Hi Jace,
I understand how you feel. I have not been able to drive since 2009. I also just find it hard to even be in a car at all even with someone else driving. I don't know what it is about driving- maybe too much stimulation and having to sit so long hurts my back and causes my pain to spike. It is really hard to adjust to these new ways of living but I have found that things do get better. I can now go into the mall for a very short time without having such severe effects.
You know what? It is ok to just take some time out from the world for awhile. It is ok to isolate yourself as much as needed in order to cope with these problems. I have had to and I have discovered ways to cope. I have learned meditation. I am also finding that slowly- I am making progress. I have recently found some new friends and talk on the phone a little. That is something I avoided for years. I also go out with one of my friends now about once or twice a month. I just have to limit my time out of the house to only a few hours at a time and only once or twice a week but that is huge progress for me. I have found things are getting better. I have learned my limitations and am learning to work around them.
I have not been on this site much lately because I have found that the more I can keep my mind busy with other things, the better I feel and function. It has been important not to just sit and dwell on the disabilities. I have actually been writing a book about my near death experience. I posted a little thread on a different website about it and I have like 21,000 followers. I had a wealthy investor see my story and he is paying to have my story published into a book. So you see, I did find a way to reach out and connect with others even being mostly home bound. I may have even found a way that I can make a living while working around all these health problems. I have found that I am a very good writer.
Don't give up and don't let these new found limitations on your life get you down. You still have a life and with time you will find that things either get better or you get better at managing the problems. I have found that the key word is "management". I have learned that I have a very fine line that I have to balance. I am still learning how to manage this balance but am making progress. I send you love and encouragement.
Just wanted to drop in and say "hi" to everyone also and give you all a little update on how I am doing. I thank you guys a lot for being there for me. I hope you all are doing well and trying to stay positive. I send my love to you all.
Brain Patch