Tending to Chronic Pain by Jess Jackson (she/her)

Gentle Nudges + Keeping Up

softpathhealing — 2021-02-07 19:40:04 UTC

From Kayden in our group: "I would LOVE to hear how folks are lovingly keeping themselves up to date and engaged with the lessons (according to their own timelines) I think I could use some community tips on how to gently nudge myself!"

Engaging with this group!

softpathhealing — 2021-02-08 00:48:23 UTC

Here is a space for us to engage with one another and share resources. There is NO PRESSURE to engage here (and the weekly wonder forms are still very much open and happening), but you are absolutely welcome to if you'd like.

A few things to note for our space:
1. No hate speech of any kind.
2. No unsolicited advice, please. Unless someone asks for advice, let's not go there.
3. Since it's the internet, and we're maybe not able to co-regulate and sense body language and other very human things, let's assume best intent and ask questions when we're not sure about someone's intention.

A note on resources

softpathhealing — 2021-02-08 00:57:47 UTC

I'll be compiling all of our resources into a beautiful bundle at the completion of our course.

Wanna connect with our group? You can do so here!

softpathhealing — 2021-02-08 06:03:14 UTC

Letters to our nervous systems

2021-02-09 06:18:22 UTC

Hello! This is Kayden and I'm wondering if folks would like to share the letters they wrote to their bodies/nervous systems? A no pressure suggestion--brought this up just in case folks wanted to share and gently nudge themselves to re-center in their course progress. <3

Hi!

arigurl — 2021-02-11 22:21:17 UTC

I'm Arraine and I don't really know what to say, but I wanted to break the ice for anyone who also doesn't know what to say.
So, what's the most interesting thing that's come up for you so far in the course?

Hi! A little about me...

rachelbeyer — 2021-02-14 20:07:47 UTC

Tuning in from Portland, OR. I'm a Leo sun/ Scorpio Moon/ Taurus Rising. I'm 8 years into my chronic pain journey and have to say it has completely transformed the course of my life. It showed up for me out of the blue in 2013. I spent the first few years in constant and excruciating (neck and shoulder) pain and really fought against it and searched for external explanations/ quick fixes (doctors could not find any reason for the pain, though I was eventually diagnosed with Myofascial Pain Syndrome in 2015). It was only after other parts of my life (relationships and jobs) started to fall apart that I finally began to surrender and slowly reorient my life towards a path of healing. A big part of my healing process has been awakening, unlearning, and shedding the false sense of self and harmful patterns/ behaviors/beliefs I learned for survival during my childhood and early adulthood.

Over the course of many years (and with the help of psychotherapy, bodywork, tarot, astrology, etc.) I've become much more intimate with my body and all her forms (spiritual, mental, emotional, physical). Through this process I discovered/remembered that I am both a highly sensitive and empathic person, which was completely shut down by my childhood experiences of trauma and abuse. Reclaiming this part of myself has been a huge step in my healing journey and has changed the way I interact with my body, my chronic pain, my friends/family and with the world.

I would love to "wonder" more with you all about the connection between high sensitivity, empathic/psychic ability, and chronic pain. And how to hold and navigate that while living through this collective time of great uncertainty and trauma.

If you can't tell already, I have a tendency to over-share. So if you've read this far, thank you!

The circle prompt

arigurl — 2021-02-18 18:17:52 UTC

The circle prompt in the gentle nudge this week was weirdly intense and wonderful for me, and I'd love to know if anyone else had a similar experience and how they responded, if you feel comfortable sharing. Here's mine: I IMMEDIATELY saw myself curled up against the side of the circle on the inside, comfortably lounging and supported by it. The circle felt a little too big and empty and also supportive and comforting. It also felt kind of isolating, but like that isolation was protective. What an excellent prompt.

softpathhealing — 2021-02-20 01:56:10 UTC

Arraine, your share also brought to mind this piece of art by Michelle Marie of Dancey Pants Disco.

Hi!

2021-02-23 18:06:32 UTC

Hi! I'm Almon

Warm hello

almondlinden — 2021-02-23 18:15:41 UTC

Hi folx, my name is Almond (she/her). I'm a fibromyalgia babe, a PCOS witch & a C-PTSD human. I don't remember ever not being in pain. I started competitive dance at the age of 5 and pain/pushing our bodies was always part of the game. When I stopped dancing at 15 when a big trauma happened, the pain continued. It was only last year when my mobility really decreased, that a physiotherapist took me seriously and told me something was wrong. I stopped gaslighting myself and started the process of wellness/healing/idk what word fits best.

I recently moved to the country-side. Being in a city brought my pain to a peak and my intuition has been calling me to the forest for so many years. I'm all flared up with the physical challenges that come from moving, but popping into the forest every day is already feeling right.

I'm in Canada, I'm a Pisces Rising/ Leo Sun/ Aquarius Moon. A sex educator & I really just wanna make tinctures and cry under the stars.