How Compassion Relieves Chronic Pain
There is a lot of many in the world. That is a big statement, and some of that pain is not physical. However, many people suffer from physical pain, and a recent survey showed one in three Americans used pain medications daily.
The CDC says one in ten Americans have used prescription pain medications. Pain is a part of life, and some people have to deal with a lot more pain than others.
Pain Increases with Age
The problem of pain management increases with age. An estimated 60 to 75 percent of people over age 65 report having trouble with persistent pain. That rate is far higher for older people living in assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
In the United States alone, there are more than 40 million people over the age of 65, and that number is expected to rise in the coming years as Baby Boomers grow older. The majority of older Americans suffer from multiple chronic health conditions. The cost of treatment, including long-term health care, already accounts for substantial costs to individuals, families, and taxpayers.
Compassion Focused Treatment is Helping
A growing area of pain management is compassion-focused therapy (CFT). Compassion is a good thing, and sometimes it's in short supply. Compassion-focused therapy is a fairly new psychotherapy approach initially designed to help with a person's shame and self-loathing.
Compassion meditation comes from CFT, and this drug-free treatment takes 15 minutes a day. Unlike regular meditation, where you allow your mind to wander, you actively direct your thoughts—toward kindness and altruism that can lead to diminished pain. Research shows this is working for some people and can even lead to a longer lifespan.
Compassion is working for pain management. Researchers have discovered that those who suffered from a psychological component to chronic pain have benefited from compassion-focused therapy. This helps people feel less isolated, learn new ways of coping with the pain, become more accepting of the pain and its limitations, and improve the ability to self-reassure.
Chronic Pain Leads to Long-Term Health Care
Pain is more than just "a pain." Chronic pain can lead to the inability to perform daily living activities and an increased risk for dementia. With their pain comes additional symptoms that can contribute to problems in memory and concentration.
Those with dementia can also develop pain problems due to urinary tract infections, bedsores, and fractures from falling. Chronic pain is often the first sign of a health problem or the deterioration of our bodies due to aging.
As we get older, we see more pain, a decline in our health, and mobility problems, in addition to a growing risk of dementia. These items increase our risk of needing long-term health care in the future. The pain of long-term care affects our families and finances.
Prepare for Declining Health and Aging Before Retirement
There are tremendous financial costs involved in pain management and long-term health care, and most people are not prepared for these expenses.
According to the LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator, long-term health care costs are going up quickly nationwide. The calculator shows you the current and future cost of long-term health care services in all settings where you live.
Being prepared will 'ease the pain'; however, you must have relatively good health to obtain coverage in the first place. The underwriting criteria differ from one company to another. Plus, premiums can vary over 100% between insurance companies. Seek the help of an experienced and trusted Long-Term Care Insurance specialist who can match your age, health, and family history with the right insurance company.
Most people obtain coverage in their 50s or even earlier.
Pain is real. The consequences and pain, and declining health are real. Ignoring the problem will not make the problem go away.