These topics are very important to discuss but the last thing I want to do is compound your experiences by talking about them when you aren't ready. Self-abuse and substance abuse are real for many of us living with chronic pain. Truth is there are a lot of people in the world struggling with these issues and they don't live with pain.
Life can be hard to live sometimes and in an effort to deal with what we have to face day in and day out, many of us adopt unhealthy coping skills like self abusive behaviours and there are many of us who will seek aid in one form of substance or another, legal and illegal.
When these topics are discussed I will post a graphic warning prior to so that you can choose to either read it now or come back to it when you are ready. With understanding, patience and help, we can learn what causes us to begin the cycle of abuse of ourselves. These behaviours are serious and please know that there is help available to break the cycle when you are ready.
Take good care of you okay?