For sanity, I watch funny European commercials on youtube (banned in the US), and demo my house for stimulation (under the guise of remodeling)....oh, and I took up animal husbandry. (I am cuckoo...it's fine, it happens.) My lovely colored eggs cost me $15 a dozen to raise, and I give them away.....

Coping reminds me of an old bee gee song....'uh, uh, uh, uh, stayin' alive, stayin alive, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

Yes, the best thing is distraction. Reading a good book series helped me. I even read the popular "Twilight" Series and those were a great distraction. I almost forgot who I was I was so into those books. Its all about finding a way to get out of your head. It takes practice and persistance.

Hello Invisable
hope you are feeling better today. I agree with ALL advices given above from our friends. Thank you all . I would like to add few more here, some can sounds strange but can relieving stress a bit in my opinion.

*** SHOUT***
Go to somewhere far from people ( be invisable ), if there is no quiet park around your house, explain to those whom live with you, go to a room, and SHOUT loud , even if its under blankets or inside a wardrobe. It feels good! its like take from deep inside and free ourselves , mind not disturbing the neighbors to avoid more stress, Shout at day time.

My old psychologist adviced me a Bioenergetic Exercise
Basicly I had to use a cushion and punch to relieve my stress and anger (my ex-husband was the subject). Punching is a bit tiring, so on that time, i got a piece of wood, nails and a hammer (and few pictures of him).
It was very good. For long i blame him for worsening my health and all that lack of caring was as painful as my foot.
I forgive him, Today im free! and got a very supportive partner .

To keep calm is much healthier, but seems impossible sometimes!!! i know what you mean Invisable, it feels like we loosing sanity, with this unbearable pain that never goes away!!!! , and the last thing we think is about inner peace. I believe that is possible to reach, after a long journey....

Have you heard about EFT? Emotional Freedom Technique. I found this video other day, i did it once and it was good, i should put in pratice more often because helped a little, maybe with time can be more effective. Click it on the link bellow and try it. It wont hurt you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH_uC...eature=related

Hope i helped you somehow
Thank you so much for this thread, You are not alone
Have a pain free night
lots of love

I also talk to myself.

as long as you dont argue with yourself and lose!

Eh, I never know what side I am on, so it's a win-win.....or maybe a lose-lose...

The exchange between you and echoes is funny~ thanks both.

Sheltiemom18

When you have 'discussions' with yourself? As long as it doesn't get to a knock-down drag out fight? You're likely OK, just working things out.
Worse? IS when you STOP for GREEN lights. THEN know you have a problem.
Especially when you can justify it..somehow.
Nuff said.
As for sanity? I outlet my violent streak by screaming at the top of my lungs when alone, and Throwing all those pens that never write more than a word [the kind that have sorta dried up?] DOWN on my driveway ...with all the anger in the THROW! Not much to clean up, and you get rid of those pens and energy!
Learn to know when you are getting tense and/or upset...then find a constructive or less harmful outlet [like getting rid of old pens] to let it OUT! Then, what I've found is to LEARN about my neuropathy and learn as much as I can! That has been my best motivator [saving my life] and a revenge on the nay-saying docs I've seen.
I've also found the folks here, to be kind, patient and caring! We have all been thru the 'medical food processor' a few times plus. Tho for different reasons we all have that end result: PN PAIN.
There is stress in any long term pain situation...go read about the pain the chronic pain folks have to live with! Keep things in perspective too. At least you can walk and function somewhat well...it's when you can't? It CAN get to you!
Hugs and hope and patience! Think positive can come out of the pain? Nerves healing hurt as much as those dying at times. 's - j

I love everyone's unique ways to keep sanity, thanks for sharing them and coming to my rescue.

I'll dabble a little in all of them.

Nice to see there are so many animal and nature lovers.......as that is where my passion lies.

Thank beating your head against a wall? Yeah it feels good when you stop? But then? Ya got that durned dent in the wall!
You have to LEARN how to distinguish between your 'frustrations from pain' and the 'pain' itself. Easier said than done, but lots of self-'investigation' helps you to be able to sort out when it's the PAIN of 'Frustrations of Living' which are causing the problems. It all IS very much, a Self-INTROSPECTIVE process ab out your pain and how you are and can DEAL With it!
Web up various 'pain' web sites? or, go here and READ about those with Chronic and undiagnosed pain. We all hurt in different ways, and it [at least for me?] has helped to learn about others and put MY situation in perspective. In that doing, I've learned better to speak more articulately to MY docs about MY PAIN and thus get better treatments.
Don't forget?: "There are two people on this earth who are sane, At times I doubt thee?" Get my drift? THAT is how docs see US! Unless you are cool calculated and collected, not to mention have FACTS of super legit web sites such as the NIH, Super smart Teaching Universities and such to let the DOC know you aren't playing with the fringe elements! I Never bring 'printouts' to my doc? I simply mention the NIH 'trial' on this and that, or the NIH or whatever super medical researchers are showing now...and citing sources DOC has far better access to getting the good stuffs on. IF they bother. Different step in the process?
Staying SANE is focussing in on your problems and finding GOOD ways to get you better! It CAN take a lot of work? But, does pay off, often big time! Keep faith and hope! without them, We wither! Hugs hope and a diagnosis!
's!!!!!!!!!!! - j