Many of us at this time of year are getting excited for the pending Christmas season. It’s almost upon us and we’re looking forward to spending time with family, relaxing and sleeping in and breathing a big sigh of relief for at least a few days of freedom from our daily pressures.
Living with invisible chronic illness and pain does not allow for such a luxury. A luxury, you say? How can it be a luxury to get ready for Christmas festivities? Isn’t it all supposed to be hustle and bustle and fun and frolic? Well, for those suffering daily with chronic pain, there is no such thing as a break or vacation. Every day, from the moment one wakes up until the second they fall off to a troubled sleep, is filled with suffering of some sort. There is no such thing as taking a break from the pressure of dealing with chronic illness – it never goes away.
How many times have you sat in your desk at work and thought to yourself ‘I think I need a vacation.’ I’m sure all of us have at one point or another. It is quite simple to look at a calendar and book the time off and look forward to that moment when you will be stress free, sitting with our feet up on a beach in Hawaii or Mexico, and simply soaking in the non-stress and relaxation. Chronic illness and pain do not respect vacations or planned times of respite. Nope. Not even a little bit. If you’re in pain, you’re in pain. It doesn’t matter if you ‘want’ to go somewhere to get away from the daily stress and agony, you simply don’t have a choice in the matter. Chronic pain is like an unwanted shadow that follows you wherever you go.
As I sit here and write this little article, I’m somewhat reflective of a time when I could do things on a whim. This was pretty much when I was single and didn’t have a care nor worry in the world. I could do what I wanted – when I wanted. I had no health issues, no pain and felt I was invincible. Now, living with a person with chronic illness and pain, I’m struck by how selfish I was when I would hear about someone with an illness and think “Seriously, can’t they just get over it. I mean, it can’t be that bad, can it? Can’t they just ignore it and get on with life? They musn’t be a very strong person.”
Well, I don’t think that anymore. I actually think the opposite and think that those who suffer daily from chronic pain are far stronger than I ever could be. They not only have to be strong physically, they have to be strong mentally and spiritually as well as they deal with all the ridicule, doubters and nay-sayers. I commend those people who suffer daily and usually have to suffer in silence. I want to be like them in their steadfastness.
