Reddit mentions of Dissolving Pain: Simple Brain-Training Exercises for Overcoming Chronic Pain

Now worries! I totally appreciate the interest and advice. Plus, maybe I can help you with a patient's view on any school work? Btw, what is your major/specialty?
Anyways, the pain doesn't change at all in relation to my menstrual cycle. My docs and I have looked into that a lot. The only thing that really sucks and makes pain worse during my period is using tampons or pads, since touch is very aggravating.
Thanks for the links! They are both very good suggestions. The laughter thing is really true. It does make me feel better to smile and have a good time. There are even laughter therapy groups in most large cities (including mine) to help people like me. I have yet to visit one yet because the meetings conflict with my current schedule, but I do make a significant effort to do things that make me smile and laugh every day. For instance, any time I am hurting a lot or feeling depressed about my situation, I will cuddle with one of my four cats. Two of them are rescue cats and two of them are napoleons. Here is a pic of the naps: http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/f333p/kittehs_be_helpin_with_the_dishus/
They always make me smile and laugh no matter how awful I am feeling and it really truly does help with the pain. Also, my pelvic pain doctor in LA always tells me that there are only two natural things that release endorphins and seratonin simultaneously in high amounts: exercise and sex. So I exercise for more than an hour 5 days a week and I have sex whenever my body will tolerate it.
Also, I haven't read that book in particular, but it looks like it is on the same topics as what I am already into. If you like that book or are interested in this kind of thing you should check out these:
http://www.amazon.com/Brain-That-Changes-Itself-Frontiers/dp/067003830X
http://www.amazon.com/Dissolving-Pain-Brain-Training-Exercises-Overcoming/dp/1590307801/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299766118&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Open-Focus-Brain-Harnessing-Power-Attention/dp/1590306120/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299766138&sr=1-1

The thing is, it is scary. You are opening yourself out to "become the universe" - it's the thing all those non-dual and buddhist efforts lead to: identifying yourself with the wide open space of awareness and all its contents.

As soon as you do it, you become aware of all those bits and pieces you have generally been avoiding. And you just feel completely exposed. I guess that's why there's much talk of "faith" and so on. You only realise how hard you are holding on when you try to let go like this.

People who start doing mindfulness, for instance, are often surprised to discover they feel a bit worse when they begin! But then those feelings dissolve into the surrounding space. There's an interesting book by Les Fehmi called Dissolving Pain which has techniques for this; they are applicable here too. In fact, lots of magick/help approaches essentially boil down to the same thing.

There's a book called Busting Loose From The Money Game by Robert Scheinfeld (cheesy website here) basically written as a business self-help book, but in actual fact it's based around a "process" of dissolving "discomfort eggs" as they arise and releasing their energy. In other words, mindfulness and dissolving your reality into openness.