It’s very easy to become down and despondent at times and focus only on the negativity of the situation. Sometimes it can feel impossible to be positive when living with pain.
Can Being Positive When Living With Pain Help Us?
It can be extremely difficult living with chronic pain because it affects so much. We need to be honest about our pain and admit how we feel, especially when we’re feeling very low.
But can being more positive actually help us when we’re living with pain?
Positivity isn’t a magic wand. It definitely won’t send the pain flying into orbit, but it can help people to cope with it better.
When someone feels more positive, they can feel empowered and more capable. If they can cope with their pain more, the pain itself might not feel as bad. So maybe a positive attitude could help if we’re living with pain.
Positivity Doesn’t Always Come Naturally to Me
People think I have a positive attitude all the time. But believe me, some mornings when I wake up, I don’t feel too positive.
I could easily pull the quilt back up over my head and stay in bed – and some days I have to because of the physical pain. But if it’s mood-related, I need to try to do something about it. I might have a rant, a cry or just a good old moan and then I take a deep breath and try to start the day over again. Sometimes it’s not that simple and I have to just accept that it’s a bad day, hide away and hope that tomorrow is a better day. But I can’t do that every day. I can’t let negativity drag me down.
Living with pain is bad enough so I need to try to find ways to help myself. If I can be positive despite living with pain, it can help me get through the days a little bit easier.
How to Be Positive When Living With Pain
Here are some things I do to try to find positivity despite my pain. Please give them a go – they might help.
12 Ways to Find Positivity
1 – Smile
Look in the mirror every day and smile at your own reflection – you are guaranteed to get a smile back.
Smile at other people – they’ll smile back at you.
Smiling really is infectious and it is scientifically proven to be good for you. It releases feel good endorphins which help you mood and your pain.
2 – Laugh
They say laughter is the best medicine.
Read some silly jokes, watch your favourite sitcom or look on Youtube for some funny cat or dog videos.
3 – Wash and Dress
If you’re able to, have a shower or bath, then get dressed. Some days are definitely pyjama days because of physical pain or illness. But on the other days, putting on comfy clothes can lift your mood rather than wearing pyjamas all day.
4 – Eat Well, Sleep Well
Getting good, healthy nutrition and sleep are both so important for us physically and mentally. Comfort food is called comfort food for a reason and it doesn’t have to be unhealthy.
5 – Write or Talk About How You Are Feeling
Write about your problem. Sometimes writing about it can clear your mind and put everything in perspective. It’s worth trying.
Loneliness is common for people with chronic health problems. Chat to someone. Chat online or by telephone if there’s no-one around or you can’t get out.
6 – Focus
Focus on one hour at a time, or even just one minute at a time.
Focus what you can do, rather than what you can’t.
Focus on what you have, rather than what you don’t have.
Try keeping a gratitude journal. Look around you and find things that make you happy. Old photos, family, pets, anything that triggers happy memories. Smell some flowers. Watch a butterfly. Small things like that can mean a lot when you live with pain.
Focus on whatever makes you feel better.
7 – Activity – Physical and Mental
I always feel better mentally if I can get outside and move about a bit, but walking isn’t always possible, nor is going outside due to cold weather.
However, there are gentle exercises which some people can do indoors and despite their disabilities. Find links on youtube of sitting exercises and gentle yoga. Do what you are able to do and speak to your doctor or physiotherapist for advice.
If you can’t manage physical exercise at all, do some breathing and relaxation exercises.
Try to keep your mind active with distractions. Do crossword puzzles, write a story, watch a movie, read a book or get your mind engrossed in a hobby. Bake a cake, paint a picture, knit a scarf or string some beads to make a necklace. If you want some more distraction ideas, check out this post.
8 – Be Around Positive People
Surround yourself with positive people. It’s nice to be there with a listening ear for other people when they’re down, but sometimes you need to think about your own mood. If you’re down, you can’t help them much and their mood could bring you down further. Sometimes you need to back away, even if only for an hour until you can handle it.
9 – Music Can Lift Your Spirits
The world would be a sadder place without music. My taste in music ranges from everything to anything. But there are just some singers and some songs that I can’t help but sing along to. Singing can turn my mood around. My singing can also turn my husband’s mood around but that’s because I can’t sing! He puts up with it though.
What’s your favourite song or piece of music?
10 – A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way
Do something nice for someone. A little kindness will make them feel good, but it will also help you feel better. You could phone an old friend or spend five minutes chatting to an elderly neighbour – it doesn’t have to involve spending money. Time is often more precious to people than money.
And do something nice for yourself. Treat yourself. Do something you enjoy – take time to watch your favourite movie, do your nails or put some essential oil in a diffuser and just breathe.
11 – Be Hopeful
I don’t believe in having false hope. Miracle cures that seem too good to be true normally are. But we can still hold on to hope. We can hope for better treatments and for a better understanding. And we can hope for better tomorrows.
12 – Pep Talk
Look in a mirror and look right into your eyes and say “I love you”. Sometimes we knock ourselves down so much but we shouldn’t. You are doing the best you can in a bad situation, so be proud of yourself.
Love yourself – you’re worth it.
Ask For Help if You Are Struggling
If you feel down and despondent a lot, please talk to your doctor about it. It’s very easy to slip into a dark hole, and the further we go down, the harder it becomes to climb back out. So if you are finding yourself in one of those dark places and you are struggling to find a way out, then please speak to your doctor. It’s a difficult climb, but more difficult if you’re trying to climb out on your own, so please do ask for help.
I know it’s not always easy to be positive when you are living with pain but I hope this post can help you in some way.
Thank you so much for reading.
If this post resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
And feel free to share it with your friends or support groups.
Take care,
Liz.
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I agree with everything you say in this post. It’s hard to be positive but it’s essential in order to get by each day. I also try and think about the good things that have occurred since having my chronic pain. Stuff I have done or have in my life that I didn’t before my pain. It can just make being positive that little bit easier for me. Super post and some great tips! xx
Thank you! Yes, focusing on the the good things since illness or pain is important. So many things I do that I would probably
never have done had I been fit and healthy.
Great post 🙂
Thank you
Being positive doesn’t come naturally to me, it’s something I have to really work at and it’s not always successful. But trying to be positive throughout chronic illness and pain… it can be incredibly difficult but it’s such an important topic, which you have covered beautifully. I really like that you’ve given small, manageable ideas that are actually incredibly powerful in cultivating positivity. Very nicely done, Liz ♥
Caz xx
Thank you, Caz. It’s definitely not always easy. I have to try extra hard some days, and sometimes it just doesn’t work. But that’s when I bury under the quilt and hope tomorrow is a better day.
Being positive helps in so many ways! My wife is the epitome of positive. She always takes the “it could be worse side” of things. Being positive when in pain on a chronic basis is not easy to do. Surrounding yourself with positive people helps in all areas of life. Listening to music and exercise as well. If you can combine all three of those it’s a win!
It’s not easy, but I imagine my life would be worse if I couldn’t find some positivity. It definitely helps to have someone positive in the house.
Talking with people is a great way to help, it is surprising how much just getting feelings out can help the mind, soul and body. There are a lot of great tips here.
Thank you. Yes, talking helps.
I find getting dressed really helps me. Working at home means that I can stay in my pajamas basically forever, unless I have to go out somewhere. Sometimes I just need to get dressed to feel “normal” and productive. A positive attitude is huge as well. Some days that is easier than others. But it is really important. When I practice this consistently, it becomes a habit and I am able to handle things much better. Which I always appreciate.
I agree with all the points shared here! Especially with being around positive and lovely people. They cheer us up and we become like them with time. 🙂
I agree, other people can cheer us up. Thanks, Snehal.
I totally get what you’re saying about feeling more normal and productive. I think I associate wearing pyjamas all day with being in a really bad way, so I end up feeling sorry for myself.
Thinking positively often means being intentional about what we do and say. It’s a choice we have to make and sometimes it isn’t easy, but it is always worth it. These are perfect ways to manage it.
The mind is so powerful and so many people don’t realize how just having good thoughts and energy can affect you
That’s very true, Kaitlyn.
Yes, it’s a choice. One I’m happy to make.
Being around positive people is definitely a great idea because happiness is contagious. Avoid people who’s opinion will weigh you down and add to your stress.
Yes, happiness can be contagious.
One more helpful post. I like the point raised about the smile. It reminds me of a dear song, composed by Charlie Chaplin: “Smile – What’s the use of crying –
You’ll find that life is still worth while if you smile”
Have a lovely summer, full of laughter and smiles
I love that song! Hope you enjoy the summer too.
Staying positive is important because you can control your mindset. Yes, positivity isn’t a magic cure-all and it doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but surrounding yourself with positive people and thoughts is helpful
Anything that helps, even just a little bit, is worth trying.
I think it is the best post from you so far. It is very helpful and very insider. I don’t think person without pain might ever come up to this.
Thank you so much, Lyosha.
I agree with all of these ways to cope with chronic pain. It really is mind over matter most days isn’t it? Endorphins are important too so on top of positive thoughts and behaviors, tie in some movement to a happy place for distraction.
It’s truly difficult to keep positive when you’re dealing with a chronic illness, daily. I agree with you that you can’t depend on mood to get yourself in the right frame of mind, so developing it has to be a plan and strategy that outlines how and when you’ll do things to achieve well being. I love your list of coping mechanisms – thanks for sharing them.
Another way I’ve found that helps me be more positive is making a list of things I’m grateful/thankful for. Focusing on those good things can really make a difference.
Great post..Living with chronic pain is a struggle everyday!
This was a great read. On days when it is hard to get out of that mental funk one would just have to look at this list and complete each task. I know that following it would and will help me greatly. Thanks.
One lifesaving practice for me has been the Yoga With Adrienne. YouTube channel. She has chair yoga and yoga for depression available, for free. It’s great when you can’t leave your house. She is kind and compassionate too, providing modifications when necessary. She feels like a friend to me and I can’t imagine I’d still be here if it weren’t for her. Have a great weekend y’all. Take care. <3