Grief Associated with Chronic Pain

Recently, I had the pleasure of talking with George Dowswell on his Conditions for Recovery podcast. One of the things we talked about was grief as it relates to people who live with chronic pain. We both agree that this is not considered enough in clinical settings.

Grief is a complex pattern of activity and passivity, inner and outer, which unfolds over time. [1] I would suggest that this grief, if acknowledged, is viewed as disenfranchised grief, which is grief that is not openly acknowledged, socially validated, or publicly mourned. More specifically, when a person experiences losses associated with chronic pain, the resulting grief is often unrecognized by others.

Grief from chronic pain stems from losing the life one once had or expected. Chronic pain often alters daily function, work, relationships, and sense of purpose—changes that are deeply impactful.

This concept of grief reflects the pain-related suffering research I have had the privilege of working on over the last few years, as part of an amazing team. Our work explores how chronic pain disrupts a person's sense of self, particularly focusing on both the minimal self and the narrative self. In this context, grief tied to chronic pain affects the narrative self, which shapes one's identity across past, present, and future experiences. [2]

Understanding that grief is a complex psychological construct, it can and must be acknowledged and appropriately supported in clinical settings based on the principles of psychologically informed practice, with referrals made when necessary.

Supporting people in pain requires acknowledging their genuine and significant grief.

Acknowledging and addressing grief for those who live with chronic pain is an important part of A Path Forward.

References:

1.     https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13086747/

2.     https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(25)00640-6/fulltext