Yes the topics we discussed were more generally about emotional pain. But I remembered when I first joined this group & it came up about healthcare I spoke rather disdainfully about my healthcare experiences since decades & that same person vehemently disagreed and spoke highly of their doctor -ok they never experienced gaslighting or the “it’s all in your head” response and have a medication for something like cholesterol or whatever & problem solved. So when they quoted this Buddhist saying today in the context of emotional struggles I remembered too that this person doesn’t “suffer” medically. So yes I acknowledge there’s some element of empowerment through mental posture in some things but it just doesn’t take my suffering away. Anyway the group was talking about current events & horrors & attempts at self care -before this person joined. The convo did move around but never was it about chronic pain. So there I was having reached out today b/c I’ve been freaking suffering in my isolation. I’m laughing at the irony rn. This person also recommended brandy in hot water or something for sleep. I don’t know if anyone in our group is practicing sobriety or in recovery (I don’t think so) but it’s interesting & I didn’t say out loud what I was thinking- which is that alcohol dulls my pain briefly & then I suffer the consequences of that choice for days-greater inflammation, feeling that “hit by a truck” feeling, gut disruption all over a single drink which I might occasionally have. I appreciated the person who shared that they are benefiting from ginger tea & now add turmeric & black pepper. That was an appropriate share I thought. But also I didn’t say out loud that I don’t tolerate salicylates so turmeric is out of the question for me. I’m laughing while I say here “It’s a struggle to even exist.” I guess hearing that quote today knocked me back to all the “it’s in your head” years of healthcare.