Your chronic pain condition probably isn’t your favorite thing in the world. It can be annoying, frustrating and downright painful, but it’s not all bad. We learn a lot about ourselves through adversity, and few things provide more of a daily challenge than your chronic pain condition.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving and giving thanks, we thought we’d showcase some of the ways in which, in a sense, you should be thankful for your chronic pain condition because it’s made you the person you are today.

Being Thankful For What Chronic Pain Has Made You

If you’re dealing with chronic pain on a regular basis, odds are you have some of these traits and characteristics.

1. Resilience – You don’t let chronic pain get you down. You need to be resilient in the face of chronic pain if you hope to overcome it or string together more good days than bad. You might get knocked down, but you don’t stay down for long.

2. Strength – You may not feel very strong on some days, but don’t sell yourself short. It takes an immense amount of strength to live and thrive if you’re dealing with chronic pain. You are stronger than you realize, and you probably owe some of that strength to your battle with chronic pain.

3. Appreciation – Not only are the vast majority of our chronic pain patients extremely appreciative of the treatments we work to provide them with, chronic pain patients also tend to be more appreciative in everyday life. They don’t take a single day for granted, and they appreciate the little things in life. Dealing with chronic pain can help put life in perspective and allow us to appreciate what really matters.

4. Bravery – You also have to be brave in the face of a chronic pain condition. It’s not always going to be easy, so you’ll have to confront the issue head on, and that takes bravery. Like strength, you’re probably more brave than you realize, and you owe some of that to how you approach your chronic pain condition.

5. Empathy – Empathy is a wonderful personality trait, and chronic pain patients tend to be way better at empathizing with others than the general public. That’s because chronic pain patients are often battling invisible illnesses or dealing with non-obvious injuries. When others are in pain or are sad, it’s easier for chronic pain patients to put themselves in the shoes of others, because they know what it’s like to feel sad, isolated or like they are going through something that others can’t understand. Chronic pain has certainly made you a more empathetic person.

These are just five reasons why you should be partially thankful for your chronic pain condition, because it’s help mold you into the incredible person you are today. And if you need help with your chronic pain condition, each out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.