Unseen Battles: The Invisible Illnesses Causing Chronic Pain
In a world where appearances often dictate our perception of health, there exists a group of conditions that wage silent wars within the bodies of millions of individuals. These are the invisible illnesses, where pain resides unseen, hidden behind the veil of normalcy. Conditions such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, colitis, migraines, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, […]
10 Tips for Choosing the Right Therapist or Healthcare Professional
Choosing the right therapist or healthcare professional is vital for your well-being. This guide offers valuable tips to help you make an informed decision. From identifying your needs and researching credentials to evaluating approaches and trusting your intuition, these tips will guide your personalized journey. Take the time to find the best match—it’s worth the […]
Chronic Pain, Opioid Addiction, and the Medical System: A Call for Patient-Centered Care
Chronic pain is a common and often debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, illness, and genetics, and it can range from mild to severe in intensity. Unfortunately, chronic pain is often undertreated, and many people struggle to find relief from their symptoms. […]
Mourning the Loss: An insight into the chronic pain experience
For many of us, the entire chronic pain experience exists within the context of great loss. The challenges of living in pain can slowly creep in and take over every aspect of our lives, forcing us to give up on everything that feels essential to who we are, from our hobbies and careers to our […]
Energy Management: How to Choose from a Place of Power
I was once in the midst of a difficult flare up that forced me into bed for a few days straight. I missed a work deadline, my sister’s graduation, and a friend’s birthday party, but I knew that, no matter how I was feeling, I could not not miss my cousin’s wedding at the end […]
You Are Not a Burden
Whether real or imagined, received from media or from interactions with people in their lives, it is not uncommon for people living with chronic pain to get the message that they are “too much” or “overly needy” and that they should really just “suck it up” and “learn to be independent.” When internalized over many […]
Chronic Pain and Intimate Relationships: A heartbreaking game of hide and seek
A well-known anonymous quote reads, “Once you accept the reality that even between the closest human beings, infinite distances continue, a wonderful relationship can grow.” As humans, building intimate relationships is one of the most difficult tasks we take on in our lives – yet we are wired to do it anyway. How can we […]
Chronic Pain & Sex: The Myth And Shame Of Sexual Normativity
You know that scene in what seems like every movie of all time? The one where the main character and their love interest start passionately making out, knocking over glasses, bumping into walls, and frantically discarding their clothing as they head for the bedroom? Then, with literally zero foreplay, they’re suddenly having sex and within […]
Fear: A Spotlight On What Matters To Us Most
“Everyone is afraid of something. We fear things because we value them. We fear losing people because we love them. We fear dying because we value being alive. Don’t wish you didn’t fear anything. All that would mean is that you didn’t feel anything. (Cassandra Clare)” Fear, in the right proportions, is perhaps the greatest […]
When The Medical System Isn’t Enough
Oh, the medical system. How we with chronic pain depend on it, and how we wish we didn’t have to. Sometimes it comes through for us; we get the right diagnosis, the right prescription – the right care. Too often, however, those are the expectations we carry into our appointments, only to leave feeling frustrated, […]