If you feel your pain is too painful, and you ignore it hoping it will vanish, think again. Any pain that isn't faced becomes more painful and lingers, sometimes forever, if not addressed.
So what to do? Face your pain. Look at it squarely in the eyes and beat it.
This is true. But some people don't know how to beat it, especially if life has trapped them in pain. One thing that works for me if facing a stressful or painful time, is talking it out with someone who cares enough to listen and be supportive. I also pray for guidance. If the answer is not simple, I will be led to my library, then to a book, including a specific page number, and often an exact paragraph. It's pretty amazing what can be derived from such help, and it's always liberating.
You have a point. I'd like to add that just by reaching out and talking to someone, or reading something helpful, is a way of facing the pain and working on processing it.
Yes. That's how I do it. Pain is uncomfortable, so whether one ruminates on how best to shed it or chooses to suffer through, you give them a good reason to face it. For many, there's no path forward out of pain—not everyone can manage to leave a bad situation, be it a war zone or a loveless marriage. Should they try, they could face deadly consequences. So in facing their pain, whichever method they use, they realize it's more prudent to be stoic, endure their suffering, and even rise above it.
That's all true. With regards to war zones and horrible scenarios such as those, it's difficult to face, but if there's no choice, accepting. That seems impossible to me. When I refer to pain, I was thinking more psychological pain. Maybe I should have been more specific. Being in a concentration camp or a war zone ... that's a whole other ball of wax.
Right. I'm referring to psychological pain as well—that terror of being trapped and unable to get away from a horrible person, gang violence, extreme poverty, or anything that puts you or your loved ones in danger. As you suggest, facing a painful reality is a necessity because it will bring clarity and hope. In doing so, even those in the worst predicaments may ultimately discover a way out of their impossible situation.
Living with unresolved pain can lead to all sorts of problems. It can destroy current relationships, along with your mental and physical health. One thing is for sure, you can't bury it and expect it not to surface at some point. Dealing with it can be painful, but not dealing with it is even worse.
It occurs to me that people who were raised with smartphones and other tech are essentially trained not to deal with pain and challenges head-on. The dopamine-seeking brain easily slides into the comfort of scrolling and gaming, keeping its pain perpetually on the back burner. The stunted emotional regulation that is often present in these brains makes for an even rockier path toward a resolution that may never come.
While going through the immense pain of a breakup, I didn't feel the least bit fortunate that my emotions were always front and center and couldn't be escaped. As hard as it was, I realized that if I could lose myself for hours on a smartphone, those emotions wouldn't be faced and processed healthily, and it's possible my healing may never have been fully realized.
Evangel
This is true. But some people don't know how to beat it, especially if life has trapped them in pain. One thing that works for me if facing a stressful or painful time, is talking it out with someone who cares enough to listen and be supportive. I also pray for guidance. If the answer is not simple, I will be led to my library, then to a book, including a specific page number, and often an exact paragraph. It's pretty amazing what can be derived from such help, and it's always liberating.
Sanatana
You have a point. I'd like to add that just by reaching out and talking to someone, or reading something helpful, is a way of facing the pain and working on processing it.
Evangel
Yes. That's how I do it. Pain is uncomfortable, so whether one ruminates on how best to shed it or chooses to suffer through, you give them a good reason to face it. For many, there's no path forward out of pain—not everyone can manage to leave a bad situation, be it a war zone or a loveless marriage. Should they try, they could face deadly consequences. So in facing their pain, whichever method they use, they realize it's more prudent to be stoic, endure their suffering, and even rise above it.
Sanatana
That's all true. With regards to war zones and horrible scenarios such as those, it's difficult to face, but if there's no choice, accepting. That seems impossible to me. When I refer to pain, I was thinking more psychological pain. Maybe I should have been more specific. Being in a concentration camp or a war zone ... that's a whole other ball of wax.
Evangel
Right. I'm referring to psychological pain as well—that terror of being trapped and unable to get away from a horrible person, gang violence, extreme poverty, or anything that puts you or your loved ones in danger. As you suggest, facing a painful reality is a necessity because it will bring clarity and hope. In doing so, even those in the worst predicaments may ultimately discover a way out of their impossible situation.
Slipstream
Living with unresolved pain can lead to all sorts of problems. It can destroy current relationships, along with your mental and physical health. One thing is for sure, you can't bury it and expect it not to surface at some point. Dealing with it can be painful, but not dealing with it is even worse.
Well Street
It occurs to me that people who were raised with smartphones and other tech are essentially trained not to deal with pain and challenges head-on. The dopamine-seeking brain easily slides into the comfort of scrolling and gaming, keeping its pain perpetually on the back burner. The stunted emotional regulation that is often present in these brains makes for an even rockier path toward a resolution that may never come.
While going through the immense pain of a breakup, I didn't feel the least bit fortunate that my emotions were always front and center and couldn't be escaped. As hard as it was, I realized that if I could lose myself for hours on a smartphone, those emotions wouldn't be faced and processed healthily, and it's possible my healing may never have been fully realized.