Communication is a fundamental component of rehabilitation. The profoundly complex and idiosyncratic nature of pain experiences often requires the use of metaphoric expressions. In order to make sense of the world, many people in pain turn to metaphor. Healthcare professionals employ metaphor to transfer abstract scientific knowledge into meaningful cognitions. However, whilst some metaphors are explicit in their execution, many remain characteristically concealed. Through exploring the implicit nature of metaphor clinicians, researchers and people in pain may develop strategies to bridge the communication divide.
Click on the link below to answer 12 multiple-choice questions that will test your understanding of metaphors and how they can impact on people’s understanding of their pain experiences.
Here’s more on metaphors…
The road to pain reconceptualisation: Do metaphors help or hinder the journey?
