Pain has never been easy…it has always been a difficult pill to swallow. Writing about pain itself has made me realise that no amount of words can fully express how pain feels and what pain is. The woman who just lost her baby, a lady whose heart just got broken, a man who just got robbed, an individual who just got hit by a car, or an individual who got burnt in a fire.

Yes, pain comes in different forms.

The longer you stay alive, the more you realise that pain is a phenomenon that virtually everyone on earth has to undergo at some points in their journey. physical pain, psychological pain, emotional pain and any other firm in which it comes, every living human on earth will definitely experience pain and hurt in different degrees.

The good thing about life is that nothing lasts forever, this is why from experience I have been able to summarize and culminate 7 proven ways through which we can deal with pain. Read below:

1. ACCEPTANCE

Accept that something happened to you and you are not the only one having to deal with pain.

It is usually good when one accepts bad situations and pain instead of denying or pretending it never occurred. Accepting helps you to heal faster.

2. TALK ABOUT IT

Talk about it but only when you are ready. Do not rush things or allow yourself to be rushed, take your time.

3. LET YOURSELF BE VULNERABLE 

Be open and allow good friends to help you. Worthy and reasonable friends I mean, there has to be someone you can trust and if there isn’t , well talk to God

4. DO NOT MASK THE PAIN

I know a friend who goes into the bush or open space to scream out loud each time she is angered, pained or vexed. She comes back feeling better, that works for her. Find out what works for you. But taking to alcohol is not and has never been an option! You can pray, cry, shout, write about it or talk about it.

5. DO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING, KEEP YOURSELF BUSY

This helps you occupy your mind and you think less of your sorrows. There has to be something productive you love doing which also gives you joy.

6. CHERISH MEMORIES

You don’t have to forget or mask memories, cherish your good memories and bad memories, sometimes this helps you to reflect and improve.

7. FINALLY, GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO HEAL

Don’t rush it, but have it at the back of your mind that you have to heal.

Do not live in a fantasy, thinking life is smooth and rosy for everyone. No it isn’t and when hitches or challenges come you should face them head on and deal with it.

Pain is an inevitable part of life, but it does not have to define you. It doesn’t have to break you. Every wound you endure carries the potential for wisdom, strength, and compassion. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting, it means learning to live again with hope and courage. So, when life hurts, don’t suppress it; face it, feel it, and grow through it. With time, faith, and patience, you’ll find that even your most painful experiences can become the foundation for a stronger, more beautiful you.

Oluwaponmile Shittu is a passionate advocate for women’s and children’s rights, and social justice in Africa. A leading voice at Women For Liberty Africa and a former African Liberty writing fellow, she writes on societal issues and parenting, and speaks widely on empowerment, human rights, and meaningful change.