How to Stop Thinking About Your Brace Every Minute

During the first days of wearing a brace to school, it can feel impossible to think about anything else.

You notice it when you wake up.

You notice it while getting dressed.

You notice it in the car.

You notice it when you sit down in class.

You notice it when you stand up.

You notice it during lunch.

You notice it during the walk home.

It's there all the time.

And because it's there all the time, it can feel like it's taking over your entire life.

Many teens worry that they will think about their brace this much forever.

The good news is that most don't.

In the beginning, your brain treats the brace like something new and important.

New things naturally get a lot of attention.

Think about the last time you got a new phone, a new pair of shoes, or changed something significant in your life. At first, you noticed it constantly. Eventually, your brain stopped paying attention because it became familiar.

The same thing often happens with a brace.

At first, every movement feels different.

Every chair feels different.

Every outfit feels different.

Every school day feels different.

Your brain keeps checking in because it is trying to figure out whether this new thing is safe, comfortable, and manageable.

Over time, it learns the answer.

You can handle it.

That doesn't mean the brace becomes invisible.

It simply means your brain stops treating it like an emergency.

One thing that makes the brace feel bigger is constantly checking on it.

You adjust your shirt.

Then adjust it again.

Then wonder if it looks okay.

Then check it in a reflection.

Then wonder if someone noticed.

Then think about it some more.

The more attention you give something, the bigger it feels.

Many teens accidentally keep themselves focused on the brace because they are monitoring it every few minutes.

Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is redirect your attention back to whatever is happening in front of you.

Back to your friends.

Back to your class.

Back to your hobbies.

Back to your life.

Another reason the brace can take over your thoughts is because of worry.

You may spend hours wondering what other people think.

You may replay conversations in your head.

You may analyze every glance from another student.

You may assume people are paying attention to your brace even when they aren't.

The problem is that nobody can actually know what another person is thinking.

When we fill in the blanks ourselves, we often assume the worst.

Most of the time, those assumptions aren't accurate.

The student who looked in your direction may have been thinking about lunch.

The person who glanced at you may not have even noticed your brace.

The friend who seemed quiet may have been distracted by something happening in their own life.

Your brain doesn't always tell you the truth when you're anxious.

It often tells you stories.

One of the biggest turning points during the first month happens when you realize that your life is still bigger than your brace.

You still have goals.

You still have friendships.

You still have interests.

You still have dreams.

You still have things that make you laugh.

You still have things that make you excited.

The brace may be part of your life, but it is not your entire life.

The more you continue participating in the things that matter to you, the less space the brace takes up in your mind.

This is one reason staying involved is so important.

Keep talking to friends.

Keep participating in activities you enjoy.

Keep doing things that remind you who you are outside of scoliosis.

Your world should never become brace-sized.

Some days will still be harder than others.

There may be days when your brace feels extra uncomfortable.

There may be days when you're frustrated.

There may be days when you're tired of thinking about scoliosis altogether.

That's normal.

Adjusting doesn't happen in a straight line.

But if you compare today to your very first day of bracing, there's a good chance you've already made more progress than you realize.

You probably aren't thinking about it quite as much.

You probably aren't checking it quite as often.

You probably aren't worrying about it quite as intensely.

Those small changes matter.

Because one day you'll notice something surprising.

You'll get through an entire class without thinking about your brace.

Then maybe an entire morning.

Then maybe an entire school day where it wasn't the most important thing on your mind.

And when that happens, you'll realize something important.

The brace is still there.

But it no longer controls your attention.

And that's a huge step forward.