It's hard to hear when others feel the way I do b/c it can be so bad. Yet, I'm more than happy that I am not alone in this. The only thing that we can do is do things to mentally change our outlook on things. Slowly, over time, we start to make the happy good moments more memorable so that when we do find ourselves down, we have something memorable to reflect on to try to get our mental back in shape. It's the thoughts that can convince you, just as making someone smile through kind word or actions. Even those moments can be reflected upon to try to change the way our mind is trying to convince us that life is or isn't.

When we find ourselves in that dark moment, we can come here and no one will mind, only try to lift you up! Even if it's just a crack of a smile or a sigh of slight relief, that moment is memorable for someone else. In a way, it's much more than making yourself happy, rather knowing that you can make someone else see a bit brighter and knowing that you are capable of doing that, in turn you can get your dose of the happiness medication that we all need from time to time. Some more than others, but no one will notice here, in a good non-judgmental way.

No one here will say "you just need to get over that" or "everyday it's something else with you that's wrong or that hurts" or even "you shouldn't be feeling that way, why are you so miserable, you have no reason" The difference between here and anyone else you may have met in your life is we like to share the good with the bad and not have to worry about what other people think of you. You will never ever have to consider that anymore when you vent or laugh here.

Nice to meet you and looks like you made it here just in time. That was me about a couple or few months ago. I was starting a new job soon, had made a fool of myself going to work exhausted and ended up crying in the middle of the day b/c I was not only so tired, I was in pain. The boss never took the time to understand me and she made it seem like her personal problems were more important than everyone else's.

I never went to her to explain myself b/c I didn't think she would be interested. The last week I was there, she was nice as pie to me, and we finally had "the talk" about my Fibro. It was the greatest relief I had felt in a long time. I wanted her to know where my frustration was coming from, but that I never really complained to her or anyone about it before. I held it in until that last couple of days, I already had a different job and I had done 3 interviews the week before. Some of them called her, so she knew but acted surprised when I handed my 2 weeks in. The point being, I refuse to associate with fake people that make no attempt to understand what another person deals with everyday. No one can justify that what they are going through is worse than you are. Everyone deals with everything their own way. So, I surround myself with people that are understanding, considerate, and sometimes empathetic (I don't want sympathy) with what I might have to deal with one day when I have a migraine, I'm sweating, my muscles haven't let me sleep but 4 hours last night, and I can't grab the pen for the first hour I'm there.

Sure, there may be some that have better coping skills, but that doesn't mean that your frustrations or bad days are not as bad as you make them seem. Frustration and bad days are personal, so I don't let others that make me feel like my pains and aches and frustration and depression are unfounded or they aren't actually real. They are, unfortunately or fortunately because I would miss out on a bunch of really great people because I have Fibro and I will have Fibro.

I was told by my Human Resources Director on my last cry session that I can change my environment and surrounds, but I don't at all have to change myself, but surely I have to choose what I think is best because I'll never change other people. I think of that when I come here. I'm able to find this place that I don't have to worry about anything, but I can take care of me and others that appreciate it!

I hope that you find wellness soon. It's out there, but sometimes, we are the only ones that really know what we need and just have to dig to see what that is. Each time I'm happy, the pain goes down. When I'm entertained at work and knowing that I love what I do, I don't concentrate on the pain. I have to let my mind wonder off of that sometimes.

P. S. Ever considered writing a book?