Spouse’s Lack of Support Affects Pain
HealthDay News just posted a brief review of recent research published in the Journal of Pain by Leong, Kano, & Johansen that shows a connection between spousal communication and physical pain.
The topic of this study supports my whole existence as a back-care and yoga practitioner. Part of what makes my work so effective is my unwavering validation of my clients’ emotions and lived experience. In graduate school, I focused my study on the methods of interpersonal communication that foster trust, respect, and partnership when one party is facing difficult life changes or emotional upheaval.
Unfortunately, most couples have not completed such communication training. So when one spouse is in pain, the pain-free spouse is inadequately trained to actually help the other feel supported and “heard.” Yet, that emotional support is crucial to the healing process. Without such emotional support, people can cope very poorly with pain and, in fact, hold on to pain for decades . . . or a lifetime.
I’m so happy to read major peer-reviewed medical journals are publishing this type of psycho-social-medical research. Pain research has typically been focused on medications (which are more addictive than they are effective) and surgical interventions (which are shown to be less effective than just about any other pain treatment over the long-term).
About the author
Written by Sara Hauber
Sara Hauber, M.A., holds a masters degree in health communication, is a certified yoga teacher and wellness coach, and specializes in functional movement and back care. She has helped clients achieve physical and emotional wellbeing since 1999. She teaches yoga, empowerment, and her signature back-care methods throughout the U.S. and Italy. In 2012 she released The Hauber Method™, a 6-week at-home program to relieve chronic low-back pain.
