If someone you love has recently been injured, or they’ve been diagnosed with a long term painful condition, you’re probably worrying right now about what you can do for them. After all, you can’t take the pain from them or make them better overnight, no matter how much you might want to. But you can help them through the next stages as they heal and/or adjust; here are some of the best support methods you’ll want to make use of.
Remind Them It’s OK to Need Accommodations
If they need you to slow down when you’re on a walk, or they need to sit down and take a break regularly, make sure you always oblige. Someone living with chronic pain may not want to make a ‘big deal’ out of the trouble they’re going through, but that’s where you need to step in and take them seriously. Let them know it’s OK to need these accommodations, and that you’ll never be angry or frustrated if they need to ask.
Never Just Assume They Can Do Something
A lot of people with a long term injury or illness will have to adapt their lives around their pain and energy levels. As such, you should never just assume they can do something the same way as you. Brush their teeth in the morning? Easy for you, but it might take a lot out of them! And if you’re ever worried that a loved one is struggling to take care of themself, don’t lecture or preach about where you think they’re going wrong. Put yourself in their shoes, and ask if they need any help.
Help Them Through the Lawsuit
Sometimes an injury or illness may arise from an accident at work or as a result of medical malpractice. In a case like this, the best thing you can do is help your loved one get compensation, as well as a sense of justice. From helping them hire a slip and fall accident attorney to taking them along to meetings or helping them draft their statement, your support will be invaluable at a time like this.
Be Physically Supportive
Being physically supportive means running a couple errands on their behalf, or driving them to and from appointments, or simply offering a shoulder or hand when they need propping up. And while you don’t always need to be available for these tasks, offering the option for them can go a long way to helping a person adjust to their new life needs. You can be there for them, you can do things to help them out, and you never need to stretch your own life to do so – not everything has to change and that’ll be very comforting!
Helping someone who experiences long term pain isn’t going to be easy. However, it can be an uphill struggle you can share. When a problem is burdened by two heads, there’s never going to be an issue you can’t quite solve.
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