July 1, 2022

On distraction for pain management

Early Sunday, when the migraine painkillers began working, I realised the whisper-soft animalistic whines I could hear were from me. I also realised how effectively I was distracting myself from the pain. Counting months backwards; reciting badminton drills in my head (lift, clear, drop, net, net, lift).

Recently, deep in an internet hole about the intricacies of the Roe v. Wade ruling, I felt similar distraction mechanisms kick in, but for emotional pain.

There're many terrible things happening in the world right now. I'm unsure how to use distraction - ethically - to deal with that.