Episode5 Segment 7 - Explaining my pain to teachers and friends? How will I stay connected?
Fast Fact 1
Tell your family
and friends about
your pain
Fast Fact 2
Create strategies
to stay connected
with your friends
Pain is not something other people can see. Your friends and class mates may not understand your pain because they cannot see it and do not understand what is happening to you. It is a good idea to help your close friends understand chronic pain, and how it is different to acute pain (if you want more information, go to Episode 1). Sometimes when people do not understand something, they come to their own conclusions. This can be very different from the real situation.
Educating those around you about chronic pain can help them better understand and support you.
Pain and School - Some tips and troubleshooting from a parent (PDF File - 370Kb)
Activities to try
If your pain is stopping you from participating in certain activities, a good way to rejoin is through suggesting to your friends some activities that you know you can do. This way, you can join in and not be on the sideline. Listed below are some examples.
Seeing friends outside of school is also helpful for motivation
- Get them involved with your exercise plan
- Mix some physical activity with quiet activity
- Go for a walk or jog with your friends
- Go with your friends to the shops, park, beach or river
- Plan ahead on how you will manage your pain during the activity and put these measures in place (rest breaks, distraction techniques)
Remember to have fun.