I used to think, I am in pain. And everything stops. 

I couldn't possibly survive the emotions that were destroying me. It felt like I was being torn apart. Everything - all my energy - went into surviving the turmoil.

Things have changed - circumstances; myself. I learned first that I could, if needed, function fully through it all. The emotions, after all, did not kill me. 

And then I learned that when I think I am in pain. Sometimes that is the beginning. Deep breaths and work with it. There are good things that can come out of it. And ... this is life.