“Empathy fuels connection and sympathy drives disconnection.” Brene Brown Those with chronic pain often experience a lot of sympathy. Unknowingly, most sympathizers come from a place of judgement and pity, contributing to helplessness and immobilization in the person with pain. Empathy, on the other hand, is climbing into the pit with the broken. By being with them, and not trying to fix them or give them solutions, but instead actively listening, an understanding of their perspective is more achievable.