5 ways to Support a Partner with Chronic Pain or Illness

Oftentimes, when one thinks of what a relationship will be, they picture a partnership; a union between equals. It is no secret that achieving that ideal partnership requires a lot of work from both partners and that it can be a challenge to maintain, even for those in excellent physical health  But when one partner has chronic pain or a chronic illness, it brings forward a whole new reality that - while not impossible - makes the feeling of equality within that partnership more difficult to achieve. It is usually near-impossible for the partner without the condition to fully understand how it affects their partner without being able to experience it themselves, and in addition to the physical stresses on his/her body, the person with the chronic condition may also have feelings of guilt or inadequacy because they’re not be able to keep up with the kids or contribute to the household as much as they would like.