According to the latest research, about 40% of the American population suffer from some form of chronic pain. That’s roughly 100 million people. When individuals think about chronic pain and invisible illnesses that cause it, they often focus on the pain itself as well as how to treat it. For instance, you’ll find a lot of guides online that explore the different medicines as well as the alternate medicines that are available to individuals in this situation. What you won’t find is many articles explaining the side issues that are connected to chronic pain. There’s quite a few to content with as well. 

However, with the right steps, you can combat them all and ensure that they don’t become tremendous problems in your life. Let’s take a look at the issues that we’re talking about here.

Relationships

If you are suffering from significant or severe levels of chronic pain, then it’s fair to say that your relationships could be impacted. When you experience pain it is going to affect your mood. If your pain flares up then you’ll be more irritated and have a shorter fuse than usual. That’s a problem, particularly if you have people around you that won’t really understand this. If you have children, it’s difficult to explain how pain that you’re feeling impacts your mood. You might not even want to let your kids know that you are suffering from chronic pain. 

If you are struggling to deal with the emotional issues caused due to your chronic pain, think about speaking to a cognitive therapist. They will help you tackle the root issues here and ensure that they don’t leave you feeling down or depressed. In some cases, medication might be the right answer but this won’t always be the case. Some people will find that going on meds makes them feel numb and even tired. This can make the situation worse because you won’t have the energy for individuals in your life. 

You might need to put a little more effort into your relationships too. This can be a challenge because you’ll already be dealing with the pain associated with your condition. However, by making time for the people who are important to you, you can ensure that your life doesn’t become submerged in the pain you are feeling. 

Career 

Don’t forget, it’s not just your personal relationships that could be impacted by your chronic pain. It’s possible that you are struggling to make the right connections in work too. Again, this could be due to your mood changes or it might be because your chronic pain is impacting levels of energy. Regardless, you may find that your pain begins to cause your career to stagnate. You won’t be chosen or put forward for those promotions and you won’t be in a position where you can pursue other positions. 

How can you solve this problem? First, it’s worth being transparent about your condition with your employer. You should find that they are understanding and compassionate. If they aren’t, then you might want to think about switching to a different company. You might even find that they can adapt your position to suit your needs. For instance, it could be beneficial for you to work from home at least half the week rather than going into the office each day. Alternatively, they may just invest in ergonomic furniture that is going to make your work environment a lot more comfortable. 

Do be aware that there are treatments if you find that your chronic pain is distracting you from remaining productive. For instance, you might have developed maladaptive symptoms where you spend a lot of your time daydreaming. This is quite common for those with chronic pain because they want to escape from that particular reality. Neurofeedback ADHD treatment can be effective here and help you focus on what matters while putting the pain you experience to the back of your mind. 

Finances

Of course, if your career is impacted, then you could find that your condition also leads to changes in your finances. At first, you might not be able to afford the quality of life that you were previously used to. Particularly when you understand that you will have more financial requirements for coping with your chronic pain. 

There are a few ways to deal with this. For instance, you can explore insurance options. This could protect your finances if you ever reach a position where you are no longer able to work. Alternatively, you might want to think about exploring side hustles. An issue with chronic pain won’t always stop you from working different jobs. For instance, you could still think about completing work online as long as the condition that causes your pain isn’t RSI. 

Hobbies 

Before you developed your chronic pain, you may have had a specific passion or hobby that your life was based around. This could have been a sport or a different activity that you were completely immersed in. If your chronic pain is preventing you from completing this activity, then it’s possible that you start to feel as though your life has no purpose or is wasted. 

It’s important to realise that you are not one thing. A particular activity or hobby can never define you. As hard as it might be at first, you should try to see this as an opportunity to unlock or discover another part of yourself. For instance, it might be time to give writing a go. Alternatively, you could find that art is the perfect way to release your emotions and enjoy time at home. 

It’s clear then that chronic pain isn’t a condition that could ever be viewed in black and white terms. There’s a lot of side issues here to content with and problems that can arise. However, when you explore the options available to you, you’ll find that you can keep the impact of your condition on your life under control. You don’t have to let it determine who you are and what’s going to happen to you. 

by Contributing Author