Dealing with Family Pressure to Ignore Chronic Pain

I get it. So sorry you’re going thru this. I go back and forth on suck it up to avoid conflict so I don’t get push back and no I really cannot because I won’t be able to function after if I do. It’s landed me in some really dark places trying to suck it up and deal with the consequences myself. I try to talk to myself and weigh the pros and cons and ask myself am I going to be resentful when I’m alone and hurting or will I be glad I got out. Also prioritizing helps- if I go meet this friend or even if they come over will I have the energy left to cook dinner and shower after or get work done? If not, I cancel or reschedule now instead of pushing thru and paying for it. That helps me figure out what I’m really needing. And it’s frustrating when people don’t understand that literally everything has a consequence. I hear you and I’m sorry you’re going thru it. I wish I could tell you I figured out a way to be at peace with expressing your boundaries but it sucks especially with the people that are close. I’ve realized most of the time I do social things now it’s out of obligation and not because I really want to. I want to want to and enjoy it but I’m in a flare and I don’t want to be around ppl and constantly getting push back on my boundaries and they want to fix me and help. But it usually makes it worse for me and harder to control myself from a deficit all so they feel better or like they’re helping. That’s something I’m working on accepting and calling people out on because Im not and cannot continue to be responsible for their feelings. I think it’s just hard for people to comprehend that being around them does not make the pain less and is not actually going to make me feel better past a certain point. Right now it makes it worse, and I’m not up for that right now and all my energy needs to go into being ok and somewhat functional until I’m ok and then things get easier again and I can be there for people like I want to. It’s hard to say the least. I’m so sorry you’re struggling and hope that others can lead with compassion and that your boundaries are honored. It sounds like you’re doing the hard work of trying to stay engaged but also be ok. I hope it gets less taxing for you and you get some relief.