[Myrcurial]

After 15 years of something similar (if not exactly the same thing -- we should talk) I'd suggest that you're in a valley of happiness now, please enjoy it as I can guarantee that it won't last. You're going to cycle back to the other states.

[hartmanrc]

I registered an account just so I could reply and confirm your statement. While there are studies to suggest that 'Mindfulness' type approaches like the OP describes helps, there is nothing to suggest it lasts.

Unfortunately it's not a sine wave, it's more like a downhill slope. As you age, it only gets worse. I hate to appear like a dark cloud over the OP's sunny article, but I'm 27 years in. For the first 10 years or so, I too believed it made me stronger, tougher etc. Now I'm just happy to make it stop - whatever it takes.

[jhartmann]

I don't know if I agree. I've had chronic pain since I was 18 (sure it was worse later) so I'm 20 years in. I think attitude has a huge impact. I know I was taking craploads more medicine with less results when I didn't put it in the right perspective. We really can beat our pain if we put our head in the demon's mouth as Jerry Colonna likes to say. There are obviously things that are much worse, I know that sort of thinking really helps me. Google around a little and see how people in wheelchairs are doing marathons or something similar. Makes my pain seem tame by comparison.

[hartmanrc]

I agree that attitude certainly helps, I just think it is naive to believe it alone will always be sufficient, and hubris to suggest it can work for everyone.

Having said that - I'm glad it's working for you as well.

[jhartmann]

Definitely, I totally agree with that assessment. I know everyone's pain is different, and chronic pain is never a walk in the park. This isn't going to work for everyone as a magick cure all, but it definitely helps to stay positive.

[bumbledraven]

Regardless of your own history, regarding the OP's experience purely as a cycle seems unduly pessimistic. What if it's more like sine wave with a positive slope? After all, OP changed his personality and lifestyle in important ways.

[Myrcurial]

If I wasn't unduly optimistic, I'd be institutionalized by now. My suggestion to the OP was that periods like he described have happened for me as well -- in retrospect, they were "remission-like" incidents. When the first one crashed back into full blown, I went from "the usual depressed" to something much darker. When I had another remission period, I was elated but aware that "all good things must end" and I enjoyed every damn minute of it. Right now, I'd love a period of remission, it would make a SIGNIFICANT difference in my day-to-day.

My hope for the OP and my intention in writing was to encourage him to have some psychic cushion for the potential of a return to strongly symptomatic existence. The only constant is change.

[robheaton]

That sucks man, I can definitely believe that. My email's in my profile, let's talk.