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Asking for Help
As chronic pain sufferers, we struggle to ask for help. We don’t want to feel like a burden. We feel like our pain dominates our day, our family or our work. We can often get caught in a shame loop, where we feel guilty about our pain and don’t want to accept or even ask for help.
Migraine pain is not your fault. You didn’t ask for this, and you’re doing the best you can. We’ll repeat that: you’re doing the best you can. Your pain is real, and it while it doesn’t define you, it can be debilitating. Sometimes you need to ask for help from those who love you. Here are a few techniques.
In this article
Write a letter
Educate friends and loved ones about migraines
Make a list
Create a script
Write a letter
It’s hard to be articulate when you’re in pain, or you’re recovering from a migraine. You may not be able to tell your loved ones or boss or friends what you need when you need it. When you feel well, write a letter of what would be helpful to you when you’re in pain. Maybe you need a loved one to take over household chores or responsibilities. Maybe you need money because migraines are keeping you from work. Whatever your needs, it’s often easier to ask in an email or text.
