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Coping with Extreme Pain [1]

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Date: 2023-02-16  

The Basic Method Goes Like This

Be the Dot

Be the Circle

Alternate

You may not be able to relate to this, but I will only provide one specific instance. I choose not to elaborate. I was administered a potassium drip, the IV being in the back of my left hand, the nurse stayed with me, her name was Mary. I remember nothing.

The next day, Mary came in and I told her about a nightmare I'd had. She smiled sympathetically, and I recalled the blinding -- pain?

Her eyes were so soft and gentle and caring, as she told me the procedure was to be repeated. What I knew, I don't know. But there was within a sense that this time, I would keep my mind clear.

It started off feeling like a large knife had stabbed my hand, pinning it to a wooden table (like in True Grit.) My clarity of mind spoke, do not attempt to move -- you can't and it won't help.

I was the Dot.

Pain has a way of cycling, hot becomes cold and then cold becomes hot, and I found myself free of the agony, I was bigger than it.

I was the Circle.

"Is that the best you've got?" was my challenge to the pain.

Pain, you be the Dot. I'm the Circle.

Pain, I'm the Dot. You're the Circle.

*

As I said, you might not be able to relate to this. Mary did.

[END]
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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/16/2153248/-Coping-with-Extreme-Pain

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