Family and friends

Tips for family and friends

Don't minimize or invalidate the pain. It's very much real. Learn about pain to better understand what the person is experiencing and that the pain may never go away.
Help, but don't coddle. Promote independence and active self-management.
Don't talk about pain, symptoms, treatments, or the person's feelings. Switch the conversation to other, more enjoyable and meaningful topics to shift the focus away from the pain.
Identify unhelpful pain behaviors — remaining neutral in your response. I include a list of pain behaviors in my book and my $19 pain course.
Do things that help distract them from the pain. Engage the person in something enjoyable, like a board game, a movie, or a walk.
Encourage the person to become more physically active using moderation and modification.
Reinforce healthy behaviors like staying positive, sleeping better, challenging negative thoughts and beliefs, managing stress, exercising regularly, eating right, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol.
Recognize positive changes in the person by helping them celebrate the wins along the way, no matter how big or how small.

Be sure to download the Chronic Pain Champions Starter Guide (no need to provide your personal information or email) to learn more about chronic pain and encourage your family member/friend to visit this site and explore all the information and resources available here.

CHRONIC PAIN CHAMPIONS, LLC, AND THIS WEBSITE DO NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
All information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Use at your own risk.
By accessing/using this website and any related pages/information/products/services, you agree to the terms and conditions.
Please see the disclaimer page to learn more.