LEASE NOTE:  THE FOLLOWING POST IS STRICTLY BASED ON MY PERSONAL OPINION AS A PERSON WHO HAS CHRONIC PAIN AND OTHER CHRONIC ILLNESSES.  I AM NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY COMPANY, INSTITUTION OR ORGANIZATION.

Hi,

I have complex regional pain syndrome and many other illnesses including a terminal brain degenerative disease.

Any one with chronic pain or chronic illnesses knows that to get by it is best to maintain some sense of humor, no matter if anyone else "gets" it, you know what you mean, that is all that matters.

Have you ever thought of naming your symptoms and trying to separate yourself from  the illness? When you do that, you are much less likely to identify with it, which makes it possible to step back and see ways for dealing with it and managing its effects on your life that you otherwise couldn't.

Sometimes when we complain about pain, we end up feeling like a victim.  If we tell your friends or ourselves that "Sylvester" has been acting up, maybe  we won't make it so personal.

Also if we name our symptoms, maybe they would be easier to write about, talk about as if we were talking to a friend.

Illness for me as narrowed my physical world but having the time to think (when of course when I'm not in horrible pain that would send anyone other than chronic pain patients straight to the ER) and become more creative.

I've found there are lots of ways to be creative.  There is always writing, painting, drawing, collaging, etc. but I also participate in what I call creative television viewing.

I love Turner Classic Movies.  I've wathced many of my favorite movies many times.  I love the some of the furniture that they used for props in old movies.  In my mind, sometimes I redecorate the room.  When a character goes into another room, I imagine what the room looks like.  One of my favorite things to do is after the movie ends imagine what would have happened to the characters later or what would have happened if they had taken a different course of action in the movie.

Sometimes I actually write down scenes.  I'm not writing for school or for an editor so I often let my mind wander on its merry way.

Have a good day.