Yes. No. I mean – maybe? Well, okay. Have you ever wanted to be able to say "no" without feeling guilty? Without feeling you're letting someone down? Many of us struggle with disappointing anyone with a 'no.' At the same time, those two letters, n-o, can be freeing.

If you’re managing chronic pain, the ability to say no is a powerful skill that can ultimately give you the gifts of time and energy to dedicate to your health. By trading off doing something you truly don’t have the time to do, you can give yourself more breathing room to stay on top of appointments, treatments, and general self-care. It becomes easier to say “no” with practice.

There are a variety of ways to say no and set boundaries with friends and family with no hard feelings. How do you say “no” to others? Are you direct? Do you provide rain checks?

Here are some conversations about this topic from the community:

“You really must slow down and put yourself first.”

“With a plan to keep yourself healthy and productive then you may be able to help family and others.”

“Learning to be a ‘selfish’ person and put myself and my health first goes against every part of me.”

When has saying no been a form of self-care for you?
Share in the comments below or post on MyChronicPainTeam.