Frida Kahlo: Trailblazing for women & her artistry despite chronic pain

As we round out National Women’s Health Week and honor May as National Mental Health Awareness Month, I could not think of a better subject to highlight than the amazing life of Frida Kahlo. As a cultural icon, this artist has defied social norms and influenced feminism, but for me, her determination and resilience despite living in debilitating chronic pain is the true inspiration of her story.

Born in Mexico in 1907, Frida’s early life was influenced by her contraction of polio which left one of her legs much thinner than the other, creating physical challenges and stigma. As a young adult she suffered major injuries in a bus accident, injuries that would result in pain for the rest of her life. While treatments and surgeries were attempted to address pain and mobility, she never recovered.

As an artist, Frida used her brush to tell her pain story through symbolism and surrealism and is well known for her self-portraits that provide a raw portrayal of her experiences both physically and mentally. In “The Broken Column” (1944), Frida paints herself wearing one of her many body braces. The visual of her at work is gripping and demonstrate her dedication to her craft:

Frida did not give in to traditional norms for women. She often dressed in men’s clothing and disregarded facial hair. Professionally, she rejected the idea that her deeply personal experiences as a woman and as a person living in pain could not be the subject of art. She was also a fierce advocate for causes she believed in including reproductive rights, sexual identification, and issues of disability.

Frida was often bedridden but kept painting, using a mirror attached to her bed to paint herself. Her ability to transform her chronic pain journey into beautiful art provides a window into an often-hidden world that is isolating and lonely.

While people living in chronic pain are 4 times more likely to have depression and anxiety, Frida’s sense of purpose was likely critical to her strength despite pain. Studies have demonstrated that having goals and motivation associated with goals can be a powerful counterbalance to the mental health challenges people living with chronic pain often face. In a recent study, researchers found that having goal tenacity can buffer the emotional toll of pain on mental well-being. Frida lived this way and created a fulfilling and productive life in the face of her immense physical hurdles, and embodies the idea of the chronic pain warrior.

When I finally came to the realization that no medical treatment or health miracle was coming to “fix” my chronic pain, I recognized that I had to find a way to move forward with intention. For me purpose meant writing this newsletter and my manuscript, public speaking about pain, and building out my consulting practice with a focus on chronic pain issues. Only when I found this purpose and began to pursue it with tenacity did my pain outlook change.

Frida found her path. I am finding mine. For those of you living for years and decades with pain the question is, what might your tenacious goal be? The path we choose does not really matter, it is simply about choosing one and then taking the steps to pursue it, no matter how big or small. In making this goal-oriented decision, we just might channel Frida and gain an opening for an experience and life path that feels different and maybe even better.

While less known, Frida was also a writer. Her writing craft touched many topics including pain through poetry, letters, and her diary.  I leave you with some of her most notable and inspirational quotes that capture the idea of strength in the face of adversity:

• “Don’t build a wall around your suffering. It may devour you from the inside.”

•  “I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.

• “At the end of the day we can endure much more than we think we can.”

• “Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?”

The message that I take away from Frida Kahlo’s life story is that pain does not have to define us and that we can take pain and turn it into something good, or maybe even triumphant.

What message do you take away from Frida’s life work and story? Drop me a note and let me know your thoughts!

Thanks for reading and find more of Frida Kahlo’s artwork HERE.