I have a pain tolerance that is better than average but I have analyzed the ability enough to know why. Around two years ago, I had to have reconstructive jaw surgery. (That is a story for another day.) My doctor was shocked with both my recovery and my pain tolerance. In those first few days after the surgery I only used a single pain killer pill because I was more anxious about what the pill would do to me rather than how it might help me. I wanted to handle the pain myself if I could. Talk myself out of it. While I was in this state of limited pursuits I basically lost myself in thought. I'm a writer. I have so many world and situations to live in and explore that I literally lost the pain in thoughts of places and people that I know so well but don't truly exist. Along these same lines, when my family would drive cross-country I didn't read (I actually couldn't without getting a headache), and I wouldn't sleep. Instead, I would continually look out the window and think of nothing and everything all at once. I was rarely ever bored.These experiences have left me to wonder, what do others think about? Where do people go to avoid or deal with pain? So I'm asking you, I want to know.
Where do you go in your mind when you need to 'get away'?
Everyone has a different way their mind works. I wonder if a composer can compose, a writer simply imagines, a reader will remember the finer points of their favorite novel, a mother might compile to-do lists, and you--what do you do?
Yours truly,
Cordy
P.S. Oh, and would you be so kind as to answer the 'poll' that I have there on the sidebar. It's a new thing that I have started to better guide my format and style for future posts. :) Your participation would be most welcome. :D
I go anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes I have imaginary conversations with myself or my characters. Sometimes I go over past arguments and analyze them. Sometimes I go over what I'm supposed to do over the course of the day/week, other times, I think about the future. Sometimes I just sit there and mentally scream/freak out. And lastly, sometimes I think about all the fictional characters I ship.
ReplyDelete(I too cannot read in the car! It's such a bummer sometimes. I'm positive it's a governmental conspiracy to limit bookdragons' ability to A; go on long road trips, or B; read for hours on end.)
I can relate to everything you said! Imaginary conversations, past conversations, (mentally screaming ;)), and all the rest. :)
Delete(Hmm, now there is a theory. Hahaha.)
I'm actually really the same way you are with both of those things. I would far rather deal with pain than take a painkiller. I haven't had super major pain like jaw surgery, but I've obviously had pain. And I won't take a painkiller, for the same reasons as yours--I'm more concerned about what it will do to me than what the pain will.
ReplyDeleteAnd when we drive in the car (we've done several cross-country trips and even more day trips :) I sometimes read, but often I can't focus. I'll sometimes sleep, but that's difficult in the car, especially with so many other people. I'll do the same as you--stare out the window, and "think of nothing and everything all at once." And it never bores me.
When I have to get away and deal with things, I'll go outside, far away from the incessant noise of my family, and just...have silence. Hear myself thinking. You know?
This was an interesting post, Cordy!
Precisely! I'm not one for giving up my agency so the thought that the painkiller might limit my reasoning ability--nah-uh!!
DeleteI LOVE listening to the 'silence' of the outdoors. Minus the mosquitoes. :P
Thanks, Rae!
I tend to daydream about my fictional characters I ship, my book, myself and my favourite actor laughing over nothing (cheers Peter Capaldi) and just random things in general, thing is I get a small smirk on my face which is horribly embarrassing!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'm rarely imagining doing something with an actual person, like a favorite actor, but as for the funny faces...I make them too! We're just too cleverly funny not too, right?! ;)
DeleteUnfortunately, my way of dealing with pain is mostly to be miserable and to feel incredibly sorry for myself. My mind kind of shuts down. It's a really bad method.
ReplyDeleteBut my mind is very busy at other times. I think about my scribblings sometimes, and I think about things that might happen, but very probably won't.
Interesting question!
"I think about things that might happen, but very probably won't." I have never thought or worried about things like that... ;) Okay, maybe a little. Hehehe.
DeleteThanks!
My mind immediately wanders off to think about exciting new story plots, character ideas, fantasy worlds, bits of dialogue, imaginary people, and all that sort of thing. I can never really pinpoint any one time in which I was thinking nothing at all; in fact, I'm often thinking at least four things at once!
ReplyDeleteOOOH! My mind is always distracted by new epic story ideas and worlds! Seriously though, it's crazy how a mind can work, isn't it?? I mean, how can it be so busy all the time and never want a break? Sometimes I just want a break--but I can't really get one. It's a blessing and a curse. Hahaha.
DeleteI know exactly what you mean - even when I'm sleeping, my mind is working in and among my dreams. I rarely have a sleep so deep as to have no dreams, thoughts, or ANYTHING. That usually only happens when I am very, very sick.
DeleteUh-huh! I'm the same way!
DeleteWell, first I wasn't sure how to answer this because my thoughts are rather confusing things, and sometimes I'm not sure if I'm thinking at all. Haha. But I think I would probably start replaying in my mind the latest movie I'd seen, or the most recent book I'd read, or my current most popular story idea. (Anything to do with stories, I guess.) Or I might spend loads of time going over the proper wording for my next blog post, and forgetting it about as fast as I think of it. Or just simply ruminate over what's going on in my life and the life of my family. Just a jumble of a bunch of stuff, I guess. :)
ReplyDelete"Jumble of a bunch of stuff", how aptly put. Hahaha. :D I also like how you said you dwell on any kind of stories. When one can't have a book about them, one will have the stories in their heads.
DeleteOh, yes. And when you said you're not sure if you're thinking at all...that was great! I feel the same way sometimes. :D :D
DeleteHi Cordy!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you still remember me or my comments, but I would look at your blog a lot until school made me so stressed I couldn't focus on anything else.
Reconstructive jaw surgery! Yikes! That sound scary. I know you have a high tolerance level and can't feel as much pain, but I hope everything inside of you is doing fine and healing.
When I need to get away in my mind and not focus on pain, I play the piano or write, especially music and the piano. Writing is nice because I can find words to express what I feel, but it does not help release the pain like music.
Ekaterina,
DeleteOf course I still remember you! :D I'm so glad you had a chance to drop by again. I hope school is/was going well...? :)
Haha, I was a little scared. But I had known for several years that it was a possibility. And thankfully, the surgery did do the trick and I am doing much better. Thank you for your concern. :)
Weelll, I like to listen to music. Haha, does that mean I qualify? ;) Actually, I understand the feeling. While I wish I could play music, listening to music can also help clear my mind--or at least calm it. And writing is also a very natural out.
Again, it was good to hear from you!
Yes, I just finished. I took an AP class, which was really stressful. I'm taking 3 college classes next semester, so that will be interesting.
DeleteI'm glad you're feeling better.
I think listen to music qualifies. There is a field called music therapy. It is extremely helpful for people with dementia. What type of music do you like to listen to? Or what type of music helps you deal with pain?
Oh, my!! Good luck!! *encouraging thumbs up*
DeleteI wander around the music genres. It would be easier to name the genre I don't like and that's Rap. (And actually quite a bit of modern music now that I think about it.) I like to listen to songs that I have grown up with--so dated music. Hahaha, I don't know how to explain what I listen to. I listen to movie soundtracks when I'm writing and mellow vocal music when I need to relax and just chill for a time. :) What about you? What kind of music do you like to play and listen to?
I also don't like rap. I especially dislike it when people on the road play it so loud that you can feel the ground rumble. (cringes)
DeleteI like to listen to classical, opera, broadway songs, country, and some big band music. I play the piano, so I play a lot of classical pieces.
Haha, that is rather annoying. :)
DeleteOoh, I love big band music too! But I love to listen to it when I have nothing to do because my mind will wander the most if I don't have to be cleaning or something like that. Haha, I forget myself and get lost in thought with big band. :D
That is not a strange question at all!
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled to hear that I am not the only one losing myself inside my mind.
I usually make up stories a lot, sometimes the plot barely moves and sometimes I try different outcomes of the same scene. My story elements are often inspired by scenes and themes in movies and books I've recently seen/read.
Imaginary conversations are also popular, and sometimes I play out scenes from my favourite books, and I also love to formulate potential blog posts (that is a way to deal with any sorts of random thoughts)
One of the 'writing blocks' I deal with are many variations on one scene!! They are so fun to explore that I can't help myself!! :D However, they aren't quite so enjoyable when I finally have to make a decision. *eye roll*
DeleteAnd random thoughts, pfft, oh no! I never have any of those. ;P Hehehe.
For as long as I can remember, I've had imaginary worlds I could disappear into at will, and at need. Even before I was interested in becoming a writer, I had multiple imaginary worlds I could hang out in. Some of them were based on a movie or TV show or book I loved, where I could interact with the characters, and some were totally made up by me.
ReplyDeleteI'm 36, and I still do this. I've discovered that the more I daydream in one of my other worlds, the more productive my writing life is. When I'm feeling bored or stale in one, the other loses focus too.
And I'm right there with you on the pain meds. I had my gall bladder out a couple years ago, and I fought my way off the Percoset as fast as I could because I hated how it liquified my thoughts and feared what it would do to me. Tylenol and Ibuprofen are enough, thanks.
My worlds have always fascinated me. I'm always intrigued by them and I'm always wondering what trigger them. Sometimes I know--other times they're just there. It's mind-boggling, isn't it? (But also, really, REALLY cool! :D Haha.)
DeleteOh dear, I do hope everything is alright with you now! I know what you mean, I don't have many fears but not being the master of my mind is probably at the top of the list!! 0_0 I'll handle it myself thanks! Hahaha.
What really interests me is how my brain just *poofs* into existence entire rooms, houses, locations -- I didn't sit here and say, "Hmm, what should this ski lodge look like? I know, I'll put the bedroom there and the shower there and the living room there and the kitchenette there, and how about a sunken den with fireplace while I'm at it?" I just walk inside, and there it is, fully furnished. It's delightful.
DeleteYeah, I'm pretty fine now -- you can totally live without a gall bladder. Just can't eat as much fatty food anymore, which is not a bad thing, lol! But yes, when I got home and they said, "You can take this every X hours, and when you come back in a week, we'll talk about stepping you down from that so you don't get addicted," I was like, "No, I will be off it in a week." And I was off it in like 3 days, because I discovered that when I took one, I had ten minutes to get anything said and done that needed saying before I would be flat on my back on the couch unable to string coherent sentences together. I'd be feeling no pain, and I could still think thoughts pretty well, but I could not communicate or do much of anything. Which freaked me out :-b
Very delightful! And like you said, it's fascinating how it just happens.
Delete:) Good for you! Three days is excellent in my book. I know I would struggle with taking it for a whole week. What?! I don't think so. Hahaha. I'm glad you've recovered well, Hamlette!