"Pain Beyond Belief: The night sea journey of chronic pain" (e-book) by Denis Smit & Angus Douglas

Do you Suffer from Chronic Pain? 

Do you suffer from chronic pain, or does someone close to you suffer from chronic pain? Are you caught in a cycle of hope and despair as you try overcome your suffering? Pain Beyond Belief offers the reader an engaging account of Denis Smit's 25-year struggle with chronic, intractable pain and his path towards a full, rewarding life. 

A Rollercoaster of Hope and Despair 

Chronic illness sufferers carry the burden of endless decisions. We live in a world of unlimited choice, this can be a curse for those desperately seeking a cure, as they become consumed with trying everything out there in the hope that it could be a silver bullet.Denis's journey of chronic pain takes him on a rollercoaster of hope and despair as he tries every possible remedy, both conventional and unconventional, to end his suffering.When Denis finds himself experiencing chronic neck pain he proactively seeks a cure, at first trying massage and other non-invasive treatments. But when these prove unsuccessful, out of desperation he puts himself under the surgeon's knife. After multiple surgeries, life threatening infections, disability, depression and drug dependence Denis recognises that salvation lies beyond the quick-fix. After plumbing the depths of his soul he finds solace in acceptance, and peace beyond the trauma. 

'Why me?' Versus 'Try Me!'

Denis's story offers the reader a soulful and authentic account of dealing with chronic pain. As someone who has 'tried it all' Denis is well-placed to offer practical insights on how to live a full life in the face of chronic pain. He adopts a soulful perspective on his inner journey, and a scientific approach to the physical realities of pain. Through his journey Denis explores how the messy reality of illness lays waste to ideology and even to faith. For him relief is not found in competing belief systems, but rather in the choice of attitude: the 'why me?' attitude versus the 'try me!' attitude. This sentiment, and Denis's indomitable spirit, shine through on each page. 

"I am suffering from chronic pain, and I've lost all hope." 

 If these words resonate with you, then you'll benefit greatly from Pain Beyond Belief. Author Denis Smit does not claim to have all the answers, in fact he still suffers from chronic pain, but through his vivid and candid depiction of pain he shows how life can be lived beyond the suffering. The book does not take one particular standpoint on the cause of pain, and is both soulful and scientific in approach. Sometimes suffering is an opportunity to do consciousness work, and other times it's a matter of simply getting on with it. 

No-one knows why we suffer 

No-one knows why we suffer. In our scientific, quick-fix age we've forgotten that suffering is not something to get rid of, but rather an invitation to live a richer, more authentic life. Pain Beyond Belief describes the perils of ignoring this invitation, and the redemption of accepting it. It not only follows the story of one man's struggle to heal, but also provides practical guidance in how to cope with living with constant pain. 

Pain Beyond Belief - a must-read for overcoming chronic illness 

Maybe you've read every possible self-help book, but still it did not help. Pain Beyond Belief is not a self-help book, but a testimony of suffering. If you are ready to challenge your beliefs, ready to challenge spiritual myths about endless bliss, and be real about what it takes to live with chronic illness, then this book is for you.