Cancer, a word that is very common and a disease that a majority of people know a lot about. It comes in various forms, affects a lot of people around us, and appears in plenty of television shows and films. Cancer is present everywhere, known as a hard driven killer, and it can easily be portrayed as physical changes occur in the individual. Just a few films that focus on this disease are My Sister’s Keeper, The Bucket List, and 50/50. Mental illness is another disease that is making its way into our common and everyday language. Whether it is in the news or appears on tv, it has started to play a heavy role in society. Although this particular disease cannot be seen, a fair amount of research has been done and there are certain physical attributes that can in most cases make it obvious that someone may be suffering from mental illness. A couple of films are Silver Linings Playbook and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Chronic pain on the other hand is seldom seen, talked about, or portrayed in film and on tv. Recently, however, that all changed with the release of Jennifer Aniston’s film, Cake.
Cake portrays Jennifer Aniston’s character as a person living with chronic pain following an accident. Released in 2015, this film accurately portrays the treatments used today and the daily struggles of an individual living with this condition. Struggling with depression, motivation, prescription medication addiction, and nearly every daily activity, Claire (Aniston’s character) is spiraling out of control.
Aside from starring an A-list actress, this film hits the nail on the head when it comes to the daily struggles of chronic pain and medication dependency. It takes on the difficult task of exploring the complicated world of chronic pain in a way that people can learn and understand.
The immense pain and isolation depicted in the film is a realistic picture of individuals living with chronic pain. Claire only leaves her house for therapy sessions and doctor’s appointments, rarely for anything else. Aside from not leaving the house, she does not spend much time with family and friends, and has very few visitors. This social independence and isolation is a common symptom for chronic pain sufferers. The film very accurately shows not only the social struggles that chronic pain sufferers cope with daily, but also their dependence on medication. This dependency only fuels the emotional pain that accompanies the physical pain. Claire is a character that brings the audience in and breaks down the wall of misunderstanding for those lacking knowledge of chronic pain.
This film is groundbreaking for those living with chronic pain conditions. There is a genuine depiction of that viewers can see and understand on a level that they may not have before. This opens a new door of incorporating a growing understanding about chronic pain in the public eye, and opening the world to a disease that is not fully understood.
If you know someone struggling with chronic pain or medication dependency, Recovia may be able to help. Contact us at 480-712-4600 to learn more about our functional flex-care programs.
Recovia is a functional flex-care program that aims to maximize recovery for individuals suffering from chronic pain, injury, or dependency. The mission is to provide a compassionate, comprehensive, cost effective, and individualized functional rehabilitation program. For more information, please contact us at 480-364-4009 or visit our information page.
The advice and information provided herein is for educational purposes only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites.
