SHADOWLAND: Relentless Pain - the story of Jean Campbell

Sep 5, 2024

Jean Campbell, a supermodel known for her work with brands like Louis Vuitton and Burberry, shares her poignant journey of living with chronic pain after a traumatic injury. She discusses the stark contrast between her glamorous public persona and the hidden struggles she faces in private. Emphasizing the importance of befriending pain, Jean reveals how her experiences have led to resilience and personal growth. The conversation also touches on themes from Ursula K. Le Guin's 'A Wizard of Earthsea', exploring the notion of confronting and accepting one's shadow.

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ANECDOTE

The Accident and Early Surgeries

At age 12, Jean Campbell experienced a ski crash, causing a severe shoulder injury and exacerbating a pre-existing hip condition.
Multiple surgeries and a long recovery process followed, impacting her physical abilities and emotional well-being.

INSIGHT

The Uncertainty of Chronic Pain

Jean's chronic pain created a constant sense of uncertainty about her future, leading to fear and a desire for control.
This uncertainty, coupled with the physical limitations, significantly impacted her identity formation during adolescence.

INSIGHT

The Isolating Nature of Pain

Chronic pain can be isolating because it is an internal, subjective experience that is difficult to communicate to others.
This often leads to feelings of loneliness and difficulty connecting with others.

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JEAN CAMPBELL is a supermodel who from the outside looks to be living a fairy tale life. Stunningly beautiful, she has modeled on the international stage for brands including Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and Burberry. Of course, nothing is ever so simple (especially in fairy tales).

After experiencing a traumatic injury at a young age, Jean had to learn how to live with chronic pain. She underwent multiple surgeries, and confronted despair induced by the extreme physical and emotional challenges she faced.

Shadowland is our This Jungian Life forum for exploring the lives of people who exist in the hidden places of our culture. Life with chronic pain is one of those hidden places: for many it is characterized by loneliness and fear. At home and at work, people with chronic pain conditions are often asked to mask the reality of what they’re experiencing.

In this episode, Lisa and Deb explore the gulf Jean experienced between persona and shadow. In private, Jean searched for ways to cope with physical pain and suffering, whilst in public she built a successful career based on her exceptional physical beauty.

According to Jean, embracing and befriending pain has been key in her path to healing. This is explored through a discussion of A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, in which the protagonist, Ged, must confront and befriend his shadow:

“Only in silence the word, only in dark the light, only in dying life: bright the hawk's flight on the empty sky” (A Wizard of Earthsea).

Listen to Jean Campbell’s podcast, https://www.if-podcast.com/

Follow Jean Campbell: https://www.instagram.com/jean_campbell/

You might also be interested in our This Jungian Life episode on https://thisjungianlife.com/episode-68-chronic-illness/

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