For those suffering with persistent or chronic pain the greatest challenge faced will be dealing with attitudes: attitude towards self and your personal situation and attitude of others towards you, family, friends and business associates.

Your personal attitude towards pain is important, it will determine the efficiency of the coping mechanisms which develop and determine your ability to function well in spite of your pain.

The attitude of others will always prove a challenge. Most people will have experienced pain at one point in their lives. That pain would have likely been caused by an obvious event or condition and, although it may have been intense, would have abated and finally settled. This experience will determine their attitude towards pain but, unless the pain was prolonged for a couple of months or more, they will have little concept or appreciation of chronic pain and, no matter how empathic, will not truly understand the full nature of the situation which the chronic pain sufferer is experiencing. The chronic pain sufferer wants those around them to understand their situation rather than be sympathetic and being able to discuss the pain openly with others is important.

The greatest challenge of chronic pain is not the intensity, nor nature of the pain, but the fact that the pain persists and that long term relief, whilst it is hoped for, is not an expectation. In some there develops a belief that the pain will 'never go' and that the pain will remain a facet of their existence for the rest of their lives. These are dangerous thoughts and can lead to feelings of helplessness and depression.