... (end of excerpt - more in book)
Healthy Eating
Alone in a twin bed, library books strewn around me, my body throbbing with sharp pain, I researched food recommendations for those suffering from fibromyalgia. The suggestions on what foods to eat and to avoid varied greatly. Some sources endorsed fish “twice weekly” while others forbade all sea food. But there were commonalities, which I followed. Drink plenty of water, eat lots of vegetables, avoid junk food, and gravitate toward whole foods instead of processed items. (more in book, including a couple of my easy recipes)
Exercise
I have never known anyone who healed from fibromyalgia without exercise. It was hard to exercise when my body was in constant pain, but I am glad that I made myself do so. When I was very sick, I attended an exercise class with people much older than me. I got great emotional support from them.
Excerpt from section entitled - Other Fun Activities:
Creativity
My pain used to be so bad that I did not want a long life. However, even with my worst pain, in the midst of writing something that I knew only I could write, I was happy, and I wanted to live forever. My creative life is something that I always will cherish. One of the essays in this memoir, “The Magic of Creativity,” gives a behind-the-scenes look at my filmmaking, writing, and other creative endeavors.
Excerpt from section entitled - Internal Realizations:
Healing as a Job
Healing is work, and the check really is in the mail! I had a breakthrough when I learned to consider my healing efforts as my part-time job. When I was in a lot of pain and became discouraged about not accomplishing more, I started a practice each night of listing how I had spent my day. I would give special focus to time invested in recov- ery-related activities. This drastically changed my expecta- tions for myself. I was happier when I finally realized that my body is my friend. If my body tells me I should slow down and relax more, I listen. I did not get a paycheck right away for my work on my own healing, but my good health is more valuable to me than any financial reward could ever be.
Dreams
Dream about a happy, healthy, productive future. I did, and my dreams came true
Excerpt from section entitled - Healthy Lifestyle Choices:
Sleep
Get enough sleep at night. I need nine hours per night. I probably always will.
I still have sleep problems and nightmares. It is my only current post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom. I have a special pillow, which I take with me wherever I go. I am extremely picky about mattresses when I travel. I call hotels prior to my stay to find out what kind of mattress they have..... (end of excerpt - more in book)
Healthy Eating
Alone in a twin bed, library books strewn around me, my body throbbing with sharp pain, I researched food recommendations for those suffering from fibromyalgia. The suggestions on what foods to eat and to avoid varied greatly. Some sources endorsed fish “twice weekly” while others forbade all sea food. But there were commonalities, which I followed. Drink plenty of water, eat lots of vegetables, avoid junk food, and gravitate toward whole foods instead of processed items. (more in book, including a couple of my easy recipes)
Exercise
I have never known anyone who healed from fibromyalgia without exercise. It was hard to exercise when my body was in constant pain, but I am glad that I made myself do so. When I was very sick, I attended an exercise class with people much older than me. I got great emotional support from them.
Excerpt from section entitled - Other Fun Activities:
Creativity
My pain used to be so bad that I did not want a long life. However, even with my worst pain, in the midst of writing something that I knew only I could write, I was happy, and I wanted to live forever. My creative life is something that I always will cherish. One of the essays in this memoir, “The Magic of Creativity,” gives a behind-the-scenes look at my filmmaking, writing, and other creative endeavors.
Excerpt from section entitled - Internal Realizations:
Healing as a Job
Healing is work, and the check really is in the mail! I had a breakthrough when I learned to consider my healing efforts as my part-time job. When I was in a lot of pain and became discouraged about not accomplishing more, I started a practice each night of listing how I had spent my day. I would give special focus to time invested in recov- ery-related activities. This drastically changed my expecta- tions for myself. I was happier when I finally realized that my body is my friend. If my body tells me I should slow down and relax more, I listen. I did not get a paycheck right away for my work on my own healing, but my good health is more valuable to me than any financial reward could ever be.
Dreams
Dream about a happy, healthy, productive future. I did, and my dreams came true
