One of the cruelest parts of being in chronic pain is the side effect of isolation. It often occurs slowly as the months and years unfold. Being in pain ideally would attract all kinds of care, compassion and support. This is rarely the case. The person is left feeling unloved, anxious and worried about how long they can go on. The reasons for the need to “go it alone” are many and often combine to make the pain even worse. Caught in this vicious cycle the landscape of life starts losing its color and turns a dull gray. The future is uncertain without anyone or anywhere to turn for relief.
The Challenge
The Present Experience of People Living with High Impact Chronic Pain
Many experience chronic pain, perhaps in their neck/shoulders, low back, head, knees, digestion or even our jaw, interfering with an active life.
Anxiety, depression and sleep disruptions exacerbate physical discomfort.
Chronic pain gets in the way of work, family and self-esteem, hijacking life and making it hard to focus on anything else.
Adding to these challenges are changes in social fabric like stigma and increasingly high barriers to care are exhausting and interfere with important choices for a healthy lifestyle.
