How I climbed out of the chronic pain and addiction spiral
Pain got you down? I get it.
My battle with pain began when I was in my teens. I suffered with horrible pelvic pain and was diagnosed with Endometriosis at 15. By age 16 I underwent my first (of many) surgeries to try and stop the pain and spread of the disease. But, with every surgery came a new complication, more pain, worsening scar tissue, and depression. By the time I was 20, I was taking prescription narcotics on a daily basis with a handful of other meds to help me get through each day. I was unable to see a way out. It was DARK. There was no light and no hope. I was willing to try anything to not have a hysterectomy.
Each year the pain worsened and spread. I felt like someone was standing INSIDE my body and jumping up and down on my pelvis. The pressure was immense. My back began flaring up with muscle spasms and my legs shot nerve pains from my back to my feet and I ached deep down in my bones. It never let up. It just didn’t. I began spiraling down with depression and anxiety, which created more tension and physical pain.
I tried all sorts of things to help alleviate the pain, but mainly I just scarfed down a TON of pills and had surgeries. Every doctor I saw had another prescription for me to fill and with each med came a new side effect. Many times the side effects were worse than the pain! Thank goodness I found my way out, but it wasn’t easy.
By the end of 2002, I was taking over a hundred of pills per day. Yes, you read that right.
Here’s a list of the MANY drugs I was prescribed.
Opiates: Hydrocodone, Oxycontin, Norco, Fentanyl, Vicodin, Lortab.
Muscle Relaxants: Flexeril, Soma.
Benzodiazapenes: Xanax, Klonipin, Valium.
AntiDepressants: Prozac, Zoloft.
Sedatives: Ambien,Trazadone.
Anti-Seizure:
Steroid Injections:
OTC: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aleve
Mind-boggling, isn’t it? So, in an effort to stop taking all of these medications, I scheduled a hysterectomy and set out to adopt a baby. Within a year I had accomplished both! I thought that the excitement and love of my new child would overcome any pain I might feel. Boy was I wrong. The overwhelming demands of being a new mom while trying to recover from drug dependency and chronic pain (yeah, it still wasn’t gone!) became too much to bear and I finally hit bottom in 2003.
I found my way out….
It wasn’t easy. It didn’t happen overnight. It’s not for the faint of heart.
But, IT IS POSSIBLE!
I turned my life around by:
Completing an inpatient treatment program for addiction (proper detox and recovery)
Participating in 12 step recovery/support groups
Educating myself about holistic health
Hiring a new physician that supported my wishes for natural treatments
Eating clean – food is our very best medicine
Getting adequate rest and sleep
Making wellness a priority – regular massage therapy and chiropractic care
Exercising daily (yoga, walking, swimming)
Using LOTS of essential oils
Using mindfulness techniques
Praying and meditating – enlarging my spiritual life
I learned that:
The body is designed to heal naturally
The mind, body, and spirit are all connected
Identifying and dealing with the root cause is KEY
Let your breath untie the knots in your body and mind.
-Marie-Francoise Mariette
It used to be a full time job – a life sentence, but it’s not anymore.
Here’s how I climbed out of the chronic pain
and addiction spiral.
Essential oils for Musculoskeletal Support (used topically)
I’ve learned how to listen to my body and take care of myself.
Aroma Siez
Copaiba
Cool Azul Pain Relief Cream
CBD Muscle Rub
Deep Relief Roll On
OrthoEase or OrthoSport
PanAway
Peppermint
Relieve It
Wintergreen
Essential Oils for Emotional Support (used topically and inhaled/diffused)
When addressing emotional pain, it’s best to diffuse or inhale essential oils as this stimulates the Limbic System in the brain which is the seat of our emotions. I’m not sure who coined the phrase, “Deal with the ISSUES in your TISSUES,” but I love it and it rings true for me. Here’s video if you’d like to learn more.
Frankincense
The Feelings Kit Collection / Protocol
Lemon
Peace and Calming
Release
Stress Away
Valor
Essential Oils for Rest and Recovery (used topically or inhaled/diffused)
Cedarwood
Lavender
RutaVaLa
Tranquil Roll On
It’s important for me to follow a bedtime routine. I like to bathe in a mixture of essential oils and Epsom salts, then apply my oils (layer or mix with a carrier oil/lotion). I always diffuse a blend to help me relax and nod off, too!
The YL supplements are super SPECIAL! They are infused with essential oils which increase absorption rate by 86% in one hour! These are my top THREE for supporting my body.
AgilEase - combines Frankincense, collagen, Wintergreen, Copaiba, Clove and Northern Lights Black Spruce to support and protect joint and cartilage health as well as the body’s response to acute inflammation.
Ningxia Red - energizes, fortifies, and replenishes the body/mind, overall immune support
BLM™ - supports normal bone and joint health.* This formula combines powerful natural ingredients, such as type II collagen, MSM, glucosamine sulfate, and manganese citrate, enhanced with therapeutic-grade essential oils. These ingredients have been shown to support healthy cell function and encourage joint health and fluid movement.*
Chiropractic Care
Regular chiropractic treatments have been such a life-saver for me. I highly recommend finding a good one in your area, not only for yourself, but for your whole family.
Massage Therapy
Raindrop Technique – balances energy, lifts spirits and reduces stress, calms troubled mind, reduces inflammation, supports immune system, relaxes stressed muscles, relieves body of bone and joint discomfort.
Deep Tissue – realigns deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue.
MyoFascial Release – releases muscle tightness and pressure
Check your area for someone trained in the above techniques. I’ve had wonderful experiences with all three approaches and continue to incorporate them into my regimen.
Daily Exercise
Walking and swimming – low impact and easy to do, helps build both strength and cardiovascular fitness
Yoga – improves flexibility, strength, and awareness for body, mind, and spirit
“Yoga as a tradition also makes the distinction between pain and suffering. Pain is an emotional or physical hurt, whereas suffering is how our mind reacts to the pain. Since our mental reaction to pain and suffering can add to our experience of chronic pain, the practice of Yoga provides a framework to develop a new relationship with our painful body as it helps to cultivate steadiness, ease, acceptance and compassion.
As a complete mind-body system, Yoga offers practices for reducing stress, releasing muscular tension, coping with difficult emotions and for training the mind to be less reactive to painful sensations. Unlike pain pills, which can often become less effective over time, Yoga becomes more effective over time as it creates profound changes to the body, nervous system and well-being. In addition to this, a carefully set up Yoga practice is unlikely to intervene with other pain treatments and the side effects of Yoga are almost always POSITIVE. Yoga is likely to make you feel happier, healthier, stronger, more flexible and relaxed and more effective in your life.”
Yoga has been one of the most important components to my healing of mind, body, and spirit from chronic pain, depression, anxiety and addiction. Yoga meets you where you are. Let’s work together to bring yoga into your life!
Mindfulness/Meditation
“Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health, and these benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may improve certain medical conditions. When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.” Mayo Clinic
I work with adults and children to help them incorporate mindfulness practices into their everyday lives. I'd love to help you get started!
Aroma Freedom Technique
This technique was developed by Dr. Benjamin Perkus to help uncover emotional blocks to achieving a goal. I am a certified practitioner and have witnessed amazing results with this simple process. I can work with you in person or on online!
Take the first step
If you are ready to manage your pain naturally start slowly. I recommend starting with a walk around the block, purchasing your essential oils, and reading one of the books I mentioned. Make a commitment to yourself to try something new each day. Change happens slowly, but it CAN happen. I’m living proof. I am here to help! Please contact me and we can work together. I offer one on one education and support either in person or online. If you aren’t sure where to start, let’s chat!
Other Resources:
Essential Oil Desk Reference, Life Science Publishers
Stop Pain Vijay Vad, MD
You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay
Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils, Dr. Carolyn Mein
Feelings Buried Alive Never Die, Carol Truman
10 Mindful Minutes, Goldie Hawn
The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle
The Yoga Journal Online www.yogajournal.com