There is a light in this world,
a healing spirit
more powerful than any darkness we may encounter.
We sometimes lose sight of this force
when there is suffering, and too much pain.
Then suddenly,
the spirit will emerge
through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call
and answer in extraordinary ways.
   -Mother Teresa
Today we’re continuing to share what we’ve found […]

As a psychiatrist, I’m intrigued by the mind and brain.  But what exactly is the relationship between these entities - mind and brain - terms that are often used interchangeably.  My philospher-husband has this to say:
Suppose you hit your thumb with a hammer.  You’ll certainly feel a painful sensation in your thumb.  You’ll most likely exhibit […]

Kobe Bryant and I share something, though unfortunately it’s not our basketball skills.  As has Bryant, I’ve had a tough time with plantar fasciitis, a bothersome pain on the bottom of my foot caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia.  This is a band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, […]

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.  - Margaret Fuller (1810-1850)
Starting today, and with my next 7 Friday posts, I’ll share with you what I’ve found out there on the great community of the internet, both websites and blogs, that are helpful and interesting - but perhaps less well known.  My goal […]

Philosophy and Pain #2
“Of all the arts, abstract painting is the most difficult,” says the painter Kandinsky.  Well, maybe he’s never met Philosophy.  My husband teaches philosophy, and though some of the things he studies are abstract and hard to understand for me, it’s sometimes worth the effort to stretch our brains.

My husband writes…
Do you […]

Gail Blanke, a personal life coach, wrote an article for Real Simple magazine called “Thriving on Insecurity.”  She believes that those times when “you don’t know where you’re headed - or even who you are” can be good.  “Life is running along smoothly, everything in its place, and then, wham!” - these can be times of […]

This post finishes our series about chronic pain and the family, and with it, I wanted to share this version of a “Letter to Those Without Pain” I saw recently.  In trying to find information about the original author, I learned that Ricky Buchanan is credited with writing the original “Letter” about living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Her original […]

My husband teaches philosophy at a university and is interested in what’s called “Philosophy of Mind,” which is an area of philosophy that tries to understand what the mind is and what exactly the relationship is between the mind and the brain. Here are some of his comments regarding pain:
Some philosophers believe that, at present, […]

It’s always nice to start Monday with some humor…

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Family Issues #9
On Fridays, I’ve been having a series of posts about family issues and your pain. Pain conditions affect not only you, but also your family… your husband or wife… your children… your Mom and Dad… even your friends.
These posts are excerpts from a handout for family members (and friends) of patients with pain […]