I pray that you feel better. What helps me out is listening to music, reading a book I love, I walk, I take bubble baths, I try to eat healthy(veggies, fruits, etc), I also pray to help keep me sane, and I try to talk to people on here to help me deal.

JC, i agree with many of the above comments, but first i want to say your wry wit is greatly missed and i know you're in extra pain when you can't get on DS.

youtube is helpful to me - babies laughing is a great search with lots of results.

faith (however weak) and praying, music, photography, stupid jokes, miss penny's antics, and anything that will take my mind off myself/body for a few minutes.

i truly used to throw eggs into the bath tub, but that had serious drawbacks.

i think it was in the movie parenthood where the grandmother said...
Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.
Gil: Oh?
Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!
Gil: What a great story.
Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.

as always hugs and hope!

Jan I think we all go thru the grieving process and reach out to the acceptance stage. I personally accept my New life, but then I have periods of time that I have those regrets. I allow myself those times. Why do we always have to accept it when we hurt and have to fight each day to just to get through our days? We are allowed to have our bad days. Everyone has bad days, even normals.

Distraction is a great tool as others mentioned. We know you love humor, research it and come up with jokes to share. Look up simple recipes in cookbooks to make whenever you feel up to it. I do this in my bed and sometimes I make them and sometimes I don't, but I'm distracted!

Shoot rubberbands at the wall teehee! Scream in your pillow! Blow some bubbles! Chop up veggies with the butcher knife! Watch a sport so you can get away with screaming at the tv! There are ways to let off some of that steam! Let loose!

Write a list of things to be thankful for.

I'm not one to talk about my pain very often and I have a couple of friends that get on me for it. I'm doing better about it. This is a SUPPORT Room and you give tons of support so open up and let others give back it's only fair my friend :)

Love and hugs,
Toni

I like your tools. I'd include a good diet, regular sleep, medication, and seeing doctor as a few of my tools. I must admit I don't always use them. lol

HOrmones are not helping me out any.

JC I am with you on that roller coaster. Front car, no safety harness, going through the loop de loops ready to fall out any time.

I know I have learned so many coping tools throughout the years and have put them away in my tool box. I just tend to forget that I have them and bring them out when I need them.

It's hard living this life. Especially when we are as physically inactive as we are, our emotional side goes into overdrive. That's where I am right now. An emotional train wreck. And I feel like everyone in my life is like the rubber neckers in traffic, just watching the destruction happen.

I am grateful that I have this site where I can let out how I am truly feeling and not be judged for it. It's nice to have that safe place to go.

A big thank you to Sandy for the information. I can definitely relate. And everyone else, thanks for sharing how you get through. you all have some wonderful ideas!

Gentle hugs,
Jenna

I can so relate to this, thanx for sharing. Sometimes its hard to remember that I'm not the only one suffering from CP, and its so hard to explain or share with people around me that don't suffer. just reading the replies and your story has helped me today.

Hmmmmm.... Can I get off the rollercoaster now......
Seekn doesn't like the ride anymore.....

I ride it through with the support of my CP friends that understand what it is all about.... for that I am grateful....

Thanks for sharing your stories, tips and tools..... mine would being grateful for the things that I do have....... and grateful for the things that I don't have.... could always be worse.....

Huge Hugs...

jan, I think you hit the nail on the head - "trying to be there for others" is a great coping strategy. It is selfless and compassionate and takes focus away from our own suffering/pain. May your pain be always be bearable, blessings.