The National Pain Awareness Month coming very soon for September 2015, and sponsored by the US Pain Foundation have all types of things YOU can do to spread the word about Chronic Pain, to everyone, whether online, in your community, state... you can help!
My Mayor here in my hometown, has signed a "Pain Proclamation" and they have also okayed me to put up Posters, Ribbons and so forth for the "Beautify in Blue" Campaign for September Pain Awareness, and I am thrilled to be able to do something!
Chronic Pain all too often at times is yet another one of our "invisible illnesses"... many of us don't go out with canes, walkers, or limping... BUT that does NOT mean that we are NOT in terrible pain... for many of us it waxes and wanes, moment to moment, day to day... we never know when and where it may hit us...
Here is the "30 Day Challenge" Information that gives you some ideas about what you can do to help....
US Pain Foundation and Some Fun Ways to Spread the Word!
Day 1:
Change your profile picture on Facebook, Tumblr,
Twitter, etc. to a logo designed to raise awareness. The
logo can be found on the US Pain Foundation webpage:
http://www.uspainfoundation.org
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Day 2:
Wear White and Blue! Show your support for US Pain
Foundation by wearing our colors in various ways! If
you’re feeling colorful, you can wear a tie dye shirt to
represent that there are many types of pain. This is much
like the concept of our Pain Warrior Bracelets, which we
encourage you to wear on a daily basis!
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Day 3:
What would you do if you lived pain free? Write
down a few ideas, activities or career goals. Then,
modify one or several to fit your “new normal”. Set
yourself a goal and share it with us through email, the
Ambassador Website or Facebook!
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Day 4:
Use social media to explain to family and friends
why you decided to join the U.S. Pain Foundation, or what
you like most about your involvement with the
organization.
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Day 5:
Submit a letter to the editor explaining the
organization, how many people (over 100 million) live
with pain, etc.
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Day 6:
Take some pics! Have someone (if possible) take a
picture of how you feel on a good day or bad day. Explain
to your friends and family what this picture represents,
how pain can look different for everyone, and why you
volunteer.
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Day 7:
Week one is done, so have some fun! Be creative
indoors or out and show your community what US Pain is
all about! Use chalk, paint...whatever you have free, and
proudly display “Pain Warrior” for everyone to see!
Please only decorate on property where you have been
given permission to do so.
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Day 8:
Circulate! Choose a handful of locations you would
like to visit and during this month, stop by a library,
rehabilitation center or community center to drop off US
Pain brochures. Leave your US Pain Ambassador business
cards too!
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Day 9:
Sharing time! Try reaching out to one person who’d
benefit by knowing about U.S. Pain Foundation. You can
share how the organization’s helped you and that
information can be found on our website:
www.uspainfoundation.org
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Day 10:
Rest, relax, rejuvenate, repeat. Make this YOUR
time to find that quiet place or spoil yourself with a
new haircut, massage (confirm it is safe to do so with
your physician) or nap!
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Day 11:
Attend a support group meeting, pain awareness or
community event! The gathering doesn’t have to fall on
this day, but plan ahead and support community efforts
taking place in your area. This provides great networking
opportunities!
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Day 12:
Say ‘Thank you’. Those two words can mean so much
and doesn’t take a lot of effort to show someone that you
appreciate them. Choose a caregiver, friend, family
member, doctor, nurse—anyone and everyone who has helped
you.
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Day 13:
Did your state proclamation get approved in
September? If so, brag about the proactive efforts of
your state via social media. We’re showcasing all of the
approved proclamations here:
http://uspainfoundation.org/september-pain-awareness-
month.html
You can share this link with others as part of
today’s activity!
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Day 14:
Put down the pen and share the US Pain Foundation
Facebook page on your social media platform of choice!
Let others know that this resource is made available by
sharing this link:
https://www.facebook.com/U.S.PainFoundation
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Day 15:
You’re halfway through the challenge, but there’s
several more days and ways to raise awareness! Create
your own activity or task for today that you feel will
reach our goal of advocating, being proactive and
motivating others!
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Day 16:
Try a form of complimentary therapy! There’s a
list of options on our website. As an organization we
support all therapies available and to not endorse just
one type of treatment. Please consult your primary
physician or pain management doctor before deciding to
participate in one of the complimentary therapy options.
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Day 17:
Encourage a friend. Sometimes it isn’t easy to
find inspiration on days when a person is down on his or
her luck. This day can serve as an opportunity to connect
with someone who is also in pain, or just a friend in
need.
Day 18:
Write a list of things you like about yourself!
It’s okay to have a little fun with this activity and be
honest with yourself. This can include accomplishments
you are proud of achieving, despite your pain.
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Day 19:
Paint or draw a picture depicting pain. Once
completed, share it with us by taking a photograph and
emailing it to fellow Ambassadors and/or on social media.
We may also ask for them to be sent to our main office
for display!
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Day 20:
Rest, relax, rejuvenate, repeat. No really, we
mean it! Go ahead and take another personal day for YOU!
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Day 21:
Try for one day being aware of how many times you
want to feel or say something negative. Attempt to catch
yourself today and instead, put a positive spin on your
thoughts. Remember the good days that you’ve had and will
continue to have!
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Day 22:
Create your own challenge! Be creative and
innovative today and let your individuality shine!
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Day 23:
Invite a new friend to join US Pain as a
volunteer, member or Ambassador.
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Day 24:
Educate yourself by learning about a pain
condition you do not have. We become a better support
system for the pain community just by knowing a little
more about those conditions, syndromes, injuries and
diseases that exist.
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Day 25:
Log onto the Ambassador website and blog about
your 30 Day Challenge Journey! Writing down your thoughts
in general is a therapeutic tool. Members and volunteers,
share your challenge on the US Pain Facebook page!
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Day 26:
Visit a nursing home, hospital or similar venue,
speaking with those coping with pain. This type of
supportive outreach is sometimes lacking and is such an
easy way to let other pain warriors know that they’re not
alone.
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Day 27:
Reach out to one another. Introduce yourself to
other volunteers within your state or across the country!
We’re a close-knit group of understanding, compassionate
individuals, sharing the same goals. Send emails, chat
online, meet up somewhere or make a quick phone call to
fellow pain warriors! You may find a forever friend or
pen pal!
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Day 28:
Post it! Write your favorite quote or personal
saying you have created and make it your daily mantra.
Keep repeating the saying today and post it on
Day 29:
Schedule an appointment to sit down with
administrators at a local elementary, middle or high
school. Request the time to speak with them about
visiting a classroom. The purpose would be to discuss
what it’s like to live with pain, that children shouldn’t
be afraid to visit a doctor’s office, discuss the US Pain
Foundation, and distribute our tie dye Pain Warrior
bracelets as a thank you for feeling welcome in their
classroom. We recognize that in order to eliminate the
stigma of what pain is and what it looks like, we should
start by educating our younger generations and decrease
discrimination within the school system where there are
often children who live with pain, are wheel-chair
dependent, have a handicap or know someone who is
dependent on others.
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Day 30:
Self-reflect on the month. Look at all you have
accomplished inside of 30 days! Many of these activities
can be implemented and executed throughout the year as a
means to spread awareness. These small steps are making a
huge difference in the lives of those who once felt
alone, but are now aware that there is an organization
emphasizing fair policies for patients, reinforcing
proper pain treatment and providing support systems and
resources for the community at large. We thank you for
being a part of this positive change, and a part of the
U.S. Pain Foundation Ambassador family!
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