The other night, I (Claire), was reading a bedtime story to my son called What If You Had Animal Scales?! (Or Other Animal Coats). At the end of the book, it discussed how our bodies are covered in skin and highlighted the benefits of that skin. One of the benefits mentioned was that our skin helps us feel pain. It read “Your skin helps you feel pain. Pain is important because it lets you know to take action to stay safe”.
That line — “it lets you know to take action to stay safe” — really made me think. Of course, pain does that, right? If you touch a hot stove, the pain is immediate, and you’ll instinctively pull your hand away (and probably never do it again).
But there’s more to this. When I read it, I actually felt some level of gratitude for pain. Not because anyone wants to experience pain (physical or emotional), especially the kind that’s debilitating, but because pain can guide us toward safety and healing.
Identifying our pain is the first step towards healing, which makes addressing it essential.
If we can lean into our pain, what does that open up for our healing? What can our pain teach us? What can it show us if we stop avoiding it?
For both animals and humans, leaning into pain doesn’t come naturally. Instinctually, we want to hide from it, run from it, minimize it, or numb it. But often, doing so only prolongs or intensifies the pain.
In some ways, Marcy and I see our job as helping your pet lean into their pain, so we can help them release it. This isn’t always easy — rarely, even. Pain, much like an onion, often has many layers. We play several roles in peeling back your dog or cat’s pain:
- Identifying the origin of the pain
- Exploring what triggers it
- Understanding whether it’s compensatory (secondary) or primary (the source)
- Recognizing whether the pain is chronic or intermittent
- Releasing the pain
- Supporting a pain-free life
Pain affects every part of our lives — sleep, appetite, energy levels, mood, and both mental and physical health. It can come in many forms, and can can consume us if we ignore it.
We encourage you to face your pain, and to acknowledge your pet’s pain as well. It’s only by recognizing our pain — and even thanking it for the story it’s trying to tell us — that we begin to release it.
