How Do You Eliminate Suffering?

[The Albatross]

To me the answer to ending suffering has been to change my perception. Mostly.

Everybody wishes, by the way that there was an easier way. The easier way for me was to lead a simpler disciplined life and accept the tenants of faith based living. I am well aware that within our spectrum of PTSD this is not for everybody.

I know too though that I mostly AM what I focus on.

 

[Justmehere]

How do you eliminate suffering? A question that humanity has struggled with for thousands of years.

I don't think it is possible to eliminate suffering.

I think it's all about learning to ride the waves of suffering and pain that happen in life. The better we ride the waves, the quicker they will pass. The waves will always be there. Sometimes we get knocked out of the boat and need help getting back in. Sometimes we stay on the shore too long, and sometimes we need to retreat to the harbor a lot sooner than we did. But eliminating the waves of suffering? not possible. But great joy can be found along the way as we navigate the storms of life. Calm seas can be found from time to time as well.

 

[The Albatross]

Perhaps it is semantics. "Suffering". Suffering to me is perceptual.

 

[Tinyflame]

.. trauma and neglect I had in abundance.

I once was told 'you must have thought I abandoned you'. Until then that word didn't exist in my vocabulary towards myself. But it was the correct word, & to hear it & think about it I realized it was. Followed by, (to myself) 'if I was abandoned then it was right I was'.

I think it's very difficult starting life out of the gate with thoughts like that. I think neglect has a large impact.

 

[Lionheart]

When I began therapy for trauma it was extremely intense as the abuse I went through was severe and prolonged and emotionally, there was a lot of suffering. I went through about 3 months when I would cry every day, sometimes crying myself to sleep. My therapist suggested I get a teddy bear since I didn't have one as a child and I could hold it to my chest / heart when I was upset and I found that it helped.

But I don't know if there is a way to stop suffering, but as we move through our pain, it gets a bit easier and easier until finally we have processed the pain and it is gone.

Still, I think it is mostly like The Albatross said, it has a lot to do with our perceptions and when we adjust those painful perceptions, we see things from a different view and the suffering is minimized.

At any rate, I hope your suffering ends soon and I think when it does, you will find that you have come out of it much stronger than you were before...at least this is my wish for you!!!

Brightest blessings,
Lion

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Very interesting thread and i have learned so much. I think that suffering is a part of life since all of life consists of changes. I am just trying now to become a better person and to live well. I agree with the @The Albatross that perception is the thing that eases suffering. Whatever I focus on increases good or bad. Just in the learning and baby step process.