15-year-old girl
I’m 15 years old. I had headaches (forehead and temple area).
At first, medications were prescribed to me, but they didn’t work at all. I tried out distraction methods (ABC, travel to a beautiful place in your mind, etc.) and relaxation exercises (for example, with a CD). Furthermore, I went for therapy every week for about seven months.
At first, my family didn’t know how to help me, were very helpless, but didn’t ever doubt that the pain really existed.
My friends still didn’t know what chronic pain was at all. So I explained it to them and they never treated me any differently.
The doctors that I saw at first, when I still didn’t know where the pain was coming from, partly didn’t believe me and thought I was just pretending. That made me very angry and also sad.
The people at school reacted quite normally and the teachers also didn’t treat me any differently.
At first, the time in Datteln was strange, but after a short time of getting used to it, I totally settled in and felt very well. I soon made new friends and I’m still in contact with some of them.
Besides, I always had a lot of fun, and the nurses and therapists were all very nice. The therapy discussions sometimes annoyed me, to be honest.
In any case, I had a really nice time in Datteln, which I won’t forget.
During the time after the pain therapy in Datteln my pain was less frequent and also a few points weaker ;-). It was really pleasant and I was a lot more relaxed because of it.
All in all I’ve got control of my pain. Except in stressful situations. Then the pain returns and stays mostly the whole day, without me being able to do anything about it. Then no relaxation exercises help, either. Then I just want to sleep.
Otherwise, distraction helps me the most. Not necessarily the ABC or the mind travel. I simply do something that’s fun and meet with my friends. They can still distract me the best.
What helps me personally also is movement, such as dancing or inline skating.
Today I am much more relaxed. Besides, I’m absent from school a lot less than before (before: 108 hours absent in a half year).