Some Frustrating Question when Living with Chronic Pain

Everything I do takes at least twice the time or more, than how I used to be. I have to plan any outing, I can't be spontaneous. And even if I do lots of preparation, when it comes time to see a friend or go somewhere so often I am exhausted before I even go anywhere...... Or I had a bad night..... Or I moved the wrong way and the pain intensifies beyond my ability to continue anything and I have to cancel, thus building a reputation of being unreliable.

Why is it that my friends and family have stopped inviting me to anything because they assume I can't do it or go?

Am I writing about things that only I experience or do you guys struggle so hard for normalcy too? Setting unrealistic objectives? Or have you accepted your medical situations?

When I give in (that's how I see it, giving in) and only do what my body tells me it needs, I begin to heal slowly, ever so slowly. I feel better but it means being and doing things in a way that is unacceptable to normal life. I will sleep in the day for several hours and be awake for several hours in the middle of the night. My body needs to shut down when it has had enough and I so often don't let it because I have an appointment or someone might visit or or or???

Enough of this, this is a wonderful evening which needs to be recognized as a time of loving and giving and sharing and laughter and I wish all of you the very nicest of Christmases. Bless you my cherished new friends.
Gentle hugs,
DS Deb