"It’s all in your head!": How do you deal with this frustrating comment?

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Somya.P

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02/26/2025 at 11:00 PM

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Somya.P

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Hello everyone! 😊

Many people living with chronic illness have heard the frustrating remark: “It’s all in your head!” This kind of comment can be invalidating, minimizing the very real symptoms and struggles that come with both visible and invisible illnesses.

Pain and suffering from chronic conditions are very real and deserve to be acknowledged. By sharing our experiences and discussing these challenges, we can help break stereotypes and promote better understanding.

👉 How do you react when someone says this to you?

👉 How do you explain your condition and make others understand your struggles?

👉 What responses or arguments have helped you challenge this misconception?

@Gordon @fosterl65 @Carvetty @De071061 @TCoffey @JulieKegg @Ms.Vee @DianeMiller @wreed61499 @Buddy0 @Solomia @Mrspeedy @Bitners @jbabor @BWroke @Sharon12! @BernardK @lourdesr @linda9458 @QueenAngel55 @Phoenix @Whizper @dan.varady @angeltent @mollymae2002 @Mrsnurse @knort40 @Bsisco66 @Dr.WhoPeggygmail.com @Ranget @jesvideo @MountainMan @Gnorts58 @lrice999 @Stonetree24 @brownswan2 @Melleepippin @azaleas @Nick51 @SherrillClark @esobcz01 @audbabbitt1945 @STEVIE1010 @Betio68 @Bonnie1 @Pcox02004 @kisslamarre @Suez39 @kaki!864 @Rissa1972 @Gdepozsgay @PokerFaceJess @Rofo10775 @Tarainonecarr @Kelley62 @fredm400 @Sparky71 @Shari69 @Wendymitch66 @Fonelady @Mjw711 @Ledfordc @Scott53 @MrsMaryS @Babyegirl56 @Lah2023 @leeonone1 @lolagracedevchris @LindaGlidewell @Gotsleep @GodismyFather @Sparky5371 @foghorn5 @Smokitcat @QueenTeresa55 @Sunflower1 @DiabeticGammi @Jeremywoman22 @Selkie319 @Lolopez @Bigfoot @Bhart24 @Lisa45764 @Nxlevel @LynneBrush @Bruce_S @ThomRandolph @ColHenry @Missy62 @silaganntee @KaylinWatsica @PamelaKoss @CindiInNC @davidcraven399 @Jurants @mapesphill @JarvisWard @dcraven692 @ysabel @grapefig

Let’s share our experiences (and some kind but firm comebacks!) to educate and support one another. 💬😊

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Somya from the Carenity team 🌼

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jesvideo

02/27/2025 at 12:16 AM

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jesvideo

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I tell people this, if you get my age, you will have aches in places you did not even know you had. Listen, I've had a stroke, brain bleed on both sides, 2 heart attacks and cancer twice. Be glad you're not me. I'm like a time ex watch. I take a lickin and keep on ticking! When you surpass that, let me know.

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jesvideo

"It’s all in your head!": How do you deal with this frustrating comment? https://www.carenity.us/forum/other-discussions/good-to-know/its-all-in-your-head-how-do-you-deal-with-this-frustrating-comment-6153 2025-02-27 00:16:04

Mrspeedy

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02/27/2025 at 12:24 AM

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Mrspeedy

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It makes me think about unjustified fears in my mind

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Jason McNeil

leeonone1

02/27/2025 at 12:29 AM

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TELL THEM HEY IT'S CANCER AND IT HAS MANY EFFECTS ON THE BODY.

MOSTLY FIGHT THE CANCER WITH LOTS OF EXERCISE , IT WORKS FOR ME, FIGHT WITH EVERY

BREATH AND FIBER, NEVER STOP!

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jesvideo

02/28/2025 at 5:14 PM

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@leeonone1 I am diagnosed as chronic now and on chronic care since having had cancer twice, and still it's a struggle just to get going and do anything in the morning. Radioactive seeds and medicines have so weakened my body but still I force myself up in the morning and am happy to get anything done.

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Dr.WhoPeggygmail.com

02/27/2025 at 1:58 AM

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Hey. So, all in my head..... When it comes to mental illness, it Is all in my head, yet, physical bodily symptoms can also occur. Little birdie told me depression can have symptom of back pain. Perhaps??? I've had low back pain most of adult life. Just part of life. When an ailment aside from mental illnesses happens & we get told it's all in our head, that's gaslight-ing. Not ok. Pain varies by people, but having an insistent practitioner claim it's in our heads, change providers Pronto! I can joke about being depressed, & it's in my head, however don't like being dismissed. Thanks for question

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Peggy Erickson

Suez39

02/27/2025 at 5:35 AM

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If someone says that ignorant comment to me, I would tell them to gather all the facts before passing judgement. Would further explain that they have absolutely no clue on how hard it is to live your daily life with a chronic illnesses or radiation side effects. Then other times, I would just walk away from them, cause it would be just a waste of my time. Guess I am lucky cause nobody ever said that to me. They can see my trach in my neck, and when I also show them my feeding tube, they really look scared....

Ms.Vee

03/02/2025 at 9:40 PM

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Whenever someone states, “It’s all in your head”. I make the following statement: No, the pain is in my left hand and both of my feet. The pain feels as if I am in labor. The only difference is that the pain never stops. I wake up with pain, I do my daily chores with pain, I go to bed and sleep with pain! I want to stop feeling pain. I want to go back to a time when there was absolutely no pain in my body.

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Johnboy23

05/18/2025 at 9:11 PM

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Other condition: Multiple sclerosis

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That is so so true I had that for over 4 years consultant s saying you must of had a unhappy transit has affected you 56 years later to doctors saying stop playing on it, you keep fighting and now it wasn’t due to a unhappy childhood or in my head they have found serious issues with my cerebellum part of my brain always believe in yourself never accept these peoples opinions you know your body not them trust your gut instincts

papajohn1001

05/18/2025 at 9:21 PM

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I have heard that when my wife had brain cancer and died after a 6 month battle and now that I have fought cancer twice in four years I tell the people until they go through it themselves, keep quiet It is hard worrying when cancer will return am i going to survive it this time The majority of people support me with thoughts, prayers, and donating to fight cancer I have a friend who has small cell stage 3 lung cancer and has just started his treatments I assured him that he is not alone in this fight Once you have cancer, you become a member of a very large family and you are not alone Jim Valvano put it the best way ''NEVER GIVE UP DON'T EVER GIVE UP''

rickster215

05/18/2025 at 10:35 PM

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Thanks for sharing this video.

I just tend to shut down in most cases. I'm so done explaining myself to anyone. For someone who doesn't live with chronic pain, there never seems to be a right answer. I always tell them, looks are deceiving. Then change the subject.

"It’s all in your head!": How do you deal with this frustrating comment?

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