Your Stress and Your Pain - Closely Related

Did you know that Stress and Pain are so closely related they can be likened unto twin brothers (After all, females can't possibly be associated with pain or stress) Behind every cause of pain is a form of stress. Not convinced? Let me prove it to you.

Stressful Scenario #1

Your boss told you if you were late for work one more time, you'd be docked for pay. Of course your alarm clock didn't go off like you told it too (stupid clock) and you are now running to catch your bus. Running to the catch the bus down the hill you lose footing, fall and fracture your ankle. You are now in excruciating pain and find out after a 3 hour wait in the emergency room, that you have a stress fracture. The stress of putting pressure on your foot made your ankle give way and your bones couldn't handle it. You were initially under pressure (stress) to catch that bus so you wouldn't be late for work. You started off stress (slight pressure to be on time) and you ended up with more stress - pressure added to your flesh causing pain, more stress. OK, so maybe this scenario is a bit glum and extreme (entirely possible though)

How about a more common scenario:

You've been at work all day staring at a computer screen and you are now experiencing neck or back pain. Sitting in one position trying to accomplish many tasks and do a good job is now reflecting signs in your physical body. While a neck ache may not be as severe as a franctured bone, the reason the neck is hurting in the first place is because of stress applied to the muscles (sitting in one place for an extended period of time)

So, now that you see how closely stress and pain are related, what's the first thing you do when you are in pain? You seek some sort of relief right? Do you take a pill to make the pain go away? What if I told you there's a safer way to obtain stress relief? Hmm, well you are going to have to read this Sunday's post to find out the answer to that. I'm not trying to make you sweat here. I just want you to take some time to absorb what I just told you. Take a couple of days to examine your life and answer these 4 questions:

1. What type of stress am I under?
2. How do I handle pain?
3. Do I take medication more than once per week for pain?
4. Is it really safe for me to take medication for pain?
   

I'll be back in a couple of days to help you out with some of those answers. Until then....

Stress Less & Be Blessed