"For those of you experiencing chronic pain, gratitude could be a vital coping strategy. One study of older adults with chronic lower back pain found that the more grateful these folks were, the less stress, sleep disturbance, and depression they experienced. But there's a difference between being grateful in every situation and being grateful for every situation. We're not suggesting you must be grateful for anything and everything, including your chronic pain."
"However, you could also consider opportunities to be grateful for positive outcomes tied to your experience of chronic pain. We like to call this experience redemptive gratitude. Examples of redemptive gratitude include gratitude for your loved ones' unwavering support, opportunities for personal growth as a result of your suffering, and a deeper appreciation for the good things in your life. On this website, we've provided a list of prompts you could use to consider opportunities for redemptive gratitude (focus specifically on prompts 102 through 114)."
Gratitude can serve as a coping strategy for people living with chronic pain. Greater trait gratitude in older adults with chronic lower back pain correlated with lower stress, fewer sleep disturbances, and less depression. Gratitude does not mean being thankful for the pain itself; negative emotions and suffering remain valid. Redemptive gratitude focuses on positive outcomes linked to pain, such as loved ones' unwavering support, opportunities for personal growth, and a deeper appreciation of life's good aspects. Gratitude can be cultivated over time; specific prompts (e.g., prompts 102–114) can guide practice toward redemptive perspectives.
Read at Psychology Today
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