Finding Happiness, Despite Migraines- Even if you suffer from chronic pain, such as migraine illness, you can change your life, find happiness, and find inner peace, with positive thinking!
You deserve to be Happier
Most of us take happiness for granted. That’s right; if we need medicine for our migraine headaches, we take it, and hope, pray for the best. When the doctor says that we need to supplement our diet with vitamins, such as magnesium, we dash to the health food store and check it off our list. We tell ourselves that if these things work, and they relieve our chronic pain, then we will be happy.
What’s wrong with being happy right now?
How to be Happy
People who put happiness off for a later time often end up spending most of their time…unhappy. Why? Because we don’t always get what we want, no matter how hard we try. Sometimes, we do get the things we want from life, but not for many, many years to come. How you choose to spend those “waiting period” years is up to you.
Finding Happiness despite Chronic Pain
One of the most difficult things to do when you’re in chronic pain is to think positively, look on the bright side, find your inner peace, etc. Nobody will ever tell you that it’s easy. However, there are people who suffer from invisible chronic illness who, despite their pain symptoms, express feelings of contentment and happiness. They’re not a myth; they are real people, just like you and me, who have made the conscious choice to be happy with their lot in life.
Here are some traits that happy chronically ill people have in common:
Hope
Chronically ill people who keep hoping for better days to come are more likely to overcome their illnesses than those who become depressed and despondent. Likewise, depression, stress, and anxiety contribute to the worsening of pain symptoms. So, thinking positive thoughts not only makes you happier today, but it also helps to guarantee a happier tomorrow!
Perseverance
Stick-to-itiveness is another common trait among chronically ill, yet happy, people. That’s because to give up, to give in to the pain, means sinking into despair and regret- a straight path to a life of unhappiness. When up is the only way to go, the people who persevere make it to the top.
Acceptance
There’s no such thing as a happy victim. Among chronic illness patients, the ones who stay focused on the good things in their lives recover quicker than those who choose to dwell only on their misfortunes.
Empathy
When you care about others, you worry less about yourself. That’s a life lesson that applies to everybody, regardless of health issues. It’s hard to be unhappy while you’re reaching out to help somebody else who is in need. Try it!
Self-advocacy
When you care about your health and happiness, then you don’t leave it up to the winds of fate, not entirely. There are things you cannot control, like how your body will respond to certain migraine medications or headache triggers, but you do what you can to cope with chronic pain. People who keep up-to-date with medical research, stay connected via online health forums, and do what they can to raise chronic illness awareness, achieve greater happiness than passive individuals.
Self-esteem
Do you know any truly happy people who don’t believe in themselves? They don’t exist. When you know your self-worth, and you don’t allow yourself to be annoyed or insulted by wrong-headed migraine tips, then you allow yourself to live without stress, depression, anxiety, or other feelings that contribute to chronic pain.
Communication
How do you explain your chronic migraine symptoms to others? Does your family know about the pain that is a constant part of your life? Do your coworkers know that you sometimes come to work feeling nauseous, that you sometimes slip off to vomit discreetly in the employee restroom? If you don’t tell them, then how can they help? One of the biggest factors in learning how to cope with illness, and eventually overcoming pain symptoms, is in learning not to bear the brunt of it alone.
Related reading:
10 Unusual Chronic Pain Relief Tactics for the Bedridden
Blow Off Migraine Pain with 4 Simple Yoga Breathing Exercises!
Stop Your Next Panic Attack in 4 Simple Steps
Sources:
7 Secrets to Happiness When You Live with Illness
Living Your Best Possible Life When You Have a Chronic Illness