sense of self, the illusion that we are in charge and independent.” In the face of that humility, she says, those who call on and believe in something bigger than themselves can find that they do have the resources to get through a ter- rible illness or tragedy. Being forced to tap into our inner
strength can sometimes actually im- prove our lives. A 2009 study at the University of Cincinnati found that nearly one-third of HIV patients said their lives had gotten better since their diagnosis—a belief that correlated to having a strong sense of spirituality or religious belief. Those findings back up 2007 research in the Journal of the American Medical Association in which three-quarters of physicians said that they thought religion and spirituality helped patients cope and encouraged a positive state of mind. F. Michael Fer- rante, M.D., director of the Pain Man- agement Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, sees that ev- eryday. “It often takes us being hopeless and helpless before we reconnect with our spirituality,” he says. “Then we find some meaning in the pain, and it gives us hope. If you have no context of a greater being, pain can absorb your soul and consume you.”
Finding Meaning That doesn’t mean it’s always easy to get the lesson from debilitating dis- comfort, of course. Suzanne Strisower, 55, of Oroville, California, had two ter- rible car accidents in her twenties that left her with a broken back—and a lot of anger. “I figured there was no God,” she says. “If there were, why would He let these things happen?” Then one day she literally heard a voice in her head. “It told me that it couldn’t save me a third time,” she says. That message, from what Strisower calls the Great Spirit, started her on a long journey of spiritual seeking. “I learned by taking workshops, doing bodywork [like mas- sage], meditating, all kinds of things that I needed to get rid of fear—and to clean up my part in things,” she says.
Spirituality can help you find meaning in your pain, and it can give you hope.
Starting a Spiritual Practice
If you’re ready to begin a spiri- tual practice, follow these simple steps: 1. Turn off anything that could interrupt or distract you (phone, e-mail, TV) and find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for a few minutes. 2. Set a timer for 3 minutes. When 3 minutes becomes a snap, set the clock for 5 min-
utes. Keep increasing the time by 5 minutes as it gets easier. 3. Sit or lie down in a position that is comfortable for you and close your eyes. 4. Become aware of your breath, both the inhalations and exhalations. Try to slow your breathing down slightly, but not so that it feels uncom- fortable. If it helps you to stay
Today, Strisower’s days include regular “check-ins” with the Great Spirit— while she’s driving, through dreams, an e-mail, by asking directly or during meditation. “I am always listening and [find] that messages and insight can come in many different forms.” Best of all, Strisower is now pain-free and liv- ing a full and meaningful life. The road to finding a purpose in
having a serious illness, or simply deal- ing with daily pain, is rarely a smooth one. But for those who hurt, starting or deepening their spiritual life may offer a sense of control and focus when
focused, count your breaths from 1 to 10, then repeat. 5. Feel the inhalations bringing positive energy inside you. With each exhalation, release whatever is blocking you: pain, anxiety, depression, fear or stress. If you get distracted (that’s normal), simply come back to your breath and resume counting slowly and easily.
the physical body makes it hard to have either. Rachel Lozano feels extremely blessed to have found meaning in her experiences so far: “I have a sense I am being watched over, by God and also by my friends who have passed away,” she says. “I am very much aware that I am still here, against so many odds, and that my job is to make the best life I can and to help others.” PR cary barbor is a health writer based in New York City.
For books on how to start a spiritual practice visit painresource.com.