Call to Action: NPAC is Leading a #RealPainStories Campaign to Elevate the Impact of Chronic Pain in our Communities

NPAC is collecting #RealPainStories to share across digital media channels during Pain Awareness Month in September and beyond. Chronic pain disrupts lives, and we need your help to bring to light for others what this looks like for you. Every story matters.

Participating in #RealPainStories is your chance to shine a light on the real-life harm to people and families caused by pain.

Your story may already be featured on NPAC’s website (check this link), or perhaps you’ve been interviewed in the past by another group?

We’d love to have you join members of NPAC’s Community Leadership Council in sharing #RealPainStories. Just use the hashtag #RealPainStories and tag @national_pain when sharing on your preferred social media site!

But FIRST – please ask yourself some questions…

Guidance Before Sharing a Story:

It is absolutely essential that you feel comfortable with the information that will be shared in #RealPainStories. After all, these are being shared in a public forum.

For example, ask yourself if it's okay for an employer or family member to read or hear what you’re sharing. If not, consider editing or going with a different story.

Also, please do not share private medical information such as details of your prescriptions in your story. This is important to protect you.

Whether it’s just a few sentences or something bigger, we look forward to hearing your stories – in the way you want to tell them, with what you feel comfortable sharing!

Prompts and Ideas to Get You Started:

Here are some prompting questions and important guidance to help you get started on your own #RealPainStories from our resident professional writer with pain, Community Leadership Council member, Sonya Huber.

Do you have an object or picture that represents your life before you were in pain? What's different now? Or do you have an object (cane, etc.) that represents your life in pain or shows how you cope with pain?

What has been a difficult or challenging moment this week/month/year because of pain?

Write a list of things you do or have to consider during an average day to deal with your pain.

Describe your "professional/advocate/public" self, and then describe what people don't see about your pain.

If you have experienced a particular challenge or life-changing moment that connects with your pain, can you describe it in three "scenes" (before, during, and after)? Each "scene" can be as short as a sentence; providing detail to let people see or imagine the moments is helpful. I.e. if you remember the onset, you could describe what that was like as one of these.

What are you now an expert in after dealing with your pain? For example, maybe it’s mastering gluten-free baking, or mindfulness.

You could consider telling your story through a photo with one line, or a thread. You might can consider telling your story through a storyboard. This process includes thinking about the main idea you want to share and gathering details, such as pictures, words, text, music, or video. This can help you lay out the entire story from start to finish.