Tips for Socializing with Chronic Pain

I also struggle with this. It’s hard to make plans when you don’t know if you’ll even be able to get out of bed the next day. :’( I’ve also had the problem of just feeling like no one understands me, because I don’t know… sometimes even my family will tell me things like do this diet or do this or this and it will go away, (lol like they’re my doc) and it honestly it sucks it makes me not want to talk to them. It seems for a lot of my family members and friends they have a hard time separating me, from my illness, if that makes any sense. I don’t know. I feel your struggle and I hope it helps a little knowing you’re not the only one… I have to push myself to hang out with people too. Sometimes if I have an Activity with my friends I want to do I will make it clear in a polite way that I won’t be staying long because I need to lie down soon, Iike at someone’s house or something. That seems to take a lot of pressure off because then I don’t feel trapped, and most people seem to be very understanding. Also sometimes going in a public place like the mall or coffee shop and just people watching helps. Idk even if you aren’t talking to anyone just physically seeing other humans makes me feel less alone. Hang in there, I hope things will get better for you