Well, I just rubbed salt into my wounds by adding more self-injury to the mix.
I just got home from an Iron Maiden concert. Where I screamed my applause very loudly and pervasively. Where I banged my head throughout most of the songs. Where I did not wear earplugs.
This means my vocal chords are raw, my neck will be stiff and sore, and my ears will ring for a day or two.
Was it worth it?
Yes. Yes, it was.
That was an amazing concert, and it is not very often that I get to release this much energy and not have anybody look at me weirdly. It was oddly cathartic and cleansing.