ABSTRACT
In dealing with chronic pain, one may wonder how to cope, how to harbour hope for some form of healing despite contradictory medical prognoses. These questions echo concepts of resilience and spirituality, but also of the imaginary. This chapter will articulate these three concepts. It comprises five parts. The first paints a summary of the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain and its consequences on quality of life. The second defines the concept of resilience, including Wong’s (2012, 2013) “pathway of resilience.” The third proposes an operational definition of spirituality according to Benson, Roehlkepartain and Rude (2003), and discusses the points of convergence between resilience and spirituality. The fourth presents Gilbert Durand’s (1960, 1992) theory of Anthropological Structures of the Imaginary (ASI), and argues that the three main Durandian structures are at work when a person is dealing with chronic pain. Finally, the fifth outlines how Durand’s theory of ASI constitutes a conceptual framework which can embrace and consolidate various notions such as the emotional consequences of living with chronic pain, as well as components of resilience and spirituality required to deal with such. Furthermore, the final part suggests interventions to help people living with chronic pain.
