17 long years of waking up in pain & feeling like someone took a meat tenderizer to my body. I don't know how we get through other than through willpower. If I didn't have basic pain treatment options, I don't know where I'd be now. #PainAwarenessMonth #LifeWithPain #PAM2026 #MySeveralWorlds

I ordered a manual blood pressure cuff after my 24 hour ER stay. Even with paramedics using their manual cuff, it still resulted in being unable to drive/lift for 2 weeks. This is a reasonable accommodation for some disabled people. I guess disabled folks are expected to bring their own equipment. 🤷‍♀️

The shame experienced by CPTSD survivors who were victimized as adults, whether or not they were also victimized as children, leads many to not seek support or acknowledge what happened. But you deserve exactly as much sympathy, support & grace as any other trauma survivor.

Having the reality of your illness denied “is almost as bad as the actual physical symptoms themselves.” Ed Yong, speaking about #LongCovid patients being disbelieved and dismissed, and how gender and racial bias affect their care.

Chronic pain is a severe mental health crisis too. I wish people recognized pain as a disease in addition to being a severe mental health crisis. Mental health is directly related to pain. It is pain's unrecognized partner in crime. #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #MentalHealthMatters #MySeveralWorlds

"A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times

A light bump, pinch or punch can add a new bruise to the endless collection. I’m often surprised to find a new one hidden somewhere on my body" 🔗 www.achronicvoice.com/2021/07/14/b... @achronicvoice.com #AntiphospholipidSyndrome #PulmonaryEmbolism #ChronicPain #APS

12 Visible Evidence of a Body Gone Rogue (Is Invisible Illness Truly Invisible?)

Here is some visible evidence of invisible illness — photos, signs and symptoms from my personal life with chronic illness.

achronicvoice.com

I thought I was going on holiday. My chronic illness came too. 🌊 Cruising reminded me that changing the scenery doesn't necessarily change the reality of living with chronic illness. www.brainlesionandme.com/chronic-illn... #ChronicIllness #Disability

Chronic Illness: Finding Hope on an Unpredictable Journey

Living with chronic illness has taught me that life can change without warning. Cruising has taught me to find hope in the unexpected.

brainlesionandme.com

"We often tell ourselves or others to be strong. Instead of instilling inspiration... it becomes another standard we have to meet. You don’t have to be strong all the time. One small step forward is still a powerful act." Via @achronicvoice.com 🔗 www.achronicvoice.com/2018/05/13/y... #ChronicPain

You Don't Have to be Strong, Just a Little Stronger Than Before

Sometimes telling ourselves to be brave invokes fear. Here's why you don't have to be strong, just a little stronger than before.

achronicvoice.com

"When you wonder why someone lives in pain without ever reaching out, I hope you can look back to see they reached out a hundred times, and no one reached back." Credit: Stephanie Bennett-Henry #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #MySeveralWorlds

"The idea of #cleaning has an elevated place in #Japanese #culture, influenced by the concept of do (“way”), which frames the honing of any #skill as a journey of #SelfImprovement.": buff.ly/JssRjeZ via MonocleMag #PersonalDevelopment #EducationSystem #japan #school

How Japan’s schools teach life lessons beyond the classroom

There’s far more to Japanese schools than rote learning and cramming. Our Tokyo bureau chief explores the country’s best-in-class approaches...

monocle.com

"Like so many Spoonies, I struggle to find words to describe what my life is like living with severe limitations and daily chronic pain." Credit: Carrie, My Several Worlds 🔗 LINK in comments! #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #LetsTalkAboutPain #MySeveralWorlds #SolvePainTogether

In Their Own Words: #MECFS & #Fibromyalgia Patients Describe Their Symptoms @cortjohnson.bsky.social "I would not wish this illness on my worst enemy (if I had one)... sometimes I wish the naysayers could live in our bodies." 🔗 www.healthrising.org/forums/resou... #MEAwareness #PainAwarenessMonth

In Their Own Words: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Patients Describe Their Symptoms

I would not wish this illness on my worst enemy (if I had one), but sometimes I wish the naysayers could live in our bodies for a few days.. The symptoms are taken from a thread on the Health Rising ...

healthrising.org

When you live with chronic #anxiety, sometimes you just want to switch your brain off. Read what anxiety and #PanicAttacks feel like here, and how friends can be the saving grace 🔗 buff.ly/37pXrBD

The Savagery of Panic Attacks & The Saving Grace of Internet Friends

Anxiety and panic attacks have been plaguing me with the lockdown. But a new pup and internet friends with chronic illness have sustained me.

buff.ly

Nerve Pain Referred Aka why I hurt all the time with axial disease. ALT TEXT added. C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 T11 T12 L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 Sacrum Coccoyx Credit: MassageNerd #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #MySeveralWorlds #LetsTalkAboutPain

The Freedom to Move with #Spondylitis. The last time I wrote for @spondylitis I was testing an exoskeleton. Now I’m cruising in a Robooter X40 chair. Read my article on the pros of using a #PowerWheelchair 🔗 spondylitis.org/patient-stor... #ArthritisAwarenessMonth #PainAwarenessMonth

The Freedom to Move with Spondylitis

Resilience and conviction—being your own advocate—aren’t unique traits, but for those of us navigating health challenges, they’re a way of life. We’re fighters. And that’s something to be proud of, wh...

spondylitis.org

Young adults in Singapore: “Even if I were to wear the #disability lanyard, I’m...sceptical people would give up their seat for me.” Pang is 25. He has #AnkylosingSpondylitis. We have many similar stories in #Taiwan with 'Who gets a disability seat?' 🔗 www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/...

They’re young, they look healthy, but they need a seat on the train. This is why

These young adults suffer from autoimmune diseases whose symptoms are not often visible, leading to misconceptions and judgement. How do they navigate work, relationships and life in general while end...

channelnewsasia.com

I had a terrifying hemorrhage on Friday, Sept 5. I was in two ERs with an ambulance transfer. I have #APS. I had a perfect dental extraction. Hours later it resulted in 100+ #clots. I bled for 24 hours. No one knew what to do. No one listened to me. #AntiphospholipidSyndrome

My #insomnia was diagnosed in uni. "Primary insomnia is a type of chronic insomnia as defined by the ICSD-III. It tends to recur for many years throughout a person’s life. This type of insomnia is usually idiopathic... It can be impacted by stress." 🔗 www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/primary...

Primary Insomnia: A Lifelong Problem | Psychiatric Times

When provided with an array of treatment options, patients tend to feel a sense of ownership by playing a role in their care.

psychiatrictimes.com

"There is a severe shortage of pain specialists with approximately 30,000 Americans in pain for every board certified pain specialist. This shortage is caused by a difficult path to specializing in pain treatment plus negative public scrutiny." 🔗 www.practicalpainmanagement.com/resources/et...

Can I Call Myself a “Pain Specialist?”

Who defines the role of pain specialists? Inside the legal requirements for practitioners.

practicalpainmanagement.com

"I'm convinced I was a warrior in a previous life and have carried over all my battle wounds into this life. Why else would everything hurt so much? Plus this sounds cooler." Credit: unknown #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #LetsTalkAboutPain #MySeveralWorlds

Non verbal signs of pain: 😟 Facial expressions 🧍‍♀️Body posture. 😭 Crying/sounds of distress 🫥Withdrawal 🤬 Mood changes 😕 Confusion 👐 Hand movements show distress 🥵 Excessive sweating 🔗 MySeveralWorlds.com #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #ArthritisAwarenessMonth #MySeveralWorlds #SuicideAwareness

Metaphors are keys for opening the doors to understanding, for illustrating concepts that the average person is able to relate to. Despite living w #ChronicIllness for 20+ years, I realise that there is still so much I don’t know about. 🔗 www.achronicvoice.com/2016/04/11/q... @achronicvoice.com

A Quarterly Reflection: 12 Important Life Lessons I’ve Learned

I was surprised to find that I have learned many important life lessons from writing and blogging — even when I had only started it for 4 months.

buff.ly

I smile through the pain…nausea…exhaustion…I have really bad days and those far outnumber the good. They can be absolutely awful… I’d give anything for a cure but since that’s not reality now—I play the hand I was dealt.” 🔗 buff.ly/3vPhveX #CRPS via @apainprincess.bsky.social #PAM2026

The Lessons I've Learned From CRPS That I Don't Regret

"Surprisingly, there are upsides to invisible illnesses."

buff.ly

#PainAwareness #ChronicPain & #MentalHealth are intricately interwoven. Here are just 5 ways life w/ pain can detrimentally affect mental #wellbeing. 🔗 invisiblyme.com/chronicpain-... Via @invisiblyme.bsky.social #Spoonie #InvisibleIllness

Chronic Pain & Mental Health : 5 Detrimental Effects

Chronic pain & mental health are intricately interwoven. Here are just 5 ways life with pain can detrimentally affect our mental wellbeing.

invisiblyme.com

"The book of autoimmune disease symptoms and related conditions." Credit: Bored Panda ❓Guess what I am searching through for tomorrow's appointment with the vascular specialist? #APS #Edema #PAM2026 #PainAwarenessMonth #AutoimmuneDisease #AntiphospholipidSyndrome #MySeveralWorlds

There is a severe shortage of pain specialists w approx 30,000 Americans in pain for every board certified pain specialist. This shortage is caused by a difficult path to specializing in pain treatment & negative public scrutiny. MySeveralWorlds.com #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #LetsTalkAboutPain

Dressing for diseases that change your body shape often 🔗 rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/choos... #ArthritisAwarenessMonth #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026 #MySeveralWorlds

My Dressing Do's and Don'ts with RA

How I choose comfortable clothing.

rheumatoidarthritis.net

"#Actions speak louder than words. Where are you focusing your time and energy, and what or whom for? Where do your #priorities lie? If the things you take pride in are all suddenly taken away from you, who are you, then?" 🔗 buff.ly/YnTDkIM @achronicvoice.com #SelfIdentity #ChronicIllness

Loss of Identity with Chronic Illness & The Plot Twist: Sharpened Self-Worth

The loss of identity with chronic illness is an inevitable trauma experienced with a new diagnosis. Here's how to regain your self-worth.

buff.ly

High intensity #ChronicPainfeels like being wrapped in barbed wire. When symptoms such as stabbing and electric pain start hitting at high intensity, #depression follows fast and your #MentalHealth spirals. It feels like you are dying. ~Carrie, MySeveralWorlds.com #PainAwarenessMonth #PAM2026