It can be mentally exhausting when you’re in constant pain and people don’t believe you. Trust me, I know. I’ve dealt with migraines since I was 13. And it’s a fact that certain people get tired of your “excuse” after a while and start to act like it’s a burden to them. I’m sorry, which one of us is dealing with what feels like an icepick behind the eye over 15 times a month? The truth is, living with chronic pain can be really tough. It can make everyday tasks harder to do and can disrupt almost every aspect of your life, but just because someone doesn’t understand what you’re going through, doesn’t mean they should write you off.
People get tired of hearing you complain about your chronic pain
Dealing with chronic pain for a long time can be a truly tiring endeavour, and although you know the pain is real, it’s easy enough for people to get tired of hearing about it. Unfortunately, having them brush off your complaints can add even more to your physical stress load – after all, who wants to feel like their difficulties aren’t being taken seriously? Perhaps instead of treating complaints as an “excuse” it would be better if those around you tried lending a sympathetic ear or simply accepted the reality that chronic pain is a very real and very common issue.
They don’t understand what it’s like to live with chronic pain
Chronic pain is an invisible and ugly-ass beast. Unless it’s experienced firsthand, it can be difficult to understand what life with chronic pain is really like. Unfortunately, too often those who live with it are dismissed as constantly making up stories. It can be exhausting having to explain over and over why you don’t have the energy today, why you can’t do something that was easy once, or why your recovery is so slow. Unfortunately, some will never understand what it’s like to live with this constant companion, but hopefully more awareness will create more acceptance and understanding of this complex and common issue.
You feel like you have to justify your existence to others
Feel your every move is being watched, and that you have to constantly justify your actions to people? It can be pretty draining having to keep up with this mental charade just so others won’t discriminate against you or call into question your credibility. For example, I’ve heard so many passive-aggressive comments about my travel. What people don’t see is the time I spend in bed while on vacation. It’s typical for me to be out of commission for 1/3 of my trips — but travel is incredibly important to me and if I’m going to suffer, I’m going to suffer in paradise, dammit! Being in the Galápagos was an excellent vacation because I was able to relax on the boat when I felt sick. Even if I missed the day’s activity if I started feeling better later in the day, I could sit on the deck in my sunglasses and enjoy the view. Much better than being holed up in my bedroom at home for hours on end.
One of the reasons I always go to Los Angeles is to escape the physical pain
Located in a Mediterranean climate, Los Angeles’ weather consists of comfortably warm summers and mild winters which can be particularly beneficial for those looking to find relief from chronic pain. The barometric pressure in Los Angeles has been found to be consistently lower than the North American national average, which can provide those with chronic pain a sort of natural remedy. It has been named one of the top cities to live in if you suffer from migraines. I’ve been lucky enough to finally discover my triggers over the last few years and sudden changes in BP is definitely a main one. I live in the Pacific Northwest: not ideal for pressure changes. LA’s lower barometric pressure can help reduce joint swelling and inflammation, making it an ideal destination for anyone suffering from chronic pain.
You’re not alone – there are others out there who understand what you’re going through
It’s more than just a cliché that everyone has their own unique experiences: sometimes, it can feel like our individual struggles are too deep and isolated to be shared. If you’re feeling this way because of chronic pain that those, who don’t suffer, don’t understand or get tired of you, then you should know that you’re not fighting this fight alone. There is an entire community out there who understand what you’re going through, so if you ever need somebody to lean on, look around; they’re here for you.