Years ago, when I was diagnosed with endometriosis after keyhole surgery, I ordered a book about this illness to find out what I could do about it. Unfortunately, I do not remember the title. When it arrived, I opened it and read the first sentence on page one: “Endometriosis cannot be cured.” So I closed it and put it straight in the bin!

I believe that our physical, emotional and mental health is interconnected. While we are suffering from chronic pain it is certainly advisable to look for medical or alternative treatments and/or medication that can assist us, as may looking into and making appropriate changes to our diet and lifestyle or speaking to a therapist. Anything that alleviates or lowers the pain and ‘helps our body’ is useful. However, in the Western world we have for a long time looked at physical illness in pure isolation and forgotten the literal meaning of the word ‘heal’ which is to make sound or whole.

Almost by definition, chronic pain relates to something that doctors and medication are unable to treat effectively – or else it would not be a chronic issue. Often, it cannot even be diagnosed. I believe chronic pain is pointing at deep-seated, emotional experiences that remain unresolved and urgently need our awareness and attention. Therefore, rather than seeing pain as just a physical issue, we should see it as a symbol. It also means it is within our power to do something about it.

This health blog is a brief personal account of my own healing journey. I hope it may help you to not be discouraged by something I was told so often: that what you are suffering from cannot be cured. Because it can.