Re: Feeling really lost, dont know what to do

[Guest guest]

Dear Stacey,

I have a daughter about your age and she , too, is away at school and is

having so many of the same issues.... right down to what to say to friends,

trying

to get stronger without injury , medication, etc.. I know the list goes on

and on. It is so hard being in school, trying to cope with the ordinary

pressures of college while trying to deal with the pain at the same time.

I don't have a big solution for you. I do know it's important to have someone

in your life that you can talk to about it all. I remember (I think ) that

trying to find someone for counseling didn't go well, right? Is there one friend

that does understand? What about a relative? It does go a long way to be able

to talk with someone and you know that we are always here for you.

I personally feel like if our pain is out of control, then our mental outlook

on things is pretty low . Therefore, getting the pain under control needs to

be a primary goal for you. If the doctor that you have won't work with you on

that, you need another one. Before switching though, it may be worth it to

schedule a consult time iwth him where you can sit down with him and tell him

how

you felt about the last appointment and how you are doing right now.

I wish I had more to offer you, Stacey. I know how alone you must feel,

trying to deal with all of this. I'm so sorry.

Remember that we are all here if you want to talk, run an idea by us or

whatever. I know a lot of the time that may not feel like enough. It can help

more

than you think though to get it off your chest and hear what others have to

say. I wish that my daughter would talk/write about it as openly as you do. She

just " refuses to let it control her life " which means that she doesn't let

herself get the support that she needs.

Remember that we are all here. Write to me offlist if you want or you are

welcome to call me.

I hope that today is a better one.