I guess the reason why you hear about these issues so much is because they affect a lot of people. Not everyone is on this website monitoring what gets posted so they may not realize that what their writing about hasn't already been said a lot before.

"I realize life is not sunshine and rainbows 24/7 but I think we could try a little harder to change the vibes."

Every day I wake up in pain, and every day I go to sleep in pain. I wish I could stay positive about that, I really could. I agree about the dating stuff, but only because nobody wants to date a miserable 30something balding guy with chronic pain. Thankfully, I do have housing, so there is that...but that just makes me feel guilty, because there are all sorts of people struggling to have families who can't afford housing, and I have a room full of books and other useless things that I used to enjoy, before I was in pain all of the time, along with another room that just sits empty.

If you're positive, good for you. One thing I have noticed is that positive people stay positive by ostracizing people like me. I would probably do the same, in their situation.

I'm positive so "good for me", which I'm assuming means you think I'm one of these positive people that look down on others because I don't understand their situations.. You don't know a thing about me. I'm in a fucking wheelchair. I know about chronic pain. I don't know what kind of positive people you're around but the kind I hang out with certainly don't ostracize the less fortunate.

Yeah, I'm a positive person who makes a conscious effort daily not to be around negativity no matter what the circumstances. Sorry that I don't like to mope around in my own pile (or other people's piles) of shit.

As a fellow chronic pain sufferer, I understand the struggle to not give in to the pain, every day. There is research that supports the theory that pain perception is affected by mood, as well as the notion that positive thinking in the face of adversity can elevate mood. It can be neatly summed up as,"Fake it 'til you make it". I'm also fortunate to be able to work in a role that allows me to speak with many, many, people who have a lot more to complain about than I do, which gives me dozens of moments in the day to practice gratitude. Not to sound too much like Oprah, but feeling grateful is a powerful mood elevator, and encourages empathy and compassion, two things this world could use a lot more of.

@OK, Sorry you are in constant pain. Unfortunately, I am in the same position. First off, DO NOT FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE YOU HAVE HOUSING. It's not easy being where you are. YOU DESERVE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE. Your point about healthy people ostracizing people like you is probably a product of your misperception based on the difficulty of yourself keeping a positive outlook. Nobody knows what other people think. I don't have all the answers, but here are a few suggestions that help me. First, meditation and exercise. The exercise thing threw me at first, but I was quite surprised to find that engaging the soreness and pain showed me that I had the power to be stronger than the pain. And there are so any positive things about meditation I don't know where to start. But mostly it helped me to overcome my misperceptions and harmful thinking. And that's really where it all begins - with our thinking. The Dalai Lama says that the quality of our thinking is the most important determinant of the quality of our lives. Every day I realize that more and more. Being in pain all the time creates untold stress in our minds and bodies. Exercise and meditation helps relieve the stress. Pets are great too. As is the quality of helping others.
I hope you get back to a place where you enjoy your books again. It's gonna sound silly, but being in pain doesn't mean you have to suffer. Pain is physical, suffering is mental. And what sounds even sillier is that everything mental is a choice. YES, you can be in pain and still lead a good, positive life. It may not be easy, but it is possible. Good luck in the future and keep the quality of your thoughts positive (that is - choose positiveness no matter how hard that might be). Eventually it gets better. Peace

Usually when someone begins with "I'm not an ignorant person", I'm expecting something ignorant to follow but I agreed with you for the most part. This section probably could use some admins weeding out some of the more non-confessional posts but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen. If anyone is listening, I really could use a different job and I'd be happy to help!

I also hope the person above me can find some relief from his chronic pain. Please don't be so hard on yourself because your body is hurting you enough without you adding to your misery by feeling guilty for simply having a roof over your head. Please remember that housing is an obvious basic necessity despite the lack of affordable accommodations and the media's obsession with reminding us how little there is available.

You don't want to hear about problems that don't affect you. You may have an awesome job, steady income that covers your life with cash to spare, a stable living arrangement without getting screwed by someone and in a happy relationship. Sorry for the lower classes harshing your mellow, dude.

I don't look disabled.
In my experience, people will put up with lots of things from overtly physically disabled people (or mentally disabled people), compared with people who "look normal."
You probably get treated with kid gloves. I don't, to most people I look like an "oppressor class tall white male" who enjoys "privilege." And if I were not in pain all of the time, sure, maybe I would agree with that.

I have been doing better with my pain lately, but that is because I focused on nutrition and diet (and exercise as another poster suggested) not because I decided to say 'every day is a gift, even tho there is this nagging pain in my hip!' Every day isn't a gift. It's not a burden either. It just is.