r/homeless • u/Creative-Bend-6035 • 14h ago
In pain not sure what to do
My body is so sore all the time I'm either working sleeping on a bench or on the train I sleep sitting or in a ball I think everything has tightened because I have been sleeping stretched out and have no wear to stretch. But working with this much pain is so hard. I feel like I'm never going to get out of this.
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u/Alex_is_Lost 13h ago
Can you buy a tent and go to some thicket of woods? I got a sleeping bag mat recently and it's been a game changer from sleeping on the ground
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u/Creative-Bend-6035 13h ago
I'm in a major city there are some encampments but I don't feel safe approaching.
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u/Rich-Account1388 13h ago
Yeah, it can be like that tbh. There's some encampments downtown in the city where I stay at but I don't feel safe approaching it mainly because of how dangerous it is
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u/CatostrophicFailure 12h ago
You have to stretch, drink plenty of fluids and make sure you're getting enough potassium, magnesium, zinc, and electrolytes. You're going to experience cramping and in the cold it can be awful. Always bring cardboard, to insulate yourself from the ground, and a sleeping bag if you can afford it or find one from an organization. Dress in layers, and if you can get hand warmers, put them in your shoes.
I have never seen a YMCA that is priced reasonably, nor one that houses men, but the YWCA does occasionally for women. I wouldn't recommend any tent encampments, but if you have woods near you, I would recommend finding a location that is hidden and do everything to keep it clean and go unnoticed if possible.
The cold means that cold shelters open up, at least when 32 degrees or below is in the forecast. If people want generalized advice and don't be specific it's extremely difficult to advise you. Preparation is the first thing, travel lightly as possible, and possibly join a 24 hour gyms with a prepaid debit card if it can be afforded. Think of moving or finding night work if anything is available because sleeping during the day can be safer, but may hinder your ability to find help and schedule appointments for social work, medical help, etc.
Don't screw around when frostbite or hypothermia is possible. Both can hit you extremely quick and need immediate medical attention. When I was in this situation last year, it was below zero some nights and I just would walk continuously, but that means you're going to have to have a good caloric intake to support even your body warming itself.
Amazon sells heated vests and jackets using power from power banks and apparently do quite well, although I cannot personally attest to this. You can always grab paper or anything to stuff your coat or other clothing providing extra insulation.
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u/Creative-Bend-6035 12h ago
I'm in Chicago the warming shelters are open during the day only I work nights which does help a lot. I have been using hand warmers on colder days. I only carry a back pack to keep a low profile. I can work on stretching. It's hard to find a place that will let me go to the bathroom so I monitor my water to only times when I know I can use a bathroom in 2-4 hrs. I wear 2-4 layers and am thinking about getting snow overalls to help my legs and feet get the coldest. And people keep stealing my gloves haven't figured a solution to that yet.
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u/WillPayneDev Homeless 11h ago
Hard to find a place to use the restroom?? In Chicago? And shelters only open during the day. In Chicago?? I find this hard to believe. Just walk into a place and use the restroom. Act like you own that joint. Chicago has to have amazing resources… they just gotta. I wish you the best OP. Follow the advice above.
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u/Interesting-Wind2699 5h ago
A solution is used straps weaving your gloves to the sleeves of your coat or something like chain like chain driven wallets. Making it tougher to stuff them in their pocket. Solution to shelter, warmth, and stretching in your own bedroom I posted how I did it on disability. You have a job. The only thing I don't know how Chicago feels about camping on the streets, but I have been telling California to fix the homeless problem or deal with me, and they have been letting alone.
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u/Content_Shoe6040 12h ago
Go to the YMCA. You might be able to get in for free as a homeless person. If not, for a small fee. Shower, sit in the hot tub, and stretch in the sauna. To me, it sounds like you might be sleeping in a place that is colder and damper than your body is used to. The heat will help. 🍀🍀🍀🍀
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u/Creative-Bend-6035 12h ago
Yeah a lot colder we've already gotten into the low teens only get going to get colder from here. I go to a day shelter and shower and sit in the heat open mon-fri and that helps but I'm still sitting and they don't really want us to get up from our seats.
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u/do_you_like_waffles Drifter 10h ago
Have you tried yoga? There's a certain set of yoga exercises (the sun salutations) that are specifically made for waking up and stretching out your muscles. It sounds corny but it works!
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u/Creative-Bend-6035 10h ago
I can try that. Finding a place to do it is hard. I should get a gym membership but like I'm scared someone will steal my backpack out of my locker.
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u/do_you_like_waffles Drifter 9h ago
You don't have to find anyplace to do it. Don't create unnecessary barriers for yourself. Just find some ground that's kinda flat and go to it. The downward/upward dog poses are ones I do on my sleeping matt before I even get up. It really helps with any back pain from sleeping wrong.
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u/Tuscarora63 7h ago
At the gym locker I never had no steal my backpack get a lock
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u/Creative-Bend-6035 7h ago
I have a lock but I know multiple women at the day shelter I go to have that happened to them at gyms here.
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u/Tuscarora63 4h ago
Wow I never heard of that maybe they don’t have locks I understand it could happen
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u/Bastian_S_Krane 8h ago
Go to the ER. I went a lot and spent most of the time inpatient at a psychiatric/detox facility. I'm "dual diagnosed"(I hate that term because I feel like it implies addiction is separate from a mental disorder. They're all in the same desk reference), so for the past 10 years, I've been a mix of Bipolar I episodes and alcohol abuse. I know it plays jnto the stereotypes and stigmas that the homeless abuse the system to get "3 hots and a squat," but what else can you do? Is it really fair to get frustrated and judge the homeless for trying to take a vacation from their problems?
Denmark "cured" the homeless crisis by converting shelters into individual units, encouraging the homeless to get off the street. Anyone who's been homeless knows that sometimes staying at a shelter isn't the greatest of solutions because it treats people like a can of sardines, like we're subhuman. The individual units provided people with a stable environment and resources to get the help they needed(not all homeless people have mental disorders. It can CAUSE depression and anxiety, but isn't necessarily a chemical imbalance), for a more permanent solution. It's such a simple concept, but they don't have the homeless problem anymore.
As if the United States would EVER so do that. We're about capitalism! Screw you for being homeless! Get a job! Stop abusing the broken system we call "Human Services" for the very little it provides(who can actually LIVE off of the state assistance and food stamps? General assistance is like $200 in Delaware, even if you qualify and wait the years it takes to get disability and you dont have the credits to get federal disability-you have to have previous work credits, which I wad short ONE credit-is $967, which it JUST increased to this year from $943 and you can't work more than. 25 hours a week and can't make $2,920 a month, and that includes the amount you get from. SSI. Even if you manage to find an imcome based apartment, which are usually in the WORST areas and the standard of them is lower than the average studio space. I tried to get housing for over a year, in 2020 during COVID, but couldn't even get vouchers for motels or into the old Sheraton they converted to units for individuals but only for a month at most), factor in food, transportation if you work (which you have to limit to stay in the bracket of poverty level. Minimum wage went up in 2024 to $13.25, which means you have to go work LESS than 25 hours a week), and that's all the most basic of living standards. I have a lot of creative hobbies, which cost money and require space, as well. The resources for the homeless and/or low-income households are below basic quality of life standards. People really don't get how difficult it is to survive the bare minimum necessities. I have so much disdain for people who judge and think the homeless are just lazy or did just to themselves for not having a job
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u/Creative-Bend-6035 8h ago
I work 50 hrs a week doing that would cause me to lose my job and put be even farther back than I already am.
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u/JD8269 2h ago
Maybe break down and try the nearest shelter? If you need to take days to lay there and recover just do it. It's fucking hard carrying a heavy backpack, a guitar case, and walking around all damn day it wears on you. But in the end you will be a stronger more resilient person. Take care of your hygiene and appearance, get enough rest, try to stay sober and always keep a positive outlook on life. Hey things can only get better now right?
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u/PhysicalMap3351 1h ago
I do tent + cot on the outskirts of Houston, near a transit center. I'm not totally in the bush but it's private and plenty of spots to use as a bathroom.
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u/zos_333 30m ago
can you get a ~$30 dollar camping hammock and find a place for it? Easier to carry than a tent and mat and more comfy for most people.
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u/Creative-Bend-6035 25m ago
Would I stay warm in that that's a great idea I'm very familiar with hammocks. But I don't see a lot of trees in the Chicago parks around the area I frequent.
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