Spirituality

• Christianity
• Judaism
• Buddhism
• Islam
• Alternative religions
• Any personal faith beliefs

• Provides a focus to draw upon for strength
• Provides guidance for actions
• Helps direct one's attention toward the positive
• Emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable

There are many ways that spirituality can benefit you in coping with chronic pancreatitis. For example, your spirituality can help by giving you:

• Meaning and purpose despite your symptoms.
• The ability to accept your lack of control over getting sick, the severity of your symptoms, and the impact of your symptoms on your day-to-day life.
• The strength to manage your stress and take life one day at a time.
• The self-worth and self-esteem you need to accomplish your goals.
• A way to manage your symptoms in combination with other treatments and clinical visits.
• Hope in recovery, whether physical recovery or otherwise.
• The resilience you need to cope with your diagnosis and the challenges it brings to your daily life.
• A way to focus on the positive things in life.
• A sense of community with other people who share your faith.
• A connection with nature and the earth.
• A connection with something bigger than yourself and beyond the physical world.
• Access to other resources, like transportation, social support, or food donations through your religious community.
• Something to look forward to in the afterlife.

It is possible that feelings of guilt or frustration can accompany one's spirituality when managing chronic pancreatitis symptoms. Seeking additional guidance from a spiritual leader or mentor may be helpful. Visit the modules of Reframing and Resilience to learn more.

• Practice prayer and meditation.
• Explore different types of spirituality.
• Find a community that you can use as support.
• Attending religious gatherings.
• Reading spiritual texts, religious or non-religious.
• Use prayerful meditation to reframe your thoughts.
• Consider trying yoga. Visit the Yoga module to learn more.
• Be mindful of where you are in the process of dealing with chronic pancreatitis.
• Focus thoughts on something greater than your symptoms, like your purpose and desires in life.
• Consider the deeper meaning of life and your connection to it.
• Try to acknowledge the things in your life that are positive.
• Participate in activities that bring you joy.
• Journal your thoughts related to spirituality and chronic pancreatitis.

• Understand that spirituality is a journey and things may not change overnight.
• Ask yourself questions about who you are and how you connect to something bigger.
• Try some of the above ways to incorporate spirituality into your journey and try something different if one doesn't work for you.
• Set goals related to spirituality. Visit the Goal Setting module to learn more.
• Combine spirituality with other self-management strategies.
• Dedicate time to incorporating spirituality into your life.

• The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

• Visualization & Guided Imagery for Pain Relief

• Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publications:

  • Unantenne, N., Warren, N., Canaway, R., & Manderson, L. (2013). The strength to cope: Spirituality and faith in chronic disease. Journal of religion and health, 52(4), 1147-1161.

  • Roger, Kerstin Stieber, and Andrew Hatala. "Religion, spirituality & chronic illness: A scoping review and implications for health care practitioners." Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought 37.1 (2018): 24-44.

Spirituality can be a powerful source of comfort and strength for someone living with chronic pancreatitis. It may give them hope, meaning, and a sense of peace—even while navigating the challenges of ongoing symptoms and medical care.

As a family member or friend, you play an important role in supporting this part of their journey. Here are some ways to help:

• Be open and respectful. Everyone experiences spirituality differently.
• Support spiritual practices. Encourage or participate in things that bring them peace—like prayer, meditation, quiet reflection, attending a service, or reading spiritual material.
• Offer gentle encouragement. If they express doubt, frustration, or guilt related to their beliefs, remind them that spirituality—like health—is a journey, not a destination.
• Help them stay connected. Help them stay involved if their faith community offers support—such as meals, prayer groups, or visits.

You don't have to share their beliefs to help them draw strength from their spirituality. Your kindness, patience, and understanding can be a form of spiritual support in itself.