Chronic Pain Support Group
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A Letter to those without Chronic Pain
In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand ...
... These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you
judge me...
Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being.
I have to spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion, and if you visit,
sometimes I probably don't seem like much fun to be with, but I'm still me-- stuck
inside this body. I still worry about school, my family, my friends, and most of
the time - I'd still like to hear you talk about yours, too.
Please understand the
difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu, you probably feel
miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time.
In fact, I work hard at not being miserable. So, if you're talking to me and I sound
happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. It doesn't mean that I'm not in a lot of pain,
or extremely tired, or that I'm getting better, or any of those things. Please don't
say, "Oh, you're sounding better!" or "But you look so healthy!¨ I am merely
coping. I am sounding happy and trying to look normal. If you want to comment on
that, you're welcome.
Please understand that being able to stand up for ten minutes
doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for twenty minutes, or an hour. Just
because I managed to stand up for thirty minutes yesterday doesn't mean that I can
do the same today. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed, or you can move.
With this one, it gets more confusing everyday. It can be like a yo-yo. I never know
from day to day, how I am going to feel when I wake up. In most cases, I never know
from minute to minute. That is one of the hardest and most frustrating components
of chronic pain.
Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, "sitting", "walking",
"thinking", "concentrating", "being sociable" and so on ... it applies to everything.
That's what chronic pain does to you.
Please understand that chronic pain is variable.
It's quite possible (for many, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the
park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the next room. Please
don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!" or Oh, come on,
I know you can do this!" If you want me to do something, then ask if I can. In a
similar vein, I may need to cancel a previous
commitment at the last minute. If this happens, please do not take it personally.
If you are able, please try to always remember how very lucky you are--to be physically
able to do all of the things that you can do.
Please understand that "getting out
and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse.
You don't know what I go through or how I suffer in my own private time. Telling
me that I need to exercise, or do some things to get my mind off of it¨ may frustrate
me to tears, and is not correct if I was capable of doing some things any or all
of the time, don't you know that I would? I am working with my doctor and I am doing
what I am supposed to do. Another statement that hurts is, "You just need to push
yourself more, try harder..." Obviously, chronic pain can deal with the whole body,
or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes participating in a single activity for
a short or a long period of time can cause more damage and physical pain than you
could ever imagine. Not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. You can't
always read it on my face or in my body language. Also, chronic pain may cause secondary
depression (wouldn't you get depressed and down if you were hurting constantly for
months or years?), but it is not created by depression.
Please understand that if
I say I have to sit down/lie down/stay in bed/or take these pills now, that probably
means that I do have to do it right now - it can't be put off or forgotten just because
I'm somewhere, or am right in the middle of doing something. Chronic pain does not
forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.
If you want to suggest a cure to me, please
don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't
want to get well. Lord knows that isn't true. In all likelihood, if you've heard
of it or tried it, so have I. In some cases, I have been made sicker, not better.
This can involve side effects or allergic reactions. It also includes failure, which
in and of itself can make me feel even lower. If there were something that cured,
or even helped people with my form of chronic pain, then we'd know about it. There
is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with chronic
pain. If something worked, we would KNOW. It's definitely not for lack of trying.
If, after reading this, you still feel the need to suggest a cure, then so be it.
I may take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.
If I seem touchy, it's probably
because I am. It's not how I try to be. As a matter of fact, I try very hard to be
normal. I hope you will try to understand. I have been, and am still, going through
a lot. Chronic pain is hard for you to understand unless you have had it. It wreaks
havoc on the body and the mind. It is exhausting and exasperating. Almost all the
time, I know that I am doing my best to cope with this, and live my life to the best
of my ability. I ask you to bear with me, and accept me as I am. I know that you
cannot literally understand my situation unless you have been in my shoes, but as
much as is possible, I am asking you to try to be understanding in general.
In many
ways I depend on you - people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I am
too sick to go out... Sometimes I need you help me with the shopping, cooking or
cleaning. I may need you to take me to the doctor, or to the store. You are my link
to the normalcy of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of life
that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.
I know
that I have asked a lot from you, and I do thank you for listening. It really does
mean a lot.
Author - Anonymous. Thanks to Eddie for finding this!
A printable version of this letter can be found on our downloads page
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