Pain Control
Burdensome psychological stressors must be removed efficiently and as quickly as possible. However the solitude of pain is indescribable, especially while suffering or even identifying an onlooker’s embarrassment with veiled, but empathic discomfort. Frequently this happens in public for example, when shopping. As children we are taught correctly to avoid staring at physically/intellectually impaired people.
Arduously, Brian employed thousands of hours in research, self-observation and record keeping, experimental research, introspection, study and prayer to abate countless reactive stressors. These would have otherwise entailed overwhelming feelings of futility, which in reality is simply a descriptive term for depression.
In Dr Costello’s case, sympathy from loved ones and long standing friends was a very positive dynamism. Brian’s wife and family alleviated much inevitable despair. But this was difficult when the tumour started to re-grow on two occasions and also, during the unsuccessful experimental chemotherapy drug trials. Stressors need identification for removal/transformation. For example, some people knowing of Dr Costello’s increasingly very difficult financial predicament although still persisting with his work throughout treatment. Sadly he remembers those with ambivalence. In particular, a few isolated solicitors and insurance companies left his medicolegal reports unpaid for several years were viewed as a wanting, callous indictment of immature professionalism. When running late with a medicolegal report but informed of his relapse, an officious young lawyer requested immediate reimbursement. There are some pernicious stressors that inevitably need acceptance and these may be extremely difficult to manage in a pitiless society, without caring friends.
Practical thought stopping is considered one of the most essential constructs in effective pain control. This process averts fixation and tangential or concentric thinking because ponderous thoughts create even more burdensome feelings. Reactive depression and frustration undoubtedly increase pain perception through insidiously reduced tolerance. Likewise when seen sobbing, the sufferer unfortunately carries an added burden of worrying even more about those who are worrying about them. Suffering in silence sometimes has merit.
Depression like hostility is a natural frustration outlet but these episodes can be deliberately kept short, for a maximum of 3-5 minutes, “as a tight rule”. Following routinely scheduled breaks; depressions can be minimised through purposeful distraction, especially with humour as the best medicine. At other times pre-occupation with hobbies and deliberately self-enforced practical or sometimes menial humdrum work, is in essence exceptional occupational therapy for the wounded psyche.
Hostility frustration reactions like depression may also be dis-inhibited with simple techniques in preference to Hard-targeting those we love or innocent bystanders with open or covert aggressive laser like focus.
Deliberate projective compensation or identification for the wounded psyche can be achieved through logical conflict resolution or even comical slapstick video movies. Tearing up paper/material, or enjoyably smashing unwanted and already cracked crockery releases pent-up anger. Screaming or primal shouting, occasionally silently, likewise offers much relief. The practice golf driving range is an affordable advantage to vent unwanted hostility displacement due to physical and especially emotional pain.
Most of the above techniques including additionally novel methods evolved with urgency through much quiet contemplation; interfacing metaphysics with projection and playing with imaginative syllogisms, lucid dreaming and twilight learning. Brian employed detailed diagnostic assessment data from pathology reports and combined cognitive behavioral programs with advanced computerised biofeedback skills developed and refined since 1979 with his former mentor and research colleague, Dr Russell N.
When suffering chronic and acute pain, basic forms of psychological treatment are appropriately suited to one’s personality make-up. Dr Costello contends that this feature as a maxim relies on carefully thorough personality assessment. While benefiting from all of the methods re-discovered and originated,
Brian found induced lucid-dream-states through afterimage perception projection with disinhibition techniques favourable. In particular he made time for being preoccupied with his loved ones and animals. Routinely enforced occupational therapy and menial work was solidly applied with accompanying physical exercise, deliberately motivated interests and leisure.