Episode5 Segment 1 - School can be challenging
Fast Fact 1
Attending and succeeding at school is possible, even if you have pain
Fast Fact 2
Strategies can be developed to better manage the school environment
Pain makes school difficult
Even if you enjoy school, having pain can make it challenging. For instance, there’s having to deal with the physical environment. When you have pain or an illness it can be difficult getting to, moving around, and being in the school environment. You may have to catch a bus, stand or sit for long periods of time, walk up and down stairs, lift things out of a locker, walk around without getting knocked or bumped, and participate in sport.
There’s also the social interactions. As your friends and teachers are not able to see your pain, they may sometimes not understand or doubt you. A lack of understanding and education about your pain may result in you feeling a bit different, self-conscious, lonely, or sad. Other times you might feel frustrated, angry, or irritated.
There’s also the learning environment. Having chronic pain doesn’t make you more or less intelligent, but it can make it harder to concentrate. Sleeping well the night before is important to give you as much energy as possible.
What is important to remember is that while school can be challenging when you have pain, it is still a place where you can learn, achieve lots of things, and spend time with friends. With the help of your family, friends, teachers, and health care providers, you can plan and use strategies that will assist you in dealing with the physical, learning, and social environments of school. This episode is about giving you some information to help you start the process.
