“You’re tired of fighting your illness. You’re tired of explaining why you don’t have energy to do the things you used to do… You’re tired of hearing others’ opinions about how you can get better.” What I Wish Others Knew About Living With #ChronicPain https://buff.ly/2EqF7HY

“I’m astonished by the fact that I look at my feet and there are no flames… Not only does touch hurt but so do other things… vibrations from music hurt me… it becomes very hard.” https://themighty.com/topic/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-syndrome/crps-flare-ups/ #CRPS #RSD #PainAwarenessMonth

“Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintaned the struggle against overwhelming odds.” ~ Orison Swett Marden #Disability #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness

“If you run out of spoons you can’t do anything else that day, if you go beyond your limits, you pay the price for days/weeks… When ppl with #ChronicIllness push themselves too hard—it triggers a flare.” https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-illness/what-is-a-spoonie-spoon-theory-chronic-illness-tme/

“The unpredictability of #pain often catches me off guard… There’s also those days where we simply can’t handle anything… It’s easy to feel frustration when #ChronicallyIll Instead of berating ourselves…attend to feelings with kindness.” https://www.achronicvoice.com/2019/02/17/resilient-strategies/

“Pain is mentally exhausting… This is on top of the pain and everything else, so when we are doing something that seems insignificant to you, remember it may be taking literally every ounce of strength we have.” https://buff.ly/3lhCUVu #chronicpain #chronicillness

“#Creativity is vital for many of us… Please be kind to yourself — there are just periods (some excruciatingly long ones) where #chronicillness prevents you from doing any #creative work. This does not mean you are not creative or have failed in any way.” https://buff.ly/siEOaMs

“I wake up, and my first conscious thought is pain. If I can manage to get to sleep… Every moment, of every day…over the years, it’s gotten worse, with a wider variety in types of pain. My #fatigue has continued to be debilitating.” https://buff.ly/37MCqDP #chronicillness #chronicpain

“It’s important to try your best, but it’s more important to give yourself grace… It’s okay to push through, but it’s more important to not worry about things too much if at all possible. You are human.” Organisation: #Resources for #ChronicIllness https://buff.ly/UVTovzF #chronicallyill #spoonie

“Look for beauty. No matter how awful it is, there is still beauty…your cat purring, a sunset, time spent with those you love. No matter how bleak you feel, remember there is still beauty… You are so much stronger than you think.” https://themighty.com/topic/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-flare-reminders

“There is a particular kind of courage in living with #chronicpain… the quiet persistence of showing up day after day when everything in you wants to retreat… in choosing to engage with life despite knowing the cost.” https://chrishutchinsjoss.substack.com/p/the-silent-battle-living-in-the-shadow

“Be gentle with yourself… Our bodies are hard enough on us without ourselves being even harder. Be kind, be patient, be gentle. Treat yourself how you would treat another #chronicallyill person.” https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-illness/hacks-tips-cleaning-chronic-illness/ #ChronicPain #Spoonie

“The real hardships come from the repercussions of being in #pain all the time—the exhaustion, mental blur, inability to connect… because of the constant blinding discomfort… Even the simplest things become so complicated.” https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-does-nobody-understand-that-im-ill/

“Those with #chronicillness may need to cancel events last minute. This does not mean they are lazy or trying to avoid activities. Once #fatigue kicks in—the body ‘hits a wall’ & can’t go further—no matter what.” https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-illness/doctor-with-chronic-illness-things-to-know/

“‘Are you feeling better yet?’ shows a complete lack of awareness into the nature of #chronicillness. There is no ‘better’. We’re sick every day. There might be good and bad days, but even the ‘good’ are marred with suffering.” https://www.disabledginger.com/p/why-are-chronically-ill-people-forced

“Sometimes we can feel guilty when something is too difficult or takes too many spoons to complete… If you’re having a flare… do not blame yourself… You have a #disability; it takes away your ability to do some things with ease. That is not your fault.” https://buff.ly/BLMpE0Y

Ways #ChronicPain Changes You: *It affects every aspect of your life *It limits your ability to work *It can affect your confidence *It can change relationships *It makes you fearful *It requires a superhuman power of pain tolerance via #MySeveralWorlds @carriekellenberger ♥️ #PAM2025

“There‘s not one moment I‘m not in pain. The medication simply allows pain to be at a level where I don’t absolutely lose my mind… Sometimes my pain‘s so intense that [#opioids] don’t even touch it. Anyone with severe #ChronicPain will tell you the same.” https://buff.ly/JIxkVcV #opioidhysteria #cpp

“It is exhausting keeping up the mask that hides the pain. And sometimes, it is too much… Whatever the type of ‘too much’…it is okay to cry! Sometimes you just have to call it a day and hope things are better tomorrow.” https://katethealmostgreat.com/when-chronic-pain-becomes-too-much/ #ChronicPain

“In all my years as a doctor treating patients with #chronicillness, I never saw a patient who enjoyed feeling ill. I saw the opposite, patients who were once very active, desperately trying to find answers and treatment for their overwhelming symptoms.” https://buff.ly/AYoBbEi #ChronicPain

“Never assume a #ChronicPain patient is not experiencing pain when they say that they’re fine… Recall a time you were in pain, multiply the intensity and try to imagine that pain’s 24/7—without any relief in sight.” https://buff.ly/lvzu9pt #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2025 #Disability

“The thing people don’t realize about chronic pain & illness: I’m not just dealing with the pain—but the results of the pain…#ChronicPain is not just a condition. It becomes a way of living—not even living—surviving.” https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-illness/constant-cycle-chronic-pain-illness

“If you're struggling, you deserve to make #selfcare a priority… Quiet the voice telling you to do more and be more, and today, whatever you do, let it be enough… Be gentle with yourself. Acknowledge that you're doing the best you can to cope and survive.” #chronicpain #chronicillness #spoonie

“”You’re so lucky! I wish I had a vacation every single day!” I haven’t had a vacation in ages. I can’t make plans like that. And being home, sick and in pain—every single day—is not a vacation.” Unable to Work Is Not a Vacation https://buff.ly/7HDeTpt #chronicillness #disability

“Beyond the confines of pain…#creativity offers a way to speak when you have no words, a way to build when you feel broken, and a way to remind your brain and body that there’s more to your story than pain.” https://www.meredithhutton79.com/meredithhutton79/the-unseen-healer #ChronicPain #PTSD #CRPS

“We use our #opiates to be able to live. To get up in the morning, be a semi-functioning human being. We are physically dependent on the drugs, not psychologically dependent. There's a huge difference.” Please Remember This About #ChronicPain Patients https://buff.ly/CmjY7u1 #cpp

“It seems difficult to understand because the individual with #chronicillness seemed fine just hours ago. This leads to mistrust or doubt about whether they actually have an illness or perhaps it isn’t as serious as purported.” https://buff.ly/2Pl8wbQ #chronicpain #spoonie

“#CRPS—a fine line exists between pushing past breaking point—between the freedom of mobility & reality that I could send myself into a downward spiral/flare that lasts days/weeks/months.” https://themighty.com/topic/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/avoiding-overexertion-complex-regional-pain-syndrome

“It can be so tempting to blame ourselves for the things that may have contributed to triggering or exacerbating #chronicillness. ‘If only I hadn’t pushed so hard’ ‘why didn’t I stop when I knew I was getting tired?’ Recognise it’s understandable.” https://buff.ly/Kh8FJ7j

“When someone with #chronicillness says that they are tired, it means something very different than when someone without chronic illness says the same thing. There is no guarantee that our energy will be replenished after sleeping.” https://buff.ly/bYTXwuD #pwME #pwLC #spoonie

“Being home all day is not a dream lifestyle… I doubt they’d say, “I wish I could be home all day with #pain that no medicine can relieve” or “I wish I could be home all day with such debilitating #fatigue, I can’t concentrate on anything.” https://buff.ly/grrBQNi #Disability #PainAwarenessMonth

“Listen… without dismissive statements like “be positive”… It’s OK to admit that you don’t know what to say. When in doubt: “I don’t know what to say… but I’m sorry you’re struggling,” will work just fine.” https://buff.ly/CrAW8lm #PainAwarenessMonth #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain

“How are you really feeling? What support/help can I give you?” Every person and situation is different, so asking THEM is the single most important question.” https://laurachamberlain.co.uk/2017/08/21/14-things-say-chronically-ill-friend #PainAwarenessMonth #ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll

“Imagine plugging in a dead cell phone over night. When you awake, you expect it to be at 100%. But when you wake, it’s only at 9% and you have to try and function on that 9 percent. You’re never fully charged.” https://buff.ly/3rRDYWM #chronicillness #severeME #pwME #pwLC

“If I only have a certain number of “spoons” per day, I don’t want to spend them hating myself or my body… You deserve to love yourself regardless of #chronicillness. I’m not going to wait for a miracle to love myself—& you shouldn’t either.” https://buff.ly/XEEuFE4 #chronicpain

“#ChronicIllness adds another dimension to this existing fear… The fear of trying can haunt us. We fear that because in the past we tried and our illness prevented us from achieving something… and we failed… so we must be failures—right? Of course not.” https://buff.ly/PKcpEtr #ChronicPain

“One day I am fully capable of a task while the next day I struggle with generally simple things like brushing my teeth or getting dressed… Your abilities change dramatically from one day to the next.” https://www.themuse.com/advice/working-living-with-a-chronic-illness #ChronicIllness #Disability

“Listening to your body is one of the most important things you can do when you live with #chronicillness… signs of increased #fatigue, dizziness and #pain… Ignoring my body can cause a flare-up of symptoms, so I try and listen to what it’s telling me.” https://buff.ly/mEXJiiW

“Don’t tell your friend that you know how it feels to be living in #ChronicPain. Suffering from the flu, a broken leg, or dealing with a bad back don’t compare to what [they’re] going through. In fact, your friend might be feeling like she has all three.” https://buff.ly/xYLu5qd

“I lost so much of myself… losing my ability to work left me with a huge void… Speak to anyone with a #chronicillness who is unable to work, I guarantee you they would give almost anything to be well again and be able to work.” https://whatapain.co.uk/losing-your-job-to-chronic-illness

“Accept that #RareDisease patients know more about their illness than you do… It might not be common for a patient to know more about their medical condition than you do, but in the case of #RareDiseases, it’s just a fact.” Things ER Staff Should Know… https://buff.ly/tD3lBiD

“Medication is not failure. You’re not broken because you need support—you’re resilient because you keep showing up… And if all else fails? Cancel everything…give yourself the grace to rest.” https://vikkyleaney.substack.com/p/my-top-5-pain-management-tools-as/ #ChronicPain

“Chronic pain always hurts… You modify your life around the pain… learn to function while in an amount of pain that would be disabling to someone else. You learn to avoid activities that make it worse—but it still hurts every time.” https://buff.ly/uDDXwff #ChronicPain #IntractablePain #PainWarrior

“When I lost my job to #chronicillness it hurt more than the physical pain…I lost a huge part of my identity when I lost my ability to work… I worked so hard…to have my career cut short at age 27 was so painful.” https://www.achronicvoice.com/2019/09/07/pain-chronic-illness/ @achronicvoice #spoonie

“Being in constant #pain wears on you… Having no social life, being unable to leave the house, lacking human contact for weeks on end… My house becomes my prison. My pain, the guard preventing me from leaving.” https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-pain/chronic-pain-flare-up-what-to-know #ChronicPain

“I may have a few weeks, where I’m physically able to reach “new normals” of increased function…despite incredible pain… Then you barely heard from me for a few weeks…it seemed I fell off the face of the planet. Truth is…I did.” https://crpsablaze.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/flipped-on-its-head #CRPS

“You’re allowed to feel upset…melancholic, tired, defeated. It doesn’t help when others start sending random articles in an attempt to fix…because it invalidates…it downplays the severity.” https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-illness/why-its-ok-to-be-sad-about-your-illness/ @achronicvoice #spoonie

“One day you might be managing relatively well, the next, in an excruciating flare up. There's often no discernible trigger, which makes committing to future events a gamble.” https://www.meredithhutton79.com/meredithhutton79/navigating-the-haze-a-future-of-uncertainties-for-chronic-pain-sufferers

“It is OK to rest when you need it… It may take a while to find your new baseline. Our bodies seem to be always changing… Taking regular breaks has been crucial to preventing burnout.” https://themighty.com/topic/neurocardiogenic-syncope/lessons-learned-grieving-unexpected-diagnosis/ #chronicillness

“When most people think of something as “chronic”, it usually conjures up the notion that it is stable. Yet, #chronicillness is a life-long fluctuating disease with unpredictable timing and consequences.” https://paralasfridas.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/my-body-is-a-full-time-job/ #chronicillness