When someone lives with chronic pain life can be hard. What’s even harder is that many people just simply don’t understand what that exactly means for the person suffering.
But it’s not just about physical pain, that in many cases can be alleviated through the use of pain killers. That pain, that constant pain, can affect so many other aspects of people’s lives.
Angela*, 43, from West Belfast told us just how difficult it can be.
Here is Angela’s story: The Problems of Poor Health
DK: What are the problems that you face in your everyday life?
A: “The problems that I face is poor physical and mental health due to my depression and constant pain. This makes it harder for me to do physical work and so affects my income and so I am unable to give my kids everything I wish I could.”
DK: How did the problems in your life begin?
A: “After having my first baby about 21 years ago, I was suffering from postnatal depression. A few months after I had gotten into a horrible car accident which caused my horrible back pains, which they only discovered the cause of a few years ago now.”
DK: How did it affect your life?
A: “As I was suffering from depression, once the pain had started it had started getting worse. The more pain there was the more depressed that I got.”
DK: When was the worst point of your condition?
A: “The worst of the problems came as the kids came. It made it worse because I wasn’t able to do silly things like push them on their bikes or play football with them etc.”
DK: “What helped with your problems?”
A: “Nothing was really able to help with it, I just learned to cope with the pain better.”
DK: How are you currently coping with your problems?’
A: “An awful lot better, knowing what my limitations are and being able to stick to them without needing to push to hard.”
DK: Do you have any advice for someone in the same situation as you are?
A: “Try not to let the problem take over your life, live it as best you can.”
If you are struggling please don’t hesitate to reach out and get the help you need, talk to someone. Whether it’s your parents, friends, GP, Childline, Samaritans, Lifeline or any other organisation, help is available, people are there for you.
Chidline: Tel: 08001111
Samaritans: Tel:(028) 90664422 (local call charges apply)
Tel:116 123 (this number is free to call)
Email:[email protected]
Lifeline: Tel:0808 808 8000
PIPS: Tel: 02890805850
Tel: 0800 088 6042
Email: [email protected]
*Angela’s name has been changed to protect her identity. We are grateful that she chose to “Make A Statement” and tell her story to BAM