Chia Moan's painting Shrinking World aims to shed light on the effects of living with severe and persistent pain. Moan was among artists who spoke to pain sufferers and says she remembers one patient who said she felt like Alice disappearing down the rabbit hole, with the opening at the top growing smaller and smaller.
Mr. Collen said the main goal of the exhibit is to raise awareness about the problem of chronic pain. However, he said he hopes one day to find a sponsor to take the exhibit on tour. “People don’t believe what they can’t see,” Mr. Collen said. “But they see a piece of art an individual created about their pain and everything changes.”
When your signals don't function properly you have to come up with new systems to get through the day. This is one I found very useful, it goes something like this: Don't forget to wee!
My creativity has been one of my main coping mechanisms through my chronic pain life. It's the place I go to feel free, release the steam, express my pain, and to get distracted to the point of pain! But it's worth it every time. There isn't a lot I can achieve with my capacity so one drawing, one painting over months, one post on my blog... anything, it's all worth it.
This shouldn't take too long to grasp but I understand it may take a little while to actually put it into motion... Not used to having help hey? Well I wasn't either, never needed any. But once I realised I could get more out of my day by learning "Yes please", it got easier to say it. In fact I ask for help now. I even leave things on the floor if its a bad day (just push it aside with my foot, it'll be dealt with later) because I realise it means more capacity to do other things and LESS PAIN. Of course this only applies if you have help...
It felt like a miracle and took all of about 15 minutes for the phsyiotherapist (at the chronic pelvic pain clinic at the Women's here in Melbourne Australia) to give me her French infused explanation that my pain was most probably coming from my Pudendal Nerve (yes, a name, I had a name!). It took another 15mins for her to put me in on my back (I never lay on my back as it was too painful) and apply a pressure/postural technique that switched my pain off! (Yes, OFF... calm, silence, stillness, roar gone, no spasm, quiet, peace)... unbelievable but this is true.
The most supported I've felt is when I've come across a practitioner who listens and wants to work with me specifically. I mean really take note of what's going on and [...]
I don't like the car... or other transport. I would be a passenger for a quick trip (cushions galore and my experienced husband driving) and wonder what all the pain was [...]
Oh how many times have I had an injection, operation, procedure, great massage, brilliant half an hour and instantly thought I would be back at work in [...]
