I woke later than usual due to a round with physical pain in the early morning hours. Since childhood, I have experienced random waves of excruciating cramps lasting anywhere from five minutes to an hour. While it was likely not my first experience, in my first memory of the pain I am lying in the hospital, too young to describe what I felt. To date, there is no official medical diagnosis. These spells attack, seemingly from nowhere, and leave me completely exhausted.

The physical pain is gone. Nonetheless, I am wiped. When pain arrives in tandem with a depressive bout the coming hours are challenging, such is my story today.

CONTINUE READING