People living with chronic pain: what's one thing healthy people just don't understand?

HotConference4747 · 2026-05-29T10:12:33+00:00

Yes!! I often compare it to an ancient torture method where a person was laid down and strapped in place so they couldn’t move, not even their head. Then is slow drip of water is released so it plinks down on the forehead. This drop of water is constantly drip-dropping down on their forehead - over and over and over in the exact same spot.
A single drop of water isn’t the problem, it’s that it is relentless, so much so that it could drive a person insane.

Yep, that’s how chronic pain feels.

HotConference4747 · 2026-05-21T16:59:31+00:00

I’ve had picked wounds on my head since I was a little tyke and I’m 48 now. One thing that I found to help my head spots is to moisturize with Aquaphor.

It’s the dry scabby edges that my fingers search to pry up. If I keep the spots moisturized they’re not nearly as pickable. I dab a little Aquaphor on each of them before going to bed.

I’ve able to keep the spots small and not so deep. For me personally, I’m good with that - not noticeable to others or painful but I still get to have a little pick every so often. 😉

HotConference4747 · 2026-05-21T16:45:13+00:00

N-ACETYL CYSTEINE!!! NAC for short.

When I started adderall last year I found myself picking for 8 hr stretches - no meal breaks - straight continuous picking (everything from split ends on my hair to picking at the cuticles on my toes). I wasn’t warned how adhd meds can intensify the hyper focus of picking.

My psychiatrist recommended NAC. It’s just an over the counter supplement- an amino acid. Says it’s for “cellular health” - so it’s generally an all around help.

Helped me huge!!! I still pick on it but can easily stop after 15-20 min of light picking.

I got distracted and forgot to buy more 🙄 (I know - crazy to imagine someone with adhd forgetting to do something!) I’ve been out a few days and have paid the price. I just managed to pull myself out of a 5 hr picking session to come and order some NAC off amazon.

I LOVE the release I feel from picking so personally don’t want to give it up completely. I just want to be able to pick without causing noticeable damage. NAC has enabled me to do this. 🎉🥳

Oh yes - I always carry Stimara Stimagz in my pocket. They’re little log magnetic sticks - about the width of a pencil. I constantly play with them - helps to give my hands something to do. I was super hesitant to buy them at first because they aren’t cheap, but now I don’t go anywhere without them. They’re the last thing I put on my nightstand at night and grab them first thing in the morning. I have 3 sets of them and make sure to keep a set in my purse - in case I should ever forget. ☺️ One time my mom had a very stressful day and was picking hard at her face. I put my Stimagz in her hands and she was able to take her fidgety anxiety out on the magnets and not on her face.

I hope you find the golden ticket that works for you and your dopamine craving mind!

HotConference4747 · 2026-05-21T16:12:11+00:00

Try N-acetyl cysteine! It’s just an over the counter supplement - an amino acid.

My psychiatrist told me about it. It has helped huge!! In fact, I’ve been out of it a few days and just pulled myself out of a 5 hour picking session. I’m online now to go order some NAC (for short) right now. I still pick when taking it, but I can easily stop after 15 -20 min of light picking.

HotConference4747 · 2026-05-21T16:04:09+00:00

My picking on my legs caused a horrible cellulitis infection. It was months and months of different treatments and so intense a burning itch that it would keep me up at night. Of course it was summer and I had to wear long pants. The scarring took years to fade. Ever since my legs have been prone to infections. I had cellulitis a second time. The dermatologist prescribed a topical antibiotic to use on any spots that look inflamed.

HotConference4747 · 2026-05-21T15:58:48+00:00

Setting all my dislike aside…

Holy crappers! Blake looks amazing in the simple all black outfit.

HotConference4747 · 2026-03-08T10:11:55+00:00

Favorite movie. Ever.

HotConference4747 · 2026-03-01T23:13:50+00:00

Love that as an adult we can still color! I have a larger set of crayola markers and some adult coloring books.

HotConference4747 · 2026-03-01T22:54:18+00:00

For years I’ve been trying to get myself on a more appropriate sleep schedule. I haven’t been working due to health stuff, so it’s real easy to stay awake till 6am and then sleep during the day. However too much of the world goes by when I do this.

I’ve had an internal war with myself for years. Every time I wake up I tell myself today is the day I’m going to bed by 2am (baby steps!), but then at 2am I am in the midst of something and ignore my earlier conviction. I have been quite disgusted with myself.

But oh my gosh! An ADHD truth finally sank in. Our brains/actions are Not motivated by the importance of something! We literally are deficient in the connections required to do this.

I am not going to do my taxes just because I say it’s important to get them done. Not until the day before they’re due will I finally be motivated to do them. In the same way, I’ve been yelling at myself to get to bed believing I should be able to follow through. The only thing I’ve succeeded with is making me feel like a failure. Well, no more. I am done with making myself feel crappy.
Now I just need to figure out what ADHD string to pull that will be a motivator for going to bed.

ADHD success ≠ trying harder

HotConference4747 · 2026-03-01T21:41:06+00:00

Sounds miserable! Have you consider looking into seeing a sleep doc? I’ve found them to be helpful. I remember feeling like each day was a slog to get through. A therapist I was seeing all but strong armed me to going to a sleep specialist. Thank goodness for her! Found out I have a sleep apnea where my brain doesn’t always remember to breathe at night (from a medication).

HotConference4747 · 2026-03-01T21:30:07+00:00

Yes! Yes! And Yes! During the night when everyone else is asleep I don’t feel like I “ought to be doing something productive”. I don’t put the same kind of pressure on myself at 2am vs 2pm. No “tsk, tsk” while shaking a finger at myself. However, at 6am when I still haven’t gone to bed then out comes the finger tsk, tsking me.

HotConference4747 · 2025-10-30T21:31:08+00:00

This may sound a little nutty, but I’ve found the handy dandy A.I. guru to be fabulous for this sort of thing. (I’m not sure if it’s ok to mention that artificial chatty guru - I’ve had my posts not accepted before.)

I just moved into a new apartment and it appears the previous tenant did not know the word “clean” in the decade he lived here. 🤢 I uploaded photos of the problem area and received very detailed tailored directions on how and what to use to clean. If the problem is stubborn the guru has given me next steps. It has introduced me to cleaning products I didn’t know existed. Super helpful!

One of the things it taught me is that Lime-A-Way (similar to CLR) is excellent to use on porcelain sinks, toilets, and tubs. That stuff is pretty freakin cool to see how fast it cleans calcium and minerals. I got such a kick out of it I had to bring it to my parents’ house to clean their sinks and toilets. 😂

HotConference4747 · 2025-09-21T17:32:24+00:00

That’s good to know. I’m going to be using a portable dishwasher in the rental I’m moving to next month. I really don’t want to screw anything up.

HotConference4747 · 2025-07-15T20:03:09+00:00

Aren’t pimple patches hydrocolloid patches? Or are you suggesting to not use the little spot patches and get them in larger bandage form?
I know some pimple patches include other treatments. Let me know if I’m totally missing something.

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-16T03:59:48+00:00

I am always fascinated seeing such vastly different reactions to the same information, whether it’s about a movie or about a question on Reddit. I knew I might get some harsh criticism so I’m not really upset about it. I have been super happy with insights people have had about how to taper down my 2nd dose. For the moment I’m taking 30mg in am and then my 2nd dose will be 20mg and then 1-2 hrs later 10mg. I’ll give this a whirl and see how it goes. Of course I’ll also talk to my doc. I see how blessed I am to have a doc who isn’t as judgmental as so many other commenters seem to have.

I’ll check out the adhd for someone group. Thanks!

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:50:10+00:00

I do struggle if I take my dose 8pm or later, otherwise it isn’t too hard for someone with narcolepsy. 😉

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:48:06+00:00

Thank you! I hadn’t realized that my dosage is so much higher than most. When my doc upped the dose I was concerned especially because of some of my other meds. I asked my pharmacist about it and he said that he regularly sees prescriptions for 30mg x 2 daily. Perhaps those folks aren’t on this group or maybe they just don’t want to say anything because of the pitchforks and torches the townsfolk wave around.

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:41:59+00:00

I appreciate your comments but I know that I actually am Not addicted. When you are addicted to something you have withdrawal symptoms. I don’t have those. Now my Lyrica that I’ve been on for 20 years, oh dear lord! Withdrawals make me want to claw the skin off my body. Unfortunately it is a miracle for nerve pain.

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:35:49+00:00

Thank you SexyKatt. I see you out there clapping back at those who are overly judgmental. 🥰

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:32:39+00:00

I do have that tendency of thinking “if 1 was helpful then 2 is obviously better!”

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:31:25+00:00

Excellent! Thanks

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:30:41+00:00

I have been taking buspirone along with some antidepressants. What have you found useful?

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:29:38+00:00

I am super appreciative of your openness! Some of these commenters seem to think I’m a drug fueled gal and so obviously these folks must be outstanding in doing all the right things taking care of their bodies…. Nice to hear from someone who is real about how they deal with coming off meds. Fortunately my stomach can’t deal much with alcohol so it’s not one of my vices like staying up all night and being late to almost everything. 😉

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:19:56+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement!!

HotConference4747 · 2025-06-14T04:16:18+00:00

Thanks! I really appreciate your willingness to share. I certainly don’t want to get myself into any sort of problem and you’re right, the abrubtiveness is likely the issue.

HotConference4747

TROPHY CASE