One of the first things we do when we're in pain is contract. We contract our body around the pain, and we also contract our lives.
We are often not able to interact with others socially at the same level we have been used to, nor do we want to. We withdraw into ourselves as a natural response to pain, in order to heal.
But when we're living with chronic pain, pulling away from social gatherings and friendly interactions often leads to feelings of immense loneliness and isolation.
In my latest 10-minute video, I read from The Pain Companion, Chapter 10 on Loneliness and Isolation which talks about how to mitigate the loneliness of living with chronic pain without having to wait to be healed to feel part of life again.
Many of my suggestions are simple and easy to implement, but often overlooked by those of us in pain because
We are often not able to interact with others socially at the same level we have been used to, nor do we want to. We withdraw into ourselves as a natural response to pain, in order to heal.
But when we're living with chronic pain, pulling away from social gatherings and friendly interactions often leads to feelings of immense loneliness and isolation.
In my latest 10-minute video, I read from The Pain Companion, Chapter 10 on Loneliness and Isolation which talks about how to mitigate the loneliness of living with chronic pain without having to wait to be healed to feel part of life again.
Many of my suggestions are simple and easy to implement, but often overlooked by those of us in pain because
- we didn't think we would be in pain this long, so haven't adjusted our social lives
- we don't have a whole lot of energy and brain power to think of these solutions for ourselves.
It is my hope that this little video may give you an idea or two that you can feel good about implementing which will help you feel more connected to your friends and life in general. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/SlZSQ9fcPsA
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