When asked about pain, most people will automatically think of physical pain such as a headache or sudden, sharp pain like you experience when stubbing your toe. But it is important to know that not all pain is physical. Our brain and body are so interconnected that even though you have a very real physical feeling of pain, that pain may be the result of something else.
This is especially true when people are facing serious illness. Dame Cicely Saunders introduced the concept of "total pain" in the 1960s to describe the suffering of a dying person. "Total pain" is a holistic approach that considers all aspects of a person's experience, including physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and practical struggles. Sometimes a person may even have more than one type of pain at the same time.
Emotional pain can come from anxiety, grief, fear, regret, or shame. These emotions can be mild to severe and last different amounts of time. Social pain is about the social connections we hold. Changes in a role, job, social status, or financial status can all play a part in social pain. The social isolation everyone experienced in 2020 taught us so much about the importance of social connections.
Spiritual pain is separate from religion. Anyone, regardless of faith practice, can experience spiritual pain. Spiritual pain can leave you with unanswered questions such as: Why am I being punished? Will people remember me? What will I be remembered for? What is my purpose in life?
It is important to be honest with your healthcare provider and give details of what you are feeling so that you can receive the right treatment for the type of pain you are experiencing. Sometimes you may be asked a question that is hard to answer or discuss, but your answers can be the best way for your provider to understand you as a whole person and support you.