Life with Chronic Pain and Illness
Life with chronic pain and illness is a daily struggle. And the costs associated with it are even worse when you have a “productive” day.
Society often looks to the completed to-do checklist when considering how productive someone is.
For some, living life by a checklist works well. However, when you live with chronic pain and illness, trying to complete that list is filled with numerous consequences. In order to prove that productivity to others, it will, potentially, cost days and days of increased pain and exhaustion (physically and emotionally). This is the result of having a body that recovers differently than others.
In order to have that “productive” day, it involves using up the limited number of spoons (energy) we have for the day. It means pushing through your body’s signals which are telling you to stop/to rest. It will most likely result in a crash that will take many days to recover.
Those living with chronic pain and illness understand the physical and emotional toll that trying to keep up with everyone else causes. Sadly, it is often invisible to others who don’t feel the added weight or guilt associated with trying to appear “normal.” They will just applaud you for being productive.
Sadly, many people living with chronic pain and illness live in this cycle of pushing through and crashing over and over again.
We need to remind ourselves that what is “productive” for one person is not the same for everyone else … and that’s okay! We need to listen to our bodies and do what is “productive” for us, even if that means resting.
Here are some of the costs associated with having a “productive” day:
- a flare-up in pain and exhaustion
- crashing for multiple days
- feeling guilty for needing more time to rest
- self-doubt or guilt
- feeling that what you accomplished still isn’t enough
Is there anything you’d add to this list? Feel free to share it in the comments.
I hope you have a low-pain day.
If you’d like to read more Life with Chronic Pain and Illness posts, click here.
Thank you so much Leslie. I needed this, this morning. I’m dealing with lots of extra pain today because I was at my granddaughter’s birthday party Saturday. There was no way I would have missed it. But it set me back a few days. Please pray for me today. I need prayer so much to get through the day. Thank you again. Your blog post always helps me!! Joy
You’re welcome, but I’m sorry you’re in so much pain. I’m glad you were able to attend the birthday party. I’m sure your granddaughter appreciated it. But I’m very sorry there was such a high cost associated with it. Sending prayers your way.