Many chronic-pain sufferers choose to hide what they’re going through out of shame or for fear of judgment. Some worry that they will be thought of as weak, imperfect, or defective, while others worry that their employer will feel they’re unable to complete the task at hand. And so, those with chronic pain often wear a mask: Outwardly they may appear perfectly fine, but inwardly, they often feel like screaming. That’s certainly the case for Emily, a New Yorker who works in the music industry.
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/1