Invisible Pain Made Visible: Orzax Draws Attention to Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, a chronic health condition that often goes unnoticed from the outside but deeply affects individuals' quality of life, has become a silent struggle in the lives of millions of people. With its "Invisible Pains" project launched for 12 May Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Orzax aimed to make this invisible burden visible.
Fibromyalgia, often unnoticed from the outside yet deeply affecting the quality of life of millions of people, has become a silent struggle in countless lives. On 12 May Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Orzax launched the "Invisible Pain" project to make this unseen burden visible.
Awareness gathering in Belgrad Forest
The event held in Belgrad Forest in collaboration with Turkey's Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation brought together specialist physicians, pharmacists, media representatives and guests in the healing atmosphere of nature. The programme went beyond a simple awareness gathering to offer holistic content based on experiencing the multilayered impacts of fibromyalgia.
The awareness walk organised during the event served as symbolic accompaniment to the invisible difficulties encountered daily by individuals living with fibromyalgia.
"Experience areas that make invisible pain felt"
One of the most striking sections of the event consisted of special areas that demonstrated the effects of fibromyalgia on daily life.
"Spiky chair" simulated the constant muscle tension felt
"Heavy weights" made objects feel heavier than they actually are
Stiff keyboard and mouse layout drew attention to motor skill difficulties
The "carrying the bed" metaphor symbolised the feeling of waking without rest
These experience areas created a powerful foundation for empathy by making the invisible effects of the disease concrete.
"Fibromyalgia is often overlooked"
Speaking at the event, Dr. Işık Akgöl, Vice Chairman of Turkey's Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, noted that fibromyalgia occurs at a rate of 2-4 per cent globally and approximately 8 per cent in Turkey.
Akgöl outlined the main features of the disease as follows:
-Widespread and chronic pain lasting longer than 6 months
-Sleep disorder
-Concentration difficulty defined as "fibrofog"
-Mood disorder and depression
-Chronic fatigue and exhaustion
Akgöl also stated that the disease creates hypersensitivity due to a "dysregulation in pain processing mechanisms" in neurological processes.
Orzax: "We are focusing on invisible stories"
Orzax CEO Yunus Emre Alimoğlu drew attention to the social dimension of the project, making the following assessment:
"As Orzax, we prioritise not only commercial growth but also social benefit. We see fibromyalgia not merely as a clinical condition but also as a 'story of misunderstanding'. By supporting this understanding with our scientific studies, we aim to contribute to quality of life."
Orzax Marketing Manager Alev Uludağ summarised the communication approach in these words:
"In this project, we focused on making the invisible visible. Because one of the most challenging points for fibromyalgia patients is the lack of understanding of the pain they experience. We aimed to make empathy visible."
Long-term approach focused on social awareness
The "Invisible Pain" project aims to strengthen social empathy by drawing attention to the invisible difficulties faced by individuals living with fibromyalgia. With this work, Orzax not only contributes to an awareness day but also aims to create long-term social consciousness.
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