--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can only exist as far as your mind…" description: "\"You can only exist as far as your mind will allow you to exist, and I think chronic pain will stop time dead in its tracks. You feel like you're the on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/phil-anselmo-11690_chronic-pain_you-can-only-exist-as-far-as-your-mind-w_2486343.jpg" --- # You can only exist as far as your mind will allow you to… ![“You can only exist as far as your mind will allow you to exist, and I think chronic pain will stop time dead in its tracks. You feel like you're the only one, and how unfair it is, and a million different feel-sorry-for-yourself type feelings.” quote by Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/phil-anselmo-11690_chronic-pain_you-can-only-exist-as-far-as-your-mind-w_2486343.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/phil-anselmo-11690_chronic-pain_you-can-only-exist-as-far-as-your-mind-w_2486343.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/phil-anselmo-11690_chronic-pain_you-can-only-exist-as-far-as-your-mind-w_2486343.jpg) > “You can only exist as far as your mind will allow you to exist, and I think chronic pain will stop time dead in its tracks. You feel like you're the only one, and how unfair it is, and a million different feel-sorry-for-yourself type feelings.” [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chronic pain can trap the mind, creating isolation and self‑pity. **In simple terms:** Pain limits perception of time and self. Key Takeaway Seek support to break mental confinement. Themes pain mental health isolation Mood somber reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - managing chronic pain - seeking therapy - building community Key Concepts chronic illness psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does pain affect your identity? - What coping strategies help? A Different Perspective Physical limits may not be the only barrier. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chronic pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronic-pain/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Exist Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-far-701459/) [Exist Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-think-918320/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Stop time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-time/) [Think Chronic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-chronic-910895/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Track](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Unfair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfair/) ## Related quotes > [True happiness is to be found within, in the state of our hearts. It does not exist on the far side of some distant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/true-happiness-is-to-be-found-within-in-the-state-of-our-hearts-it/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [We need to think of chronic disease, hypertension, cancer, like H1N1. In fact, there's an epidemic of chronic disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-soon-shiong/we-need-to-think-of-chronic-disease-hypertension-cancer-like-h1n1-in/) [Patrick Soon-Shiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-soon-shiong/) > [When people think of chronic fatigue syndrome, they imagine someone simply sleeping a lot or who's always tired. The stigma from that name, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/when-people-think-of-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-they-imagine-someone/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [I think anyone who suffers from chronic pain can agree with this - you feel this great significance. What I wanted to capture was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-think-anyone-who-suffers-from-chronic-pain-can-agree-with-this-you/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [My thought is me: that is why I cannot stop thinking. I exist because I think I cannot keep from thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/my-thought-is-me-that-is-why-i-cannot-stop-thinking-i-exist-because-i/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The visuals and the audio, could stand by themselves in a way. But the whole idea of the thing, is that they would exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panda-bear/the-visuals-and-the-audio-could-stand-by-themselves-in-a-way-but-the/) [Panda Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panda-bear/) > [I am. I am, I exist, I think, therefore I am; I am because I think, why do I think? I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-am-i-am-i-exist-i-think-therefore-i-am-i-am-because-i-think-why-do/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [My opinion is that prostitution always existed and will always exist. So I think it's worth trying to give these women the best working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-bonello/my-opinion-is-that-prostitution-always-existed-and-will-always-exist/) [Bertrand Bonello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-bonello/) > [“Sometimes I wake at night and worry that I might have disappeared in my sleep. That's what happens when nobody cares about you. Bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/sometimes-i-wake-at-night-and-worry-that-i-might-have-disappeared-in/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [Think about how rare it is that you exist at all. Also think about time this way: If something exists, even for a second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/think-about-how-rare-it-is-that-you-exist-at-all-also-think-about/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [“If heaven and hell exist, I think they're on Earth. Death probably looks very different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaisa-winter/if-heaven-and-hell-exist-i-think-they-re-on-earth-death-probably/) [Kaisa Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaisa-winter/) > [I'm sure that inside your heart you're trying with all your might to find it on your own... the reason you were born. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/i-m-sure-that-inside-your-heart-you-re-trying-with-all-your-might-to/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [Cause Jesus I do think did exist, and he was, I think, a guy who had interesting ideas in the Gandhi-type area, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/cause-jesus-i-do-think-did-exist-and-he-was-i-think-a-guy-who-had/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“You do not exist. I think I exist. I am conscious of my own identity. I was born, and I shall die. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/you-do-not-exist-i-think-i-exist-i-am-conscious-of-my-own-identity-i/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [My thought is me: that's why I can't stop. I exist because I think… and I can't stop myself from thinking. At this very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/my-thought-is-me-that-s-why-i-can-t-stop-i-exist-because-i-think-and-2/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## More by Phil Anselmo > [I am the type that cannot stay put in living in the past and solely in the past. It's not healthy and it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-am-the-type-that-cannot-stay-put-in-living-in-the-past-and-solely/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [There's always something going on, but thank goodness these days it's with a clear head, which helps me massively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/there-s-always-something-going-on-but-thank-goodness-these-days-it-s/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Everyone's gonna have their opinion, everyone's gonna have their favorite bands. The best way I can describe it is music is like food, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/everyone-s-gonna-have-their-opinion-everyone-s-gonna-have-their/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Music is there for us to explore. To intentionally limit yourself to one, two, or three genres is limitation at its worst. Music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/music-is-there-for-us-to-explore-to-intentionally-limit-yourself-to/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [It seems like if you are not painted up special way or have some tailor made outfit to put on to go out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/it-seems-like-if-you-are-not-painted-up-special-way-or-have-some/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I've heard too many times where people say that I'm this ultra-serious guy. In truth, I've got an extremely absurd sense of humor. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-ve-heard-too-many-times-where-people-say-that-i-m-this-ultra/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Honestly, I got the best of both worlds: groove of New Orleans meets the intensity of Texas. That's the best education I could have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/honestly-i-got-the-best-of-both-worlds-groove-of-new-orleans-meets/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I think anyone who suffers from chronic pain can agree with this - you feel this great significance. What I wanted to capture was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-think-anyone-who-suffers-from-chronic-pain-can-agree-with-this-you/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I don't care at all about the mainstream; I don't care about popularity contests; I don't care about who's got the biggest-selling album; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-don-t-care-at-all-about-the-mainstream-i-don-t-care-about/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I tried to take heavy metal... and balled it up and chopped it in half and really tried to create a new form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-tried-to-take-heavy-metal-and-balled-it-up-and-chopped-it-in-half/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [The lead guitar work is a bit repetitious, but when a song is under two minutes long, I don't have much room anyway. Thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/the-lead-guitar-work-is-a-bit-repetitious-but-when-a-song-is-under/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Knowing what you're up against is part of the strength of writing something that is even, I guess, considered halfway original, knowing what's out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/knowing-what-you-re-up-against-is-part-of-the-strength-of-writing/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [With this LP we were all very clear on the approach we wanted to take, which was to do something heavy, but also experiment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/with-this-lp-we-were-all-very-clear-on-the-approach-we-wanted-to-take/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I love the Beatles, and when I was very young, I had young parents, so Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-love-the-beatles-and-when-i-was-very-young-i-had-young-parents-so/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [There has got to be a lot of unreleased video out there, live footage and whatnot. There's always going to be something extra for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/there-has-got-to-be-a-lot-of-unreleased-video-out-there-live-footage/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) [Explore all 58 Phil Anselmo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) ## More Chronic pain quotes > [“Every EDS patient knows that one of the hardest parts of our day is the moment we open our eyes and waken into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bihovsky/every-eds-patient-knows-that-one-of-the-hardest-parts-of-our-day-is/) [Michael Bihovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bihovsky/) > [“There’s such a thing as chronic pain, but there’s no such thing as chronic pleasure. ... For an existing person, the presence of bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-benatar/there-s-such-a-thing-as-chronic-pain-but-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [David Benatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benatar/) > [“Mental illness People assume you aren’t sick unless they see the sickness on your skin like scars forming a map of all the ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emm-roy/mental-illness-people-assume-you-aren-t-sick-unless-they-see-the/) [Emm Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emm-roy/) > [“Sometimes, this disapproval of how you are managing your pain crosses over to disbelief that you are in as much pain as you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-j-mcalister/sometimes-this-disapproval-of-how-you-are-managing-your-pain-crosses/) [Murray J. McAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-j-mcalister/) > [The lesion is in the area of my brain that is responsible for motor function, so I have continual chronic pain in my left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-duffy/the-lesion-is-in-the-area-of-my-brain-that-is-responsible-for-motor/) [Karen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-duffy/) > [“In the debate over opioid addiction, there’s one group we aren’t hearing from: chronic pain patients, many of whom need to use the drugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-smith-2/in-the-debate-over-opioid-addiction-there-s-one-group-we-aren-t/) [S. E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-smith-2/) > [I literally couldn't walk down the street; I slept for 16 hours a day, was in chronic pain, had blackouts, never-ending heart palpitations, unbearable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-woodward/i-literally-couldn-t-walk-down-the-street-i-slept-for-16-hours-a-day/) [Ella Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-woodward/) > [“Government agencies are trying to get doctors to cut back on prescribing opioids. I understand that they need to do something about the epidemic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moore/government-agencies-are-trying-to-get-doctors-to-cut-back-on/) [Alison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moore/) > [I've always loved animals. I've never lived without them. As long as I can remember, I was bringing home strays. When I was five,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-ve-always-loved-animals-i-ve-never-lived-without-them-as-long-as-i/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [I shake all the time. It's exhausting and causes chronic pain in my joints and muscles. It is also the only life I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/i-shake-all-the-time-it-s-exhausting-and-causes-chronic-pain-in-my/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [I think anyone who suffers from chronic pain can agree with this - you feel this great significance. What I wanted to capture was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-think-anyone-who-suffers-from-chronic-pain-can-agree-with-this-you/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [“Not every day is awful. Not every day is good. Despite the way the hours pass, I’m living like I should. Not every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/not-every-day-is-awful-not-every-day-is-good-despite-the-way-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“We already have intriguing evidence that some types of chronic pain work by prediction. Animals who have stress or injury early in life become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/we-already-have-intriguing-evidence-that-some-types-of-chronic-pain/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“I had learned quickly that life doesn't always go the way I want it to, and that's okay. I still plod on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-todd-hammer/i-had-learned-quickly-that-life-doesn-t-always-go-the-way-i-want-it/) [Sarah Todd Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-todd-hammer/) > [The only way to truly understand someones chronic pain...is to experience that pain yourself, which you probably never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/the-only-way-to-truly-understand-someones-chronic-pain-is-to/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) [Browse all 120 Chronic pain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronic-pain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can only exist as far as your mind will allow you to exist, and I think chronic pain will stop time dead in its tracks. 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