Do you want to know how to deal with a loved one with chronic pain?
Consider the pain you feel when you break a bone, injure your back, or have surgery. Imagine the agony of not being able to get rid of it. It lasts three months or longer and has an effect on every aspect of your life, including your ability to function, sleep, and maintain relationships. Chronic pain is a complicated issue that affects more than 3.2 million Australians.
Acute pain is a pain we feel when we are sick or hurt—the tissues are telling us something is wrong, but the pain goes away when the tissues heal and mend. Chronic pain, on the other hand, occurs when a condition has healed but the pain persists—and, in many cases, worsens.
Chronic pain, according to researchers, is caused by changes in the nervous system. The brain has a remarkable capacity to adapt to its surroundings, but this may be problematic. The body learns to adapt to pain stimuli and improves over time, to the point that even routine tasks that should not be painful can cause pain, resulting in physical limitations and side effects.
According to a renowned psychologist in Sunshine Coast, “the reason people experience chronic pain has little to do with where you feel pain—it is simply because of changes in the brain that are caused by the onset of acute pain.
It can be difficult to know how to help a friend, a partner, family member, neighbour, or colleague—who is suffering from chronic pain, but there is a lot you can do. To start, here are seven tips on how to deal with a loved one with chronic pain:
1. Believe in them.
Your friends and family may not seem ill, and you may not be able to see what is causing their pain, but that does not mean they are not suffering from chronic pain.
The first step is for people to accept that their friend is in distress. It is also important to recognise that chronic pain causes a lot of stress in people’s lives. It has an effect on their thought, emotions, relationships, work capacity, and concentration, among other things.
2. Learn about the illness.
You cannot fix something unless you know how to. Learning about chronic pain and how to treat it will help you become a better support system for someone who is going through it.
Educate yourself by books or the internet so you can grasp what your friend is going through. Chronic pain is unavoidable. It is a frightening and terrible sensation over which you have no control. You experience more pain at times and less pain at other times.
3. Be flexible with social plans.
Because chronic pain is unpredictable, your friend may need to cancel a coffee date or reschedule a dinner. The pain can flare up or become more severe at any moment; it can be very unpredictable. So, while people may want to go out to dinner or attend a family function, their chronic pain disorder may prevent them from doing so.
4. Help your loved one find their calm space.
Stress-reduction techniques can be beneficial in your friend’s pain control approach. Invite them to a yoga or meditation session, share your favourite relaxation playlist or head to a nearby park or green space with a picnic blanket. Stress and tension can exacerbate chronic pain, so assisting your friend in finding their calm space is extremely beneficial.
5. Assist them when moving.
Experts believe that even small changes in daily movement will help the body learn to be less sensitive to pain. “People are designed to move, and inactivity can exacerbate chronic pain,” says Carrigan.
Ask your friend to join you for a walk and gradually increase the distance, or suggest window shopping or something else active they enjoy.”
6. Ask what you can do to help them.
Supporting your friend can be as easy as avoiding medical advice and asking how you can support them. But be careful not to turn into a caregiver rather than a friend.
You do not want to take on anything like cooking, washing, and grocery shopping; you do not want to be their caregiver. Our daily domestic routines can be sources of activity and self-confidence, and that the important rituals of friendship should not be ignored.
7. Advise them to see a psychologist or counsellor.
Psychologists and counsellors in Sunshine Coast specialise in assisting patients with the emotions, feelings, and habits that come with chronic pain. They can work with individuals and families in a private practice setting or a clinical setting as part of a health care team. Most health care providers refer patients with chronic pain to psychologists. They work together to treat both the physical and emotional aspects of a patient’s pain.
If you are looking for a psychologist, look no further than Sunshine Coast Clinical Psychology. We offer a personalized approach to help carry individuals through the pain they are dealing with. We also help patients in making lifestyle changes that allow them to continue participating in work and recreational activities.
Do you know how to deal with a loved one with chronic pain?
Dealing with family and friends with chronic pain can be complicated. But through the tips we have provided, you can help build the relationship and life you want with the person you care about. Both of you will be happy if you try to understand their suffering. With a little patience and understanding, your loved one will be on their way to a happy life together.
Contact us today to book for a one on one session with a psychologist to discuss your needs.