Dealing with Pain

Everyone has to deal with pain. It may not be the same exact pain, but everyone has it, emotional or physical. Pain is pain and sometimes it can really debilitate us.

But I think you can get a true sense of a person by the way they handle their pain. Are they the kind who every time you casually ask "How are you?" they reply with a list of ailments? Or are they they kind who hold everything in?

I am in pain today...physical pain. I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease almost a year ago, which sounds waaaaaay worse than it really is. Basically it's arthritis in my low back. There's nothing that can be done for it. I just have to manage it. I do my stretches and use my heating pad when I have issues. I used to see a chiropractor, but realized it wasn't really helping. I have never been a complainer. When I am in pain, I tend to just keep to myself. Usually no one knows I'm having issues unless I need to do something and I can't...so I have to reveal that my back is bothering me that day. Like today. I know why it's bothering me. I didn't do my stretches for a few days and then went to Zumba yesterday.

I have my fair share of emotional pain, too. Nothing stings more than a rejection, especially one that you were really hoping would work out. And yes, I have thrown myself pity parties, insisting I am an awful writer. But that usually lasts a day and then I am rejuvenated....ready to do what I need to do to get where I want to get.

So how do you handle pain? Does everyone and their mother know about it, or do you keep it inside. Does pain send you into a dark dreary pit or does it entice you to work harder to get what you want?