How Can A Life Coach Help With Chronic Pain?
Today, I'm going to talk to you a little bit about why I became a Certified Meditation Facilitator & Coach, NLP Practioner, Emotional Intelligence Coach, Life Purpose Coach, Business Coach, Coming Out Specialist, Goal Setting Coach, etc etc to lead to an overall Master Life Coach Certification. Those who are new here, may not realize that I myself, have struggled with many, many chronic pain conditions. Like a lot of you, I desperately kept searching, and reading, and analyzing searching for answers. Well, after working with a world-renouned Rheumatologist at The Cleveland Clinic ….there are no answers. No answers for a cure. No answers for a concrete universal treatment plan, that works for everyone. But what I DID learn, is that if I found the right mixture of techniques to use, I could retrain my brain, and be able to actually live again. Do I still deal with chronic pain and fatigue daily? YES. I do. But, I now use the techniques I learned becoming a certified master life coach, and I can function again.
Anybody can learn the techniques that I learned. I did it without the help of a life coach. When I saw that it wasn't just some "touted BS" I honestly was in disbelief! I knew, that I had to come up with the money to take as many classes as I could, so that I could help others too. My blog, at it's core, is still what I intended it to be when I first started it. A blog trying to educate the public about what it's really like to live with Fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain and fatigue illnesses, so that hopefully that would lead to more research money, to try to find a cure for fibromyalgia, or at the very least, a solid concrete universal treatment plan that helps everyone, not just some as current medications do. While studying and learning, it would've been so much easier if I had a life coach myself. Someone who truly understands what it's like to live under debilitating pain and fatigue. Someone who could hold me accountable. Someone to help me rewire this brain of mine. Someone who could help me explain to my family and friends how I really feel and what it's really like to live in this broken, sick, body of mine (and yours!). Someone that could teach me techniques to help my anxiety levels. -Because every time I make a promise that I'll go somewhere or do something, I immediately would get anxious. I'd worry non-stop if I'd be able to have the energy to literally force myself to show at the event. Then someone to help me with the depression I would feel, if I just couldn't force myself to do whatever it was that I was supposed to do. I also have taken classes, and researched to put together a seminar that is aimed towards corporations. It's an EQ (Emotional Intelligence) course that will help company leads learn how to deal with their employees, and specifically those that suffer from chronic pain and fatigue illnesses. Research has shown that companies who have their top leads trained in EQ, significantly lower their turn over rate! Plus, it helps those of us who DO live with these conditions. I'm trying, on every avenue possible, to improve our quality of life. We deserve to have a life, just as anyone else does. We just may have to go about it in a different way.
I'm blessed, that over the course of the past 12 years, I've been able to help so many people!! Hundreds upon hundreds of people would seek me out, and DM me thanking me. It truly humbled me, as I started off 12 years ago, just wanting a little corner in the big ole cyberspace world to vent! Every blog I'd find, would just be a "rah-rah we've got this, we're warriors" type of cheerleading blog. I didn't want that! It literally left me sitting at my desk in tears when I first was diagnosed and found all of those other blogs. With tears streaming down my face I said "Why? No, this is all wrong. We don't have this. We don't have a cure. We don't have a universal treatment plan. It's HARD to get out of bed and dressed each day. It's hard to force myself to shower, let alone attend a big event. This is BS! If people think it's so easy they aren't going to be as inclined to donate for research. People need to know the truth about what it's like to live with chronic illnesses". Therefore, The Fibro Frog was born. Even though I wanted to educate and advocate, I honestly didn't think anyone would ever even see or find my blog. When I hit 50 followers I couldn't believe it. I remember the day I woke up and saw I had 100 followers. I literally was calling my parents, my kids, everyone I knew I was so excited lol. Fast forward to today, and the blogs FB page is now just under 16,000 followers since FB went through and deleted inactive profiles. That's ok though, we don't want inactive profiles anyway. We want people who are active and excited to meet others that suffer with what they do. We want people who are just as passionate about educating and advocating for a cure or solid treatment plan, as I am. We want people who are willing to talk to others AND listen to others, to allow them to vent. In other words, we want one big supportive family of chronic illness people!
I'm going to tell you now, some of what a life coach can do for you, if you have a chronic illness.
A life coach can be a valuable support system for individuals dealing with chronic pain. While life coaches are not medical professionals and cannot provide medical advice or treatment, they can offer guidance and assistance in managing the emotional and practical aspects of living with chronic pain. Here are some ways in which a life coach can help:
Emotional support: Chronic pain can take a toll on a person's emotional well-being. A life coach can provide a safe space for individuals to express their feelings, frustrations, and fears related to their pain. They can offer empathy, active listening, and emotional support to help clients navigate the emotional challenges associated with chronic pain.
Goal setting and motivation: Chronic pain can make setting and achieving goals challenging. A life coach can work with individuals to set realistic and achievable goals related to their overall well-being, such as improving daily functioning, managing stress, maintaining relationships, or pursuing hobbies and interests. The coach can provide motivation, accountability, and guidance to help clients take consistent steps toward their goals.
3. Developing coping strategies: Chronic pain often requires individuals to develop effective coping strategies. A life coach can help clients explore and identify coping mechanisms that work for them. They can provide tools and techniques to manage pain, such as relaxation exercises, breathing techniques, mindfulness practices, and stress reduction strategies. In my packages, I also offer the use of guided meditation, NLP techniques such as anchoring, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) techniques, journaling, positive affirmations, vision boards, manifestation, and more.
4. Lifestyle adjustments: Chronic pain may require adjustments to daily routines, habits, and lifestyle choices. A life coach can assist individuals in identifying areas where modifications can be made to accommodate their pain. This may include developing strategies for pacing activities, prioritizing self-care, incorporating stress management techniques, and making necessary adaptations to work or social environments.
5. Communication and advocacy: Communicating about chronic pain can be challenging, especially when it comes to family, friends, employers, or healthcare providers. A life coach can help clients improve their communication skills and provide guidance on how to effectively express their needs, boundaries, and limitations. They can also assist individuals in becoming effective self-advocates within the healthcare system, helping them navigate medical appointments, ask relevant questions, and seek appropriate support and resources.
6. Holistic well-being: A life coach can take a holistic approach to well-being, considering various aspects of a person's life affected by chronic pain. They can explore areas such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, self-care, and social connections, providing guidance on how to optimize these areas to improve overall well-being.
Remember, while a life coach can provide valuable support, they are not a substitute for medical professionals. It's important to work with a multidisciplinary team that may include doctors, pain specialists, therapists, and other healthcare providers to address chronic pain's medical and physical aspects. The old saying "It takes a village" isn't just true when it comes to raising children. When we're trapped in these bodies of ours, I cannot stress enough how important a multidisciplinary team is! In the beginning, it seems like a lot of work. -And it really IS a lot of work. But it is SO worth it in the end when you're able to start truly LIVING again!!
Anyone Can Say They're A Life Coach, How Do You Make Sure They Really Have Had Training?
Unfortunately, there are NOT strict regulations on being a life coach. Anyone, yes anyone, can "say" they're a life coach. No law will stop them! I could've just said …..Hmm, "life coaching" is what I've basically been doing for all of these years anyway, so I'll just say I'm now a life coach and start taking people's money. I didn't want that! If I was going to "say" I was a life coach, I was really going to "BE" a life coach. I've sunk every penny I could get, into certification classes. Since there aren't any laws in the U.S. governing life coaches though, here's some tips on finding one that really IS a life coach.
Validating the training and qualifications of a life coach is essential to ensure you're working with someone who has the necessary skills and expertise.
Research their background: Start by researching the life coach's background and qualifications. Look for their website, online profiles, or any other information available. They may provide details about their training, certifications, education, and professional affiliations.
Ask for credentials: Reach out to the life coach directly and ask about their credentials. Inquire about their specific training programs, certifications, or any relevant qualifications they hold. Legitimate life coaches are typically open to discussing their backgrounds and will provide you with the necessary information.
3. Request references: Ask the life coach for references from previous clients or colleagues who can vouch for their training and expertise. Reach out to these references and ask about their experience working with the coach, the effectiveness of the coaching, and any other relevant details.
4. Review testimonials and reviews: Look for testimonials or reviews from previous clients. These can often be found on the life coach's website, social media profiles, or other online platforms. While testimonials should be taken with a grain of salt, they can provide some insight into the coach's credibility and effectiveness.
5. Conduct an interview: If you're still uncertain about a life coach's training, qualifications, or approach, request an initial consultation or interview. This will allow you to ask questions about their background, training, methodology, and experience directly. Pay attention to their responses and assess whether they instill confidence and trust in their abilities.
Remember that while these steps can help you validate a life coach's training, it's also essential to trust your instincts and evaluate how comfortable you feel working with them. A good fit between you and the life coach is crucial for a successful coaching relationship. The compliment I hear the most is, "Amy, you're just so easy to talk to. I don't know what it is about you, but you just draw people to you". Make sure you feel THAT way, about any coach you choose to work with.
I've also always had a lot of friends from within the LGBTQIA+ community, and even have a man that I consider a son, that's gay. I've had SO MANY people from within the LGBTQIA+ community that has sought me out, just needing someone to hold their hand and give them some techniques to use, when they come out. I've had men aged 30-50 find me on FB, that were struggling with gender identity and/or gender dysphoria. Throughout the life of the blog, I've mentioned how high the suicide rate is within the chronic pain community ….it's just as high, if not higher in the LGBTQIA+ community and this absolutely breaks my heart. After I was on the tv show Dragnificent, on TLC, I had more and more DM's from people within the LGBTQIA+ community. As a life coach, I'm capable and equipped to help anyone. My passion though, will always lie within the chronic illness and LGBTQIA+ communities.
IF anyone feels suicidal though, please don't seek ME out. Please call 911, a suicide hotline, or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate help. I say this, because unfortunately twice now someone has contacted me out of the blue only for them to message me again a few weeks later and tell me "Thank you, you literally saved my life. When I first contacted you I was thinking about just killing myself". That my friends, scared the living crap out of me lol. I'm NOT a psychologist or psychiatrist, or someone trained specifically to help those that are in crisis mode contemplating suicide. But if that IS YOU, PLEASE seek immediate help from someone trained in that specific area.
As always my friends, Never Give Up HOPE! -Without HOPE, you don't have anything! I TRULY live my life by this motto!
