Reinterpreting pain and anxiety after surgery

The narrator had surgery on their dislocating shoulder and was prescribed pain medication, but they chose not to take it. Instead, they visualized themselves in a warm bath to help their shoulder heal. They interpreted the pain and worry as a sign of their body healing itself. Despite having a scar and knowing that many nerves were cut during the surgery, they learned to reinterpret their worries in a more realistic way. The brain has the ability to change how it processes anxiety and pain.