Breasts are a very...demanding part of the body. And the bigger they are, the harder they are to manage. Between the blinding pain, skin rashes, joint popping, and shoulder indentations, it can feel like your over sized breasts aren't actually a part of your own body, but rather intrusive, separate entities that demand all of your attention and lower your quality of life. And the fact that they're hard to dress up and expensive to care for only adds salt to the wound.

This is your reality, but it can be hard to communicate it to those who have never been in this position. Friends and family probably know about your issues on a superficial level, but don't quite grasp how much they dictate your day-to-day life. So when you mention that you're looking into having a breast reduction, they're stunned. They want to talk you out of it, say you're overreacting, and downplay the seriousness of what you deal with. Tell me if you can recall having this conversation with a loved one:

"You've always seemed fine before! Is it really that big of a deal?"

I seem fine because I just don't talk about my boobs all that much. But you know I have back and shoulder pain, and you've probably seen me try to crack my back or adjust my bra in public before. That's all from having two massive pendulums weighing me down. I've been dealing with these issues for years, and I can't imagine living like this for the rest of my life.

"There's gotta be an easier way!"

There are, and I've tried them all without much success. I'm ready to look into surgery.

"I mean...breasts are important for (a possible love interest)."

If someone rejects me for having a medical procedure done, then they would have been a terrible partner anyway. Besides, when have normal-sized breasts and a few scars kept anyone from finding love?

The truth is, even your most well-meaning, empathetic, and genuine friends/family members can struggle to 'get it.' They can't see or feel what you go through on a daily basis (especially if they're guys), so they may not understand why something as invasive as surgery would be a sensible choice. They really are just trying to look out for you, and it might be worth hearing their two cents on the matter. That being said, if you're set on having this done, then they need to respect that. A true friend will always be able to support you, even when they wouldn't have made the same decision as you.