Art as an instrument to understand the nature of suffering

MUSSO, CARLOS G.; ENZ, PAULA A.

ARCHIVOS ARGENTINOS DE PEDIATRIA

SOC ARGENTINA PEDIATRIA

Año: 2016 vol. 114

0325-0075

We continue with our series of articlesregarding Art as an educational tool in medicine.1This time, we will describe the nature of humansuffering, an inherent partner of patients, theirfamilies and health care providers in particular,and of the entire human race in general. In thisarticle, we will explore the nature of suffering inlight of Marcel Proust?s thoughts, who was anauthority on this subject because he embodiedboth a literary genius and a chronically-ill patientwith severe asthma.2,3So we will base our analysis on two of Proust?smost recognized quotes about suffering, reflectedin ?The Sweet Cheat Gone?4 and ?Sodom andGomorrah?5 from his masterpiece In Search of LostTime. Let us take a look at the first quote: ?We arehealed of a suffering only by experiencing it tothe full?.4Here Proust refers to the concept of pain beingunavoidable because it depends on circumstancesthat are external to us (pain is inherent toexistence itself); on the contrary, suffering isoptional because it is actually a product of ourmind. It is our mind that is potentially capableof banishing suffering through re-interpretation;that is what Proust means by ?experiencing itto the full?. Of course voluntarily seeking painmakes no sense ?that would be masochism?, butonce pain is here, it should be embraced. Thisdoes not mean yielding (resignation), it meansexperiencing pain with composure in order toachieve its resolution (redefinition). This is tosay that, although we may go through painfulsituations, we are the masters of the approach thatwe will adopt to face them (Frankl).6This refers to Nietzsche?s amor fati (love of fate)or accepting the pain imposed on us to transformit and prevent it from turning into suffering (auseless mental reverberation of said pain) and,at the same time, cast it into actions aimed atovercoming it.7Let us take a look at the second quote fromProust: ?Illness is the doctor to whom we paymost heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we makepromise only; pain we obey.?5With this concept, Proust conveys the ideathat pain is a bitter gift of life since it implies achance of spiritual growth. Pain shows us ourvulnerability and therefore pushes us away fromthe comfort of our personal space (ego), a placewe would have not left spontaneously, and itArt as an instrument to understand the nature of sufferingteaches us to appreciate the value of its absence(pain-pleasure dyad), it overrides our pride,promotes our approach to our fellow men (whenpain is shared, it ameliorates) and shows us apath that, if followed, will lead us to developmentand transcendence. When pain, either physicalor spiritual, does not result in suffering but inunderstanding, it turns into strength (Nietzsche).7P a i n m a y b e t h e e n g i n e o f p e r s o n a ldevelopment; it causes an inner shock (fracture)that is essential for an intellectual restructuringthat will lead us to spiritual development. Itis because pain makes us uncomfortablethat it stimulates change and an ambitioustransformation, but undertaking it is our task.Understanding the true meaning of pain (a realand momentary fact) and how it differs fromsuffering (perpetuation of a mental construct)is highly valuable for health care providersto acquire the ability to mentally grasp theirpersonal suffering and be able to help sickpatients comprehend their own suffering in a sortof ?spiritual alchemy? that transforms lead (pain)into gold (mental development) (Jung).8To sum up, understanding the natureand goal of suffering is essential for healthcare providers, both at a personal and anoccupational level, and art is a valuable resourceto achieve such understanding.