Chronic pain is one of the most misunderstood conditions. Having long-standing, high-intensity pain is unimaginable to most people who have not experienced it first-hand. This, unfortunately, can cause individuals to say things that can be unintentionally harmful to their loved ones. If someone you care about deals with chronic pain, here are some common phrases to avoid when talking to your loved one.
It’s All In Your Head
This can be intended in a comforting way, but saying, “it’s all in your head” is actually very harmful to chronically ill individuals. This phrase perpetuates the idea that an individual is imagining or making up their pain. In reality, all pain is “in your head” because of the way your nerves and pain receptors work.
You’re Used To It By Now
You may assume because people with chronic pain experience pain all the time, that this makes them immune to the impact of the discomfort. This is a common misunderstanding. Unfortunately, pain is still pain, no matter how long it has been going on. While pain can be eased with things such as diet, exercise, or going to a rehabilitation centre Burlington ON, chronic pain is something that impacts a person’s day-to-day life.
But You Did It Yesterday
For many individuals with chronic pain, their pain is not linear from one day to the next. Someone who is able to cook and clean one day may be bedridden the next. Someone who is in a wheelchair for one type of activity may be fine walking shorter distances. Someone’s ability to perform tasks can widely vary based on things like weather, stress, illness, and various other factors.
Chronic pain can be difficult to understand, but it is even more difficult to live with and manage. It is important to be mindful of the language you use towards your loved ones who struggle with chronic pain. This way, they will feel less isolated from the world around them.