Reality?

Hi all:

I was wondering what hobbies you have that help you to lessen the realities of pain. I find myself quite often seeking refuge from realities via tv..movies..books..music...old time radio. I am also trying to not watch/listen to news..it's all bad anyways.

Thanks

I usually get lost in my writing, unless pain gets too bad.

When that happens, I find talking on the phone a great distraction, better than tv. My best friend also has chronic pain, so we have a custom of calling when we need help making it through a rough day.

But, if you watch tv, netflix is a great deal.

Also, I read most nights, sometimes till 3am. You can get nearly any book via tuebl.ca or mobilism. I make it through 3 or 4 books a week from these sites.... using fbreader on my tablet. Sci fi, fantasy books offer a great escape.

Oh, tablet games too can be great: candycrush, monument valley, mushroom wars are among my favorites.

I read,foster animal's,participate in a on call program to check on the elderly and shut-ins and I really enjoy this,doing something for others worse than me allows me to realize just how lucky I am which can be hard some days. Check with the local counsel for the aging if you think you might like to do something like this. I call a few every day others every few days and if I don't get them or hear from them I have emergency contacts so someone can go check in on them. They enjoy and look forward to the calls and I enjoy hearing about little pieces of their lives past or present.

The animal foster is through the humane society and the fish and wildlife service.

It's important to do something with the abilities you have an to stay as active as physically possible but just as important to keep your mind busy with things other than the pain. This forum was a tremendous help in my early years of CP and I do crossword puzzles,listen to music and read,there's a few TV shows I watch but mostly reality shows that run on seasons and I can follow. I belong to several Facebook groups that I moderate as well and those are special interests as well as swip swaps since I enjoy yard sales but can't get around to as many as I use to the swip swaps fill in the need.

Not sure what career you held in your pre-cp state but mentors are always needed in all kinds of careers and jobs.

I spend a good deal of time in the pool since it's a great pain reducing modality and I enjoy the water where my movements are not debilitated like they are out of. Hydrotherapy has been one of my greatest ammunitions in the arsenal of pain management ideas and I don't think I would be as active as I am if it were not for the pool.

I crochet in the fall/winter months...a.k.a. football season...ha ha ha. In spring and summer I garden. I read, watch t.v., listen to music, go for walks. I also force bulbs into bloom throughout the winter, it helps me with my depression as it's easy to isolate in winter. I'm a recovered alcoholic so I try to hit at least one AA meeting a week and have found a sober online chat room too.

I'm also on my tenant's committee here where I live and am on the Tenant's Rights Committee here in the town as well. Our community meetings are every other month and the town one's are one a month with the summer off. This infrequent schedule is perfect for me. If you can handle more, find a group of like minded folks that meet weekly.

Book clubs, Bible studies, card clubs, bingo gamers, etc are all good options too. I have problems with my neck and back so, sitting at the computer for long periods of time is not an option for me.