October is recognized as Facial Pain Awareness Month, and October 7 is Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day. It’s a time dedicated to raising awareness, sharing our stories, and helping others understand what life with this condition is really like. Facial Pain Association notes that October is Facial Pain Awareness Month and October 7 is Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day.
For many people, trigeminal neuralgia is something they’ve never heard of until it affects them or someone they love. What they don’t see is how a simple breeze, a change in weather, talking, eating, or even walking too fast can completely change the course of a day.
That’s one of the reasons I’m sharing my story.
Not for sympathy, but for awareness.
If you’ve never heard of trigeminal neuralgia, honestly, I hope you never truly understand it from personal experience.
Living with trigeminal neuralgia is like living with someone who constantly changes the rules and never gives you a heads-up.
Every night I go to bed hoping for a good morning.
Every morning I wake up wondering, What is today going to look like?
Will the right side of my face cooperate?
Will I be able to smile normally?
Will I be able to talk without pain?
Will I be able to brush my teeth, wash my face, or put on makeup without triggering something?
The truth is, I never know.
That’s probably one of the hardest parts. The uncertainty.
People can understand pain. What they don’t always understand is the mental exhaustion of never knowing what kind of day you’re walking into.
There are mornings when I wake up and immediately know it’s going to be rough. Before I even get out of bed, my face is already letting me know who’s in charge.
And then there are days when things seem okay, and out of nowhere, everything changes.
The weather shifts.
A storm moves in.
The temperature drops.
The wind picks up.
And suddenly, my whole mood changes because I know what’s coming.
Most people look outside and think, Looks like rain.
I look outside and wonder if my nerve is about to ruin my day.
It’s amazing how something as simple as the weather can completely change what I’m capable of doing.
Then there are the things nobody would ever think about.
Walking too fast.
Hitting a pothole in the car.
Hitting a pothole in the car.
Brushing your teeth.
Washing your face.
Drinking, eating.
Moving too suddenly.
Too much bouncing.
Too much vibration.
Things that seem completely normal for most people can trigger pain or flare-ups that stop me in my tracks.
Sometimes I find myself slowing down when everyone else is speeding up.
Not because I want to.
Because I have to.
There are days when I feel trapped in my own body.
Days when I want to do more, be more, accomplish more, but my face has different plans.
Those are the days that test me.
The days when people see me smiling but don’t realize how much work it took just to get out the door.
The days when I’m answering questions, helping others, showing up at work, teaching, being a mom, and trying my best not to let anyone see how much pain I’m actually in.
Because the reality is, chronic pain is often invisible.
People see you functioning and assume you’re okay.
What they don’t see are the adjustments.
The planning.
The cancellations.
The moments when you’re sitting in silence hoping the pain eases up.
The tears you wipe away before walking back into a room.
Living with trigeminal neuralgia has taught me a lot.
It has taught me that strength looks different than I once thought.
Strength isn’t pretending everything is okay.
Strength is getting up anyway.
Strength is choosing gratitude on the hard days.
Strength is continuing to dream, work, love, and live even when your body is fighting against you.
Some days my biggest accomplishment isn’t crossing something off a to-do list.
It’s simply making it through the day.
And honestly, I’ve learned to be okay with that.
If you’re reading this and living with chronic pain, an invisible illness, or a battle that nobody else can see, I want you to know something:
I see you.
I understand the frustration.
I understand the unpredictability.
I understand grieving the life you thought you’d have while learning to embrace the life you do have.
Most of all, I understand what it feels like to keep showing up when every part of you wants to quit.
So today, we’re going to give ourselves a little grace.
We’re going to celebrate the small wins.
And we’re going to take it one day at a time.
Because sometimes, that’s more than enough.
And during this awareness month, I wear teal for every person living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain. Your pain is real. Your story matters. And no matter how lonely this journey may sometimes feel, you are not alone.
❤️ Corianta
#TrigeminalNeuralgiaAwareness #TNWarrior #FacialPainAwarenessMonth #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPainAwareness
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