Perspective
May 2026 Chronic Pain Project updates, writings and tidbits
May Musings
In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we’re pausing to look inward and take a breath before summer hits. Read on for ideas, stories and resources for the chronic pain community.
Seeing Yourself Differently
How do you tune out the negative and feel positive amid pain?
As the daughter and granddaughter of psychiatrists, I’m acutely aware of my mental health, both in May and throughout the year. I expect others in the chronic pain community are in the same boat: keeping tabs on how their moods shift with their pain and how their pain affects their moods. According to the national nonprofit Mental Health in America, “Research shows that those with chronic pain are four times more likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free.”
If depression and anxiety weigh you down, you know that sometimes your brain can’t be trusted to tell the truth about your situation. It’s that negative voice in your head whispering that you’re not doing enough or aren’t trying your hardest. It’s the anxious feeling that you should downplay your symptoms when others ask for fear of complaining too much.
More often than not, your brain makes you feel less-than for struggling with chronic pain or illness. How do we fight back against internal negativity and see ourselves through a gentler lens?
A New View
I got a lesson in perspective when my daughter drew a portrait of me for Mother’s Day. Usually when I think about how I show up as a mom to her, I worry that my chronic pain gets in the way. But she didn’t list “can’t take long walks with me” or “is always sitting down” on her drawing (which she gave me permission to share below). There wasn’t a section for “constantly uses ice packs” or “complains about pain a lot.” Instead, she can see the positive aspects of my personality that I worry are subsumed by chronic pain.
For parents and caregivers with chronic pain, it can be difficult to keep a positive mental outlook while facing physical restrictions. An article from Psychology Today pointed out, “While almost all parents struggle with feeling good enough, those with pain often face an elevated sense of guilt about their limitations within the family.” Thankfully, the same article noted that having a parent with chronic pain can actually help children develop independence, empathy and compassion.
Like my daughter’s drawing showed, through her eyes, I am creative and protective, special and unique. (Well, “speacil” and “uquine”—in second grade they’re still working on spelling.) Her words remind me that I can strive to be joyful, fun and mentally positive even while balancing my physical limitations.
How do you talk back to negative voices in your head? How do you balance your mental health and your chronic physical pain? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Exhibits and Events
Taborspace Public Exhibition
Portland area friends: There’s still time to join us for our latest exhibition! “Illuminating the Invisible: The Beauty Behind the Pain” runs through May 29 and features the work of over 60 international, national and local artists. Come see the exhibition at Taborspace (5441 SE Belmont, Portland, OR 97215) and enjoy pieces in The Peace Gallery (upper level) and The QK Studio Gallery (lower level).
Free Online Workshop: The Art of Wellbeing
Join us online May 28, 5-6:30 p.m. PDT, for “The Art of Wellbeing.” This 1.5 -hour workshop focuses on using creativity as a supportive practice for self-discovery and resilience. It’s facilitated by Kailey Fry, a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and artist with an MFA in Collaborative Design. Kailey created the Creative Compass, a framework utilizing 16 Creative Archetypes, to allow people to explore their wellbeing using creative processes. Her workshop invites participants to use this framework to process complex emotions, translate their pain experience into something tangible and build a restorative creative practice that adapts to their body’s needs.
This workshop is not therapy; it’s a supportive community gathering. Your registration—and any optional $10 contribution—helps us keep these spaces accessible and welcoming for everyone. Register now.
Hear from Our Artists
Video Profiles
Not only do our artists create moving pieces, they also have fascinating life stories. In a 3-4 minute video, each artist shares more about their chronic pain story and talks in depth about the piece(s) they’ve created for our exhibits.
This month we profile Jude, who details dealing with fibromyalgia and TMJ and the urge to create art even if the final piece isn’t perfect.
“You don’t need to be Andy Warhol over here. Just put something out. Perfectionism is a jail.”
Click to watch the video on YouTube.
Letters to Pain
Visit our Instagram to read some anonymous reflections from our participants in “Letters to My Pain.” As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to normalize the huge range emotions that come with chronic pain. Defeat, anger, frustration, hopelessness, confusion, anxiety. Determination, resilience, acceptance, love, softness.
In a world of social media highlight reels, let this be your reminder: You are not alone in your feelings about pain, whatever they may be. Click the picture to read more.
Did you know you can support artists with chronic pain? Your donation removes barriers like shipping costs for artwork, provides art supplies to participants who face financial limitations, and allows artists to share their stories through sliding scale and free programming.
News & Resources
Arthritis Awareness Month: This May, the Arthritis Foundation launched Green Heart Fridays, a nationwide art initiative unfolding across social media and city streets. The foundation’s Green Heart is a symbol of support for the nearly 60 million adults and children diagnosed with arthritis in the United States. As part of the initiative, artist partners in 11 cities across the country are creating original artwork and placing the pieces in their communities for the public to discover and take home. Learn more about the artists and their work.
ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day: May 12 marked the annual awareness day for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia. Each year the observance is held on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, a founder of modern nursing who historians believe had an ME/CFS-like illness for the last 50 years of her life.
Like what you’re reading? Pass it on!
Want to find out about all of our upcoming exhibits, workshops and events? We’ve moved to a separate weekly(ish) newsletter format.
These articles are not meant to replace medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your specific situation.
That’s all for this month. Comment below with any ideas, questions or just to say “hi”!
Jennifer Roop, Board Secretary
We are a 501(c)(3) organization
