International pain awareness month

September is an international pain awareness month; Did you know that?

We all have experienced pain in our lives, I am sure about it. Physical pain, mental pain, anything. Pain from one single small paper cut, pain from stepping on the Lego, pain from sprains and strains. Pain from accidents, or pain from losing a loved one.

But some of us, in fact, millions of us around the world, experience pain every day. Not only every day but every hour, every minute and every single damn second. And most of us, have been told: “Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do more.” We take medications every day to be able to even try to live like we once used to. We go to work, we go to the gym, we see our friends, we go shopping, and some days we do nothing at all.

We have lost friends along the way, we have lost the things we used to do, we have lost trust too many people, we have been seen as drug seekers at the hospital, we have been demanding to be taken seriously, we have been crying for hours for the pain to end, and we have laughed like crazy for the jokes we make about our pain, body and everything it has taken away from us. It is dark humor.

And what we have gained from it?

I can only speak for myself, and say, that I have gained strength. The kind of strength, that not many at my age have yet gained. I have gained new friendships around the world. I have met amazing people because of my pain. I have started to appreciate life in a totally different way. Because of my pain, I have been able to find positivity from everything. I might not be able to walk pain-free, but at least I can walk. I might not be able to throw a hammer, but I can coach others. I might have lost friends along the way, but at least I have seen who the true friends are.

Yes, most of us living in pain 24/7, are also mentally exhausted. Most of us have some kind of mental illness, problems with body positivity, problems seeing us as worthy people. You cannot really know what it is like if you don’t experience it by yourself. But you can try to understand, you can try to jump in our shoes and be there for us.

We need people who cares.

We need people who talk about pain.

We need people who are able to share, that living in pain 24/7 is a real thing, even if they would not be the ones experiencing it.

We need people who talk for us at the times we are not able to talk by ourselves.

We need people who see our suffering without us speaking about it.

We need people who see right through us.

Living with 24/7 pain is exhausting.

Physically obviously, but also mentally. 

Exhausting in ways that are hard to understand, but that is why there are months like this. Awareness months, when people living in pain will get their words heard more easily.

Living in pain is mentally draining, and I could say, that most living in whatever kind of pain, has also mental health issues. And that is OK because pain is hard.

But what we need to do?

We need to keep going.

Never give up, and keep sharing the awareness. Not only during September, but through the whole year.

Forever and always.

xoxo, until the next time.