Painfully Aware

With gratitude to a young adult

The life of a young adult opens before us in the following pages. The blog details what it is to live with chronic pain since the age of thirteen. From the experience of numerous doctor’s appointments and diagnostic procedures to the ongoing road to recovery—read on to learn from this experience.

All the best,

On behalf of the clinical and research team of the Clinic for Chronic and Complex Pain in Youth

Kristy Wittmeier and Kerstin Gerhold

Medical Disclaimer:

Please keep in mind that this resource aims to provide information based on an individual’s experience only and is not meant to replace professional healthcare. If you have any question about your health, please talk to your healthcare provider (please find here the full medical disclaimer of the Every Child Every Time website).


Welcome to our Blog

I am very excited that I have teamed up with Every Child Every Time to create a blog series about… read more

About this Blog

If you are growing up while also learning to navigate life with chronic pain, we have something in common. I… read more

My Diagnosis

Until I was 13 years old, I only ever understood the meaning of acute pain. I thought that pain was… read more

Accepting My Chronic Pain

When faced with acute pain, I can usually cope with that pain by taking comfort in knowing that it will… read more

My Chronic Pain Toolkit

In my previous post, I wrote about how acceptance has helped me let go of some difficult emotions and focus… read more

This Body Is My Home

Over the years, I have struggled with my relationship with my body. I resented my body for the pain that… read more

It’s More Than Pain

Sometimes it feels like I am walking around with a bag of sand on my shoulders. It often feels like… read more

What I Wish Others Knew

In my experience, most people don’t have a good understanding of what chronic pain is. The meaning of chronic pain… read more

Resource Collection

Here you will find a collection of books, apps, videos, podcasts and websites that I believe are worth sharing. You… read more

Final Word

As this blog series comes to an end, I want to share some final thoughts with you. First and foremost,… read more

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge the following organizations for their generous support:                   … read more