People that aren't chronically ill leave in a smaller universe than those that do not. The chronically ill live in a universe that includes suffering on a scale those who have always known only health can't imagine. They imagine that their will to live and that spirit inside is something beyond the touch of the physical universe. The healthy feel like that drive they have inside can never be taken away from them. The chronically ill know just how fragile that will to live can be. For those of us that experience pain constantly keeping that will alive over a long period of time can be a challenge that we may be doomed to lose in the end. I've lived with nonstop pain for close to 20 years now. The changes it brings are unavoidable as it rewires your brain to allow you to experience even more pain. You can watch just how hard it is to maintain that will to fight by watching boxers or MMA fighters. You can take these super fit and powerful people and in less than 30 mins one will slowly give up the defenses that protect them. As they are physically drained their will to fight slowly fades until they submit often in much less than 30 mins. If you think your will to live can't be taken you are very arrogant, ignorant, or both. I think most healthy people carry a fair amount of each. I don't blame them, how could you know until you experience it, I know I did not.