When I was 13 years old, I received a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. My hands and other joints were swollen and painful. Some activities were limited by this in my teens. In my 20s and 30s I had art teachers and mentors that encouraged me to use my hands to keep them healthy and strong. I continued to pursue the activities I enjoyed, singing, making art and an education in art therapy. Through these practices, in spite of the chronic pain I continue to move forward.
Now, 66 years later, still living with pain, I am exploring these practices more intentionally.
Living with chronic pain is not just a physical experience—it’s emotional, psychological, and often isolating. Pain can reshape identity, limit daily functioning, and create cycles of frustration, grief, and fatigue that are difficult to put into words.
I have found that modern medicine only scratches the surface of the pain. I needed something that could help me in all aspects of my life.
Chronic Pain Is More Than a Physical Condition
Chronic pain affects the nervous system, but it also impacts mood, relationships, and self-perception. Over time, people may experience:
- Emotional distress (anxiety, depression)
- Disconnection from the body
- Loss of identity or purpose
- Reduced sense of control
Pain becomes not just something you have, but something that shapes how you live.
So, how do I want to live?
So often, chronic pain narrows life. It teaches you what you can’t do, where your limits are, how much energy you don’t have.
I want to reframe this. I ask myself, what can I do now to live the life I want?
What brings even a moment of relief or connection?
What feels nourishing, even in a limited way?
What parts of myself are still here, still wanting expression?
In the creative arts therapy movement, movement is often used to help us connect to our bodies, to ground, and to be present.
I often start a client’s session with some kind of grounding exercises and body awareness coupled with self-compassion. Gentle yoga or Tai Chi works well for this.
From here, we can move into art making to help process our thoughts and emotions, working through the impact the chronic pain brings to our lives.
If you are living with chronic pain, please follow this blog for some more creative art practices that may help you live the life you want to live.
Thank you for reading.
