When you’re living in pain, your life changes. Sometimes medication works, and other times, medication doesn’t help at all. If your chronic pain makes it difficult for you to function, your life changes.
Living in pain not only has an impact on you, but the relationships you have with your family as well. Here are a few ways how and what you can do to repair these bonds.
Pain and Counseling
If you are suffering from chronic pain, it can have an impact on your mental health. Seeing a therapist may be difficult, as chronic pain can even make it hard for you to visit a therapist. Online therapy makes it easier. Sites such as ReGain can help make the process much easier.
Dealing with Family Members Who Don’t Care
If you have a family member, especially a distant one who has come to visit, they may not have much empathy for you. They may say “You don’t look like you’re in pain” and then start comparing their pain to yours. It can especially be bad if you’re younger and suffer from chronic pain.
It’s important to educate your family members, and then consider putting distance between you if they refuse to treat you with empathy.
Roles Change
If you develop chronic pain, the family roles may change. You may take on new, less intensive chores around the house, while your roommate or family member takes on the more physically demanding work.
This shift can cause tension in some relationships, so establish clear and open communication. Things might change as chronic pain develops or worsens, but you can work through these challenges.
Canceling Plans
If you’re making friends with your friends and family, you may have to cancel plans due to the pain. Frequently canceling may impact the relationship. Even if your friends and family understand, they may stop inviting you to events.
You’ll get different answers for this problem. Some may say to take care of yourself, while others may say to not let the pain get the best of you and that you should try to attend plans. Choose what is best for you, and try to communicate with your loved ones that when you do need to cancel, it’s not a reflection on how much you care for them.
Another solution is to make plans to go to a place that may help with your pain. For example, you can go to yoga with your friends and family. For other low impact ideas, go here or click here for more information.
Isolation
One of the worst outcomes of chronic pain is isolation. You may be unable to leave your home whenever you like, which can make it hard to connect with people.
Even with online friends, some people still feel lonely. Depression may develop in this case. If you feel like you don’t enjoy your daily life anymore, seek the help of a mental health professional. You are not alone in these feelings, and there are ways for you to improve your mental well-being.
Even if you can’t get mental health treatment right away, confide in a trusted family member. This can deepen your connection, and the only way that they can help you feel less isolated is if they know that there’s a problem.
There Is Hope
No matter how hard it gets, remember that nobody is hopeless. Pain ebbs and flows, relationships mend, and time can’t fix everything, but it can do more than you might imagine.
Spend time with your friends and family whenever you can. These relationships can help sustain you in the tough times, so do whatever you can to keep healthy, respectful relationships in your life.
What has your experience been with chronic pain and family relationships?
We’d love to hear about your journey. Email us at info@www.painresource.com or add to the comments below.
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