Slightly Unhinged

Since I began dealing with chronic pain several years ago, I’ve done a great deal of reading on the subject.  While there is an abundance of material available, I rarely come across advice that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the complexity of the problem while also being genuinely insightful.  Today I was fortunate enough to come across a site that met this criteria:  Overcoming Pain by Australian psychologist Mark Grant.  Grant has spent more than 20 years treating sufferers of pain and he has drawn on this experience to develop some helpful resources for both chronic pain sufferers and their families.  His Ten Steps to Overcoming Chronic Pain offers practical advice on how to mentally cope with the condition and take a proactive approach to managing the physical and emotional symptoms.  For those who have a loved one with a chronic pain condition, Grant offers Ten Tips for Communicating with a Person Suffering from Chronic Pain.  These tips help families to understand the many ways chronic pain affects both the body and mind as well as provide advice on avoiding many of the common problems in communication with a chronic pain sufferer.  Through all of his writing, Grant demonstrates a level of understanding and sensitivity that is rarely seen in healthcare providers or mental health professionals.  If you or someone you love is dealing with chronic pain, I highly recommend that you check out his site.