Sleep. @Afraser, I think you are into something there. I bet if you did a quick survey here an alarming number of the BC club would report a lack of sleep as one of the major things that makes them miserable. Whether it be stress, pain, medication--in the long run it doesn't matter what is causing it, sleep deprivation sucks. And it makes recovery Soo much harder.
I can handle some really shitty situations if I'm rested, but a press stud that won't stay done up (don't ask) can have me in tears when I'm tired and BC is exhausting. Sleep. Yeah. Let's have some of that.