Endometriosis:

Managing Pain, Activities, and Friendships

 

Endometriosis Guide for Teens	Managing Pain, Activities, & Friendships
Endometriosis FAQ's	Pain & Symptom Tracker
Hormonal Therapy Options	Pain Mapping Worksheet
Continuous Hormone Pills	Endo, Nutrition, and Exercise
Continuous Hormone Pill FAQ's	Endometriosis and College Planning
Coping with Endo Pain	Glossary of Endo Terms
Managing Pain at School	Additional Endo Resources

 

Living with chronic pain can impact all areas of a person’s life, even those areas that are typically fun and enjoyable. Having pain from endometriosis can sometimes get in the way of being able to do things with your friends both on a daily basis and for special events. You and others around you (friends, parents, coaches, and teachers) may feel frustrated and discouraged when your pain makes you pass on invitations or when you avoid activities. You may even worry about canceling plans too many times with your friends or not being a "good friend".

 

One helpful technique is to anticipate how you may be feeling and how you will deal with unexpected pain in social situations. Here are some thoughts and advice from girls with endometriosis who try to rule the pain, not let the pain rule their lives:

• Be in touch with at least one person outside of your family every day.
• Organize activities that can be held at your house (such as craft parties, reading groups, board–game marathons, watching movies) if it is more comfortable to be home.
• Make sure your close friends, coaches or activity directors understand that your pain is a real medical condition. Educate them with information about endometriosis.
• Is there an activity you really want to do but are scared about fulfilling the requirements or keeping the commitment? Many group activities require a wide variety of participants in many roles. Explore the options with the group leader, explaining that you want to be involved in a way that you can handle.
• Plan, Plan, Plan. Do you have an event coming up that feels more stressful than fun? Go back to your personalized list of things you can do in anticipation of pain.
• If you do have to cancel with friends or family, or you realize you cannot participate in an activity as planned, try to take it in stride: explain promptly, offer alternative options, and take care of yourself. Your friends, family, and others will respect you more for being honest rather than not showing up without an explanation.

Be proactive. Make a list of things that you love to do, and try to do one thing each day!

 

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Next: Pain and Symptom Tracker

 

Written by the CYWH Staff at Children's Hospital Boston

 

Updated: 4/8/2010