Posts by Hannah Friedman

Setting healthy boundaries is another key way to practice self-care, especially when you live with chronic pain. Boundaries make your expectations clear, with yourself and others. They are an excellent way to communicate your limits, how you’d like to be treated, and what your values are. Chronic pain vastly impacts physical and mental energy, social…

Adequate protein intake is essential for chronic pain patients. Protein is a major part of healthy nutrition: protein breaks down into amino acids, which are used to repair and build cells, perform chemical reactions, and even become part of pain relieving compounds like endorphins. Without enough protein, the body cannot heal, maintain muscle mass, or…

Mental health is just as important as physical health, but finding the right tools to support it can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re living with chronic pain. That’s why the I-Engage Academy created the Supporting Your Mental Health eLearning course, designed to help you build resilience, improve your mood, and care for your overall well-being. What’s…

For many people living with chronic pain, the idea of exercising can create fear: “will this hurt me further?” You may worry that movement will make your pain worse or that you’ll do something “wrong” and re-injure yourself. It’s completely normal to feel hesitant, but avoiding movement altogether can actually make pain worse over time. …

The I-Engage Academy has a video library with follow-along videos for relaxation, stretching, and exercise. These videos are easy to follow, and adaptable for folks with pain. This article will introduce the three types of videos and explain why they can be helpful for people with chronic pain. The video library is free to access…

Chronic pain can feel isolating, but you don’t have to manage it alone. Research shows that strong social connections—whether with friends, family, or support groups—can play a vital role in coping with chronic pain. This article will cover how social support helps people cope better with pain, and how you can build a support network.…

If pain keeps you up at night and exhaustion makes your pain worse, you’re not alone. The I-Engage Academy’s Sleep & Chronic Pain course is here to help. This free course explains how sleep works, how it’s connected to pain, and what you can do to break the cycle of poor sleep and discomfort. What’s…

Stress and chronic pain often go hand in hand. When you’re in pain, your body is under constant physical stress, and when you’re stressed, it can make your pain worse. This vicious cycle can feel impossible to escape, but understanding the connection between stress and pain is the first step toward breaking it. Let’s explore…