You are on page 1of 3

1.

Spiritual Pain
Palliative care recognizes a complex relationship between physical pain (and
other symptoms) and emotional and spiritual suffering
Physical pain itself can be exacerbated by non-physical causes such as fear
anxiety grief unresolved guilt depression and unmet spiritual needs
!i"ewise the inability to manage physical pain well can be due to emotional or
spiritual issues
Persons may refuse pain medication due to fear or because they wish to be alert to
interact with loved ones or because they believe they deserve to suffer
#nrelieved physical pain among other symptoms may itself cause emotional or
spiritual suffering
$inally some emotional or spiritual suffering % especially in certain cultures %
may manifest itself as physical pain or other physical maladies
Spiritual influences on physical pain
Spiritual framewor"s and religious traditions influence how persons interpret and
experience physical pain
&ow mind body and spirit are understood in relationship to each other and in
some cases in relationship to a deity or deities is important to understand
#sually this framewor" is broader to include suffering of all "inds whether its
cause is physical or due to other causes
'xamples (
)ultural interpretations of pain and suffering may conflict with goals of palliative
care
Sometimes these cultural and religious interpretations of pain and suffering can
conflict with the stated goal of palliative care( to relieve pain and suffering
*his is why a holistic interdisciplinary assessment of pain is necessary
Plans to manage pain pharmacologically often fail or patients do not comply with
these plans when the larger spiritual framewor" is not ade+uately understood and
integrated into the plan of care
Spiritual practices may help in the management of physical pain
,ncreasingly medical staff recognize the palliative nature of religious and spiritual
practices
Some practices that have been proven to help in the management of physical pain
include(
Prayer
-elaxation techni+ues
)hanting
-itual cleansing
.cts of atonement
Shamanic treatments
.cupuncture
&erbal remedies
Spiritual pain and suffering may be caused by physical pain and other symptoms
!oss of personhood
/espair
$eelings of abandonment by 0od
-e+uests for assisted suicide
.ssessment should include attention to spiritual suffering when pain is identified
1nce the physical pain is better managed the interdisciplinary team should
explore whether there is any spiritual pain remaining
Spiritual pain and suffering not caused by physical pain or other physical
symptoms is common for persons with life-limiting illnesses and for their families
*he "nowledge that a person is dying may evo"e(
.nger
!oss of hope and meaning
Shame or guilt
0rief
$ear
. holistic pain assessment therefore should be conducted whether or not the
person is manifesting any physical symptoms
Spiritual .lienation
.lienation( our first na"edness - forced from the warmth and unity of the womb through
a life-threatening process called birth into the cold air of separateness. #nity recaptured
for a time announces yet another tas" - that of differentiation - the process through which
an individual becomes an integrated self (another "ind of unity) separate from parents
and others.
Second .lienation( our second na"edness is an intimate mirror of the first. &ere we find
our "een sense of separation from the /ivine.
, made my research to have an Example of this by a poem of 2abir (Kabir Book)
3hen my friend is away from me , am depressed4
5othing in the daylight delights me
Sleep at night gives no rest
3ho can , tell about this6
*he night is dar" and long... &ours go by...
7ecause , am alone , sit up suddenly
$ear goes through me...
2abir says( !isten my friend
*here is one thing in the world that satisfies
.nd that is a meeting with the 0uest.
Spiritual .nxiety
.nxious people8s minds are +uic". *hey thin" fast and there can be a 9lac" of space:
between thoughts.
.nxiety forfeits spiritual values. .nxiety is the reciprocation of the soul under the control
of the )osmos. *here is a deep agitation in thin"ing with the )osmos. *he )osmos is
driven by excessive ambition and powerlust.
.nxiety characterizes a soul that is in distress. .nxiety is so deep and profound that is the
means for which believers excuse themselves from the spiritual life. . neurotic anxiety
grips the souls of so many believer;s today. .nxiety comes from a soul that is
reciprocating the )osmos. .nxiety is an anti personal grenade that Satan uses to attac"
the soul. 3e did not receive a spirit that values the material things of this world. 3e
should value the spiritual values.
'<.=P!'(
0uilt is what ta"es place when a person realizes their failure. $alse guilt which is what
Satan is "nown to throw at us is where the sin has been repented of and forgiven but he
still wants us to feel guilty or see ourselves associated with our pasts. 3e are spea"ing of
false guilt in this teaching because true guilt should prompt the person to repent and turn
from their sin but false guilt is what Satan uses to rip apart the lives of countless
believers around the world.

You might also like