Pathways from Pain to Meaning

Quick Look

• A sensitive and thoughtful consideration of the human experience of pain
• Explores different types of pain from the physical (through illness and injury), to emotional (loss and deprivation) and spiritual (the absence of meaning in our lives), how they affect us, and what we can learn from them
• Discusses the impact of chronic pain and details treatment methods that aim to help sufferers cope more effectively
• Iris Paxino lectures regularly in anthroposophic psychology and runs a biographical counselling practice
• Written by the author of Bridges Between Life and Death -- 'A deeply insightful book.'-- Marjatta van Boeschoten, General Secretary, Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain

A sympathetic and enlightening exploration of physical, emotional and spiritual pain and what we can learn from it, written by experienced psychologist and author of Bridges Between Life and Death, Iris Paxino.

Description

People today strive to live as pain-free a life as possible, treating both physical pain and emotional suffering with a range of medical and alternative therapies. But in our efforts to avoid pain, are we excluding an important part of our human experience?

In this sensitive and thoughtful book, psychologist Iris Paxino explores different kinds of pain and the ways in which each affects us: from the physical pain of illness and injury, through the emotional suffering caused by loss and deprivation, to the spiritual pain experienced in moments of doubt when we struggle with meaning in our lives. Paxino also discusses the history of pain, the impact of chronic pain and treatment methods including behavioural techniques and anthroposophic therapies.

While pain should always be treated, Paxino argues that when we learn to accept it as an inescapable part of being human we develop resilience and inner peace as well as compassion for others.

This sympathetic and enlightening book will be of interest to those who wish to explore the significance of pain in human experience and what we can learn from it.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction: The Experience of Pain 7
1. Pain in Antiquity: Inseparable from Life 11
2. Pain and Christianity: Redemption Through Suffering 19
3. Pain in Modern Times: In Pursuit of a Pain-free Life 24
4. The Language of Pain: The Struggle to Find Expression 32
5. Pain and Consciousness: Awareness of Our Limitations 40
6. Physical Pain: Illness and Injury 43
7. Emotional Pain: Loss and Deprivation 47
8. Spiritual Pain: The Absence of Meaning 50
9. Living with Pain: Understanding its Message 55
10. Chronic Pain: The Embodiment of Trauma 64
11. Therapeutic Approaches to Chronic Pain: Gaining Sovereignty 74
12. Pain Management: A Positive Quality of Life 77
13. Anthroposophic Therapies: Understanding the Whole Human Being 82
Conclusion: Pain and Meaning 87
Endnotes 98
Bibliography 100

Author

Iris Paxino was born in 1970 in Bucharest, Romania. She lectures regularly in the field of anthroposophic psychology and runs a biographical counselling practice in Stuttgart, Germany. She is the author of several books, including Bridges Between Life and Death.

Cynthia Hindes is a retired priest of The Christian Community in the USA.