Amen! I’ve been doing this for about 5yrs now, and I’m eternally grateful to those who’ve taught me, brought me in, gave me a chance or a space to speak out. BUT, even after all this time there are a few people (all of them women-who are perpetuating the “crazy gossiping woman” stereotype!) from whom I still get shamed for not mentioning EVERY person or group I’ve ever been involved with in EVERY article I write, post I make, new CPP friend I meet, etc. Also, there are a few (all women again!) who I can NEVER please-I’m being insensitive or not PC enough for. Ironically, I occasionally get the other end of that spectrum too, usually from men! There are always going to be a couple crazies in the barrel, and unfortunately (as is the same with politicians, celebrities, and anyone else seeking power and recognition) these are often the ones most driven to what they perceive as our cause, but what has become their own power-hungry gossip and noise machine. And this shit doesn’t help ANYONE in ANY WAY! Unfortunately, there are always going to be crazies, and I don’t know if we can convince them to be quiet or even reason with them! I appreciate your candor, it needs to be said. We do not need to fight each other instead for our cause-it’s exactly what “they” want—If we’re busy thinking and griping about the wrongs of other CPPs, we won’t be using our time, energy, and resources against the powers that be! P.S. Because I think and hope you have a sense of humor, I hope you can see the irony of this post, if it were to be read by people not familiar with the fight!😉
The War On Chronic Pain Patients 
Amen! I’ve been doing this for about 5yrs now, and I’m eternally grateful to those who’ve taught me, brought me in, gave me a chance or a space to speak out. BUT, even after all this time there are a few people (all of them women-who are perpetuating the “crazy gossiping woman” stereotype!) from whom I still get shamed for not mentioning EVERY person or group I’ve ever been involved with in EVERY article I write, post I make, new CPP friend I meet, etc. Also, there are a few (all women again!) who I can NEVER please-I’m being insensitive or not PC enough for. Ironically, I occasionally get the other end of that spectrum too, usually from men! There are always going to be a couple crazies in the barrel, and unfortunately (as is the same with politicians, celebrities, and anyone else seeking power and recognition) these are often the ones most driven to what they perceive as our cause, but what has become their own power-hungry gossip and noise machine. And this shit doesn’t help ANYONE in ANY WAY! Unfortunately, there are always going to be crazies, and I don’t know if we can convince them to be quiet or even reason with them! I appreciate your candor, it needs to be said. We do not need to fight each other instead for our cause-it’s exactly what “they” want—If we’re busy thinking and griping about the wrongs of other CPPs, we won’t be using our time, energy, and resources against the powers that be! P.S. Because I think and hope you have a sense of humor, I hope you can see the irony of this post, if it were to be read by people not familiar with the fight!😉
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