A back brace is hard to have but you can get through it. Remember that it will help your back, and that you will have a straight spine soon. Follow these steps carefully and you will understand your own situation much better.


Steps

1. Before you panic about your back brace think about what is good about it, (e.g you will have a straight spine afterwards and will no longer have back pains/ back problems) Remember that even though it seems like the end of the world it isn't.
2. Think about how other people also have back braces and need it much longer than you do, and think about the people that were not able to get one and have a crooked spine, and have serious back problems.
3. Talk to someone close to you, explain your situation, it can always help. And remember to be sure that you can trust this person.
4. Buy a bigger size of clothes than you usually buy to cover the brace. This might make you feel better so that people don't see it.
5. Remember that the people in the street that do see it and laugh or joke about it are not important, think about the people who really are important. If your friends make fun of you then they are not real friends, and trust yourself be confident and know that they won't and that they will be there to support you.
6. Don't always be sad about it, try to laugh about it if you can, but remember that it is normal that you are not ready.
7. Try all of these steps and you will see that you will learn to accept the fact that you have a back brace.

Tips

• If you are not ready to joke about yourself, joke about the brace, e.g you can say that you fell off the Eiffel Tower if someone is laughing at you, or you can tell them to punch you real hard, you'll learn to think that it is real funny.
• Ask your parents if you are under 18 to see you x-rays up to now and see how your spine has improved, you will see a huge improvement and it will make you feel better.
• Go on the Internet (be careful) and look for forums that have people talk that are in your situation, they will post comments that you can read that will help you to, if you post comments never put your real name.
• Try to make a list of the good and positive things about the back brace and then make a list about the bad, negative things. Don't try to be smart and put as many negative things as possible try to make both sides equal, and it is you that will have the list you do not have to share it with anyone.

Warnings

• Be careful on Internet forums, you never know who is behind the screen so NEVER ask to meet someone.
• When you make a joke, be careful on who you make it, think about what you are doing and if the person you are doing it to will accept a nice joke.