I was literally just a 14-year-old that was just only diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It was 2007, and Myspace was still the going social media website. I was desperately looking for someone online to talk to, because there were no local support groups, either. But even on Myspace, there weren’t too many places to talk about my experiences.
It took a few years, and when I was 17, I started “Fibro Fighterz.” That was what Positivity in Pain was originally. But, as I aged, more diagnoses continued to roll in. There was degenerative disc disease, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and of course the most terrible that still plagues me, endometriosis.
I switched the name to Positivity In Pain because I knew that I wasn’t the only one who was suffering with all different kinds of physical issues and mental health issues. That is when Positivity in Pain was created. PiPSTER’s Place, our completely private Facebook group followed shortly thereafter.
Now, 15 years later, we are 131,000 strong on our main Facebook page, and in our group, we have around three-thousand members that are very close-knit and many post everyday in the group.
But enough about the history, it has been FIFTEEN YEARS since the first incarnation of Positivity in Pain was created. This deserves a celebration! That means we are going to hold our biggest giveaway ever! I want all of our members to enter! Here are the details on what we are giving away:
- One signed copy of Positivity In Pain: Finding Joy & Happiness Despite Chronic Pain
- One $20 Amazon Gift Card
- One $25 DoorDash Gift Card
- Mystery Prizes!
The giveaway will run from July 8 to August 20. That gives everybody plenty of time to enter! I am so excited that it has been FIFTEEN years guys! Here we go onto even bigger and better things to come for Positivity In Pain! Bring on the next 15 years!
I love all of you that I have met through Positivity in Pain! You are all incredible, strong and amazing individuals. Please remember that!
Now its time to enter! The giveaway is open to the United States.
Enter below!
I have no tips.
have a heating pad and other essentials near by and in reach
My tip is find ways to laugh, and find little things that bring you joy.
Don’t give up
Be active and present in your own care!
Lean on your support system when things are tough. They will get you through and learn to ask for help when you need it.
Believe in yourself D
Rest. Don’t push it, even when you feel like you can. It always catches up to you.
Rest. Even when you feel like you can keep going, don’t push it. It will always catch up to you.
My number one tip for someone living in chronic pain is to be sure to reduce stress and try to get plenty of rest and relaxation.
Keeping active helps with my joint pain
Keep moving even if it’s small steps and short distances it all helps in the long run.
My tip is to keep trying until you find the right doctor who will support you and find solutions for your chronic pain. Also try natural ways to treat it. Change what you eat so it’s all one ingredient foods with nothing artificial and toxic.
Be patient with yourself and the process.
Keep moving. “Motion is Lotion.”
I really can’t give specific tips like, “use a heating pad,” or, “these are the best essential oils,” because I can’t promise or even suggest that something like that will help everyone. Those are two examples that I hear from everyone, but neither has ever worked for me. So all I can suggest is to be patient with yourself as you deal with symptoms that no one else sees. Don’t be discouraged when you can’t do something that someone else can because your body and their body are not the same and do not have the same abilities. Just be patient with yourself.
Accept. Don’t Except. When we expect things to be different, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. Accept the circumstances and do our best to seek comfort, peace, and help. *To accept does NOT mean we have to be happy about it. 😉 We just need to be present.
Listen to your body when it’s telling you enough is enough – to keep pushing will only cause greater pain for a longer time.
Listen to your body and don’t try and do everything at one time. My heating pad is my best friend.
Listen to what your body needs! And try to be gentle on yourself.
I’ve experienced chronic pain since my early teens. The thing that has made the biggest difference is not something I learned until recently. My advice is: fight discouragement.
Loving myself and being patient with myself have been some of the hardest things, especially as I have become increasingly disabled. But outsourcing my value and happiness to others has only brought me misery. As much as possible, I take responsibility for how I feel. I focus on what I can do. I ask for help if needed. And I try to help others smile with the talents and skills I still have.
Much love to all fighting chronic illness!!
Pace yourself. Even though it’s tempting to take advantage of the better days, they can quickly become bad days or even weeks if you push it. Rest is so important!
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You’re so strong and you’re a true inspiration. Thank you🥺💛🎗️
Be kind to yourself. Not everyone will understand chronic pain and chronic illnesses. Don’t feel the need to explain yourself to those who are not open minded. Join a support group, such as “Pipster’s Place” where others are going through similar experiences and can empathize. Don’t compare yourself to your previous life before your chronic conditions. Instead celebrate the little triumphs in life we overlooked in the past. Such as showered today, took care of your needs, reached out to a friend via text or phone. Taking care of our mental health is very important. Don’t give up, you are not alone! Many are in a similar situation. Hugs 🤗🤗
I’m super excited to have found this blog! I’m really working on my mental wellness, reading a few highly rated self-help books, learning to be kind to myself and take things one day (sometimes one moment) at a time.
I’m taking baby steps in trying to manage my chronic pain (secondary to MS). Going on short walks has made a dramatic improvement not just physically but also mentally!
Don’t feel guilty for letting yourself rest.
I’m in a really big, nasty flare right now. I have many health issues including fibro. My best advice is, speak up to your doctors, be honest about EVERYTHING you’re going through and follow through with the process. For me, it was VERY hard to accept (still is sometimes) this disease along with all my other health problems (debilitating). Take it all in a breathe and live for moments, take everything in as if it’s the last time you’ll do it. Life is short (2 double pulmonary embolism (s) took me out, flatlined & hospitalization for weeks and months at a time… 6 spine surgeries, to date) anyway, love yourself most. Be kind to yourself. You matter! You ARE enough!!
I could share so much more but the above is just enough..
*Full disclosure * this is the most I’ve ever shared & is only a small clip #BeingBraveIsHard #KeepPushing
Rest when you can! Over-doing it can cause more pain.
Do your best to pace yourself.
It’s ok to say no and not explain yourself
Always have multiple ice packs and heating pads.
My first piece of advice is to surround yourself with positive thinking people. It is so much worse and sometimes even damaging to your mind, and possibly your body, when you have negative people in your life. I am very lucky to have a wonderful 20 year old son (who has ASD and spends time being a caregiver for me) and husband who daily keep me thinking positive. There are many times that I get depressed and upset at myself for not being able to perform chores in the house, ie cooking, cleaning, and such. Instead I have to spend days in the bed. On these “bed” days, my son says every time “the only thing you need to be doing is staying alive”. I am also lucky to have other friends and family members that are positive minded.
My next suggestion is to find and do something that can be an outlet for any depression, anxiety, and/or frustrations. Specifically, I would recommend something creative. Things like painting, drawing, making resin jewelry, or learning to sculpt with wire. Another excellent way to escape is by starting a detailed journal about your day. A great type of journal is the kind called a junk journal. I really like this type of journaling because you can put a variety of things in it. You can paint in it, glue paper items from things that might’ve happened during the day, and even add in stickers and fun things. I personally think of junk journaling as a cross between scrapbooking and journaling. There are also topic specific journals on places like Amazon that are for people with chronic pain, chronic illness, PTSD, etc. These type of journals guide you on the topics and help with ideas on what to write.
The important thing is finding some thing that you are still able to do with chronic pain or a chronic illness. Something that makes you feel good and takes your mind off of what you’re currently coping with. I personally went from being a very active person with a job as an RN, to someone on disability that has to spend long periods of time in bed and dealing with inactivity. I still struggle on some days with coping, negativity, and my personal feelings of inadequacy.
Considering that this time last year I was just transitioning from being in a wheelchair all of the time to walking with a rollator walker. I am now able to walk without assistance and I try to take it easy on myself for the things that I am still unable to do.
Lastly and MOST importantly…. Please Be gentle with yourself. You WILL have days where you are frustrated. You WILL have days that you are anxious. You WILL have days that you are depressed. Let yourself have your strong emotions. Don’t bottle up the negative feelings. If you have someone close to you that you feel comfortable talking with, talk it out. This does helps to be able to get out any detrimental feelings. Again, journaling is another option and wonderful for this as well. Journaling allows you to get out words and feelings that you might not feel comfortable discussing with anyone out loud. But still, again, and I say with passion…
please be gentle with yourself.
I try to always remember how much worse It can be and try to show people how I can smile through the pain.