When pain hits, your feelings aren’t just valid—they’re the truth. No one gets to tell you how much something should hurt, because pain isn’t a competition. Whether it’s physical or emotional, your experience is real, and dismissing it only makes healing harder.
Pain Doesn’t Need a Permission Slip
Society loves to rank suffering—like there’s some invisible scoreboard where only the "worst" pain counts. But here’s the thing: your body and mind don’t care about comparisons. A paper cut stings just as much to you as a broken bone does to someone else. And emotional pain? That’s even trickier because it’s invisible. Just because someone can’t see your hurt doesn’t mean it’s not there.
The Myth of "Toughing It Out"
We’ve all heard it—"Suck it up," "It’s not that bad," "Other people have it worse." But pushing through pain doesn’t make you stronger; it just teaches you to ignore your own needs. Pain is a signal, not a weakness. If your car’s check engine light came on, you wouldn’t say, "Eh, other cars have it worse." You’d get it checked. Your body and mind deserve the same attention.
Why Validation Matters
Ever noticed how a headache feels worse when someone rolls their eyes and says, "Again?" But when someone hands you water and turns down the lights, it somehow eases? That’s the power of validation. Acknowledging pain—yours or someone else’s—doesn’t fix it, but it makes the load lighter. It’s the difference between "You’re overreacting" and "That sounds really hard." One shuts you down; the other helps you breathe.
Pain in the Age of Social Media
Scrolling through highlight reels can make your pain feel extra lonely. When everyone’s posting their best moments, it’s easy to think, "Why am I the only one struggling?" Spoiler: You’re not. Pain doesn’t post selfies. But that ache in your chest or that nagging back pain? They’re just as real as someone’s vacation pics—even if they’re not Instagrammable.
What to Do When Pain Shows Up
1、Name It – Saying "This hurts" out loud strips pain of its power to isolate you.
2、Find Your People – Surround yourself with folks who get it, whether it’s a friend, therapist, or online community.
3、Listen to Your Body – Rest, move, cry, vent—whatever your system is asking for, give it space.
4、Ditch the Guilt – You’re not "taking up too much space" by needing care.
Pain isn’t a flaw in your design; it’s part of being human. And the next time someone tries to minimize it? Remember: your feelings are the truth. No receipts required.
