Being forced to look at life through a peep hole is petrifying, and that is exactly what chronic pain and illness does. It isolates, dominates and threatens the things all human beings hold dear. Chronic pain and illness is a bully with a ravenous appetite for creating mayhem in one's life. Anguishing physical and emotional pain is often overlooked. After all, "the person doesn't look sick." From the outside pain isn't visible, but from the inside, it is an unwanted intruder to the person experienced it. It is a thief of goals and dreams, finances and socialization. Finding balance and avoiding isolation when struggling with chronic pain is difficult. But, this book bursts from its bindings a metaphor for the reader to break free from the shackles it imposes. The authors expose their readers to infinite possibilities for viewing life through a door wide open to a landscape of honor and hope. Using their expertise as RN, educator, and clinical psychologist, the authors guide their readers through the physical and mental chaos.
About the Author: Celeste Cooper is a retired RN who has transformed the way she copes with her own chronic pain. In her previous life, she was an educator, paralegal adviser, and caregiver. Celeste has learned to navigate the road so many share with her, and she believes surviving the roadblocks, stumbles and all, have not only made her a better person, they have given her great respect for the resilience of humanity. She is enriched by the many connections being sick has afforded her and allowed her to live out her desire to help others. She is a blogger, an advocate, an expert on fibromyalgia at Sharecare.com, and she participates in the Pain Action Alliance to Implement a National Strategy, PAINSproject.org, an initiative of the Center for Practical Bioethics created to assist in the implementation of the Institute of Medicine report "Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research." She is lead author of the 434-page book Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, and lead author of the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain [This series]. She loves the freedom of reinventing words and exploring the endless possibilities writing provides. Co-author Jeff Miller values working with patients with chronic pain and illness. Through his expertise, he is able to help his clients cope with the many aspects of chronic illness and offers a variety of techniques and proactive utilization of gifts and skills from areas of strength adapted to areas of challenge. Jeff's interest in chronic illness has become a sub-specialty, blending his pragmatic counseling with the individual's spiritual perspective. Jeff's goal for his life/work is to reduce suffering and help others live to their true potential. Jeff's mantra is, "If you want courage as your companion, do it now, do it even though you judge that courage insufficient because it is a diminishing thing, like water held in your palms. You will never be this brave again until the next time you face this. Then you will see (as you have seen) the smallest action is mightier than the noblest intention." He is grateful above all for the trust of thousands of people in pain and for the nourishing unconditional love of his family. Jeff also gratefully acknowledges the guidance of many colleagues, especially his first boss who taught him which end of the horse he did not want to be.