I'd Rather Be Anywhere, Doing Anything

Yes, I know it's been much longer than usual, but just take my word for it when I tell you there are good reasons and we really don't need to go there. Suffice it to say that after a really dramatic year from summer of '14 until this summer, I made some major life changes. I moved back to my hometown, abruptly quit pain management (thanks, Florida) and quit smoking again - and I'm really hoping this time it sticks.
Without any prior warning, I came to find out that Florida is part of about 20 states that participate in a DEA joint task force to stop prescription drug abuse. The big problem with this is that it's turned the medical communities in these areas into a police state, where anyone who says they're in pain is assessed with only a look and classified as an addict. These health care professionals are so afraid of breaking the law imposed on their state that they neglect to do their jobs.
My response to all this was to just cease pain management altogether and find another way. I switched to a nerve pain medication called neurontin and decided to start water therapy, and that's going okay.
I feel for other people who don't have that sort of option. I've heard of cancer patients having to stand in methadone lines to get relief because they can't get in to see a pain management doctor. And even if you can get in to see one of these doctors, they are generally rude and condescending.
This is a cause I fully plan to take up once things are a bit more settled for me. Addicts need to start having more help available to them and doctors need to start being able to distinguish between legitimate pain patients and addicts. You can't diagnose someone with just a glance.
In the meantime, I'm focusing on getting myself better. My therapist days I'm doing great. I'm advancing faster than expected and I can really feel it! Besides that all I really have left to say is that I can't believe how long I waited to leave Virginia. Hampton Roads was just so not for me and I'm happier than I've been in a long time now that I'm home. Hope everyone else is also doing well.