Keep on journaling as long as your discomfort does not become overwhelming. Relaxing your body and breathing as you journal helps you to not be overwhelmed by your pain.

Expressing the discomfort and emotions that you find can be healing.

If you encounter physical discomfort or painful emotions, write down how you feel or how the emotions sound. You can express these in different ways by writing things like,

“Owwwwwwww!” or “Wahhhhhhhhhhh!” or “It hurts!”

Express your discomfort through what you write on your paper. A useful journaling technique is writing with the hand you normally do not write with, which is your non-dominant hand. Let it be big or messy or scribbly if that matches how you feel.

Stop at any time if you are in too much pain or get too fatigued. If you can, keep writing until you express most or all of your discomfort. In addition to journaling, you can express your discomfort through your voice.

Voicing your discomfort and uncomfortable emotions also helps to heal your chronic pain.
If journaling is difficult or does not work well for you, you can express your discomfort through words or sounds. Instead of writing, “Owwwwwwwwww!” you can yell it out. Let your discomfort shape and express through the sound of your voice. Voicing, even if it feels awkward, helps to uncover and release what is at the core of your chronic pain.

Many adults do not feel comfortable making loud sounds or expressing their pain. However, this can create a build-up of repressed pain and emotion that ultimately produces ever more pain.

Many fibromyalgia patientshave difficulty allowing themselves to feel their painful emotions. You may think that expressing emotions will lead you to get out of control. But with the proper guidance and support, you can find safe and healthy ways to feel and express your painful emotions with or without medications. Expressing your pain can reduce your discomfort dramatically.

It’s pointless to try to stop an erupting volcano. Allowing yourself to sense and express your thoughts, uncomfortable sensations, and painful emotions prevents the pressure from building up in the first place. You can actually dissipate your pain through writing or giving voice to it.

Gregory Lee is a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, and a Master Sufi Healer. He is co-founder of the Two Frogs Healing Center in Frederick, Maryland. For more information, go to www.twofrogscenter.com/.

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This article was originally published in FMOnline. This free online newsletter is only available to registered members. Click here to register!
 
View other articles in vol. 10, no. 7 of FMOnline:
 
In the Spotlight
Why Psychotherapy?
Natural Pain Relief
Fibromyalgia and Meditation

In the News
In the Gut—Or in the Brain?
Spit Treatment

Artículos en Español
Alivio Natural del Dolor