Should chronic pain sufferers share about their journeys, or should they keep their pain to themselves? While some chronic pain sufferers may think others would rather not hear their story, this is not the case.
But how should those suffering from chronic pain get the word out? Using media to share chronic pain journeys is an effective way to share your experiences.
Sharing your journeys
But why should you share your journeys and experiences with others through media?
Have you ever read a biography or autobiography? If so, you may easily understand why it is essential to share your story.
In these types of stories, a person is revealed to the reader in a new light. You can see the challenges the person faced, the weaknesses, and the trials. You can also see how the person found hope, succeeded and learned to live amid the challenges.
Many people feel alone in their problems, even if they are common. Such a state of feeling alone can bring great discouragement, make problems feel much worse, and stifle hope.
Sharing your experiences with others through media can help you and others during chronic pain. Telling others about your story can help strengthen them through their own times of weakness. Sharing with others can also help you, as a chronic pain sufferer, find a way to turn your experiences into something beneficial.
Helping others
But how does sharing about such journeys help the entire chronic pain community? While this has been brief, I can tell you much more.
- Yourself – When people who have suffered from chronic pain share their stories, it often helps the sharer in the process. When a chronic pain sufferer chooses not to talk to others, this may make the pain worse. It can also lead to challenges, such as discouragement, depression, a feeling of being alone, anxiety, and many other forms of mental illness.
When chronic pain sufferers choose to share their stories with others, it also helps them to forget the bad and turn their situation into something good. Helping others can bring a great sense of relief, joy, and satisfaction in life.
- Chronic pain sufferers – When someone suffering from chronic pain hears another’s story, it can help the one who hears find hope, strength, and encouragement to get through the day. Chronic pain sufferers may deal with other types of pain, such as feelings of being weighed down with the thought that they are not dealing with their pain as well as they should.
But chronic pain sufferers from all over the world are dealing with similar situations that, when shared with others, can bring relief, strength, and hope to continue fighting the good fight.
- Family and friends – Family and friends also need to be made aware of the journeys that chronic pain sufferers endure. Experiential knowledge only happens by way of experience. Unless someone has dealt with chronic pain personally, it is impossible to know precisely what it is like.
Nevertheless, chronic pain sufferers can bring awareness to what life is like as a chronic pain sufferer. Such awareness can help family and friends learn how to assist their loved ones.
- Others—Millions of people in the world know someone suffering from chronic pain. It is also important for these people to know about these journeys. Spreading the word can lead to universal awareness and common knowledge that will help everyone relate properly to those suffering from chronic pain.
- Medical professionals – Despite all the education that medical professionals acquire before they enter the field, they continue to grow and learn throughout their careers. Treating patients properly consists of hearing the journeys of chronic pain sufferers and bringing this awareness to one’s practice.
Showing support
So how can you show support to your loved one with chronic pain? The following is a short list that you can adapt for your loved one:
- Ask them about their story
- Listen to their story
- Show genuine concern as you listen
- Ask them how you can support them
- Take time out of your day to support them
- Be intentional to support them
- Be consistent in giving support
Authored By Brittany Cotton
Published by International Pain Foundation, iPain Blog, Team iPain
