In this article, the artist Caroline Kathleen, who has faced the symptoms of Lyme disease, tells about the techniques that help her survive the worst of days.
Upon entering the store, I habitually scanned the space: considered rungs on a ladder, chairs, all obstacles on the way out the door… While I counted, my friends disappeared in the depths of the colorful corridor.
I took a deep breath, swallowing his erratic anger and sat down at the door. I reminded myself that they are not to blame. Our culture is not made for understanding people whose body functions differently. How do they know how it feels to shake while walking? How can they, the young, able-bodied and strong 20-year-old guys to understand that I need to rest before running up the stairs?
I thought it was so unfair to be trapped in your body. My body, once slender and healthy, was a wreck.
Learning about your diagnosability lime, I not only rethink our physical existence, but almost got used to another reality. Reality in which every action requires cocheta: if I go down with my friends, will I be able to get back to the car? How much respite can afford? You know, I have to pause and wait?
The biggest lesson that I learned during my stay in their world of chronic disease, is the opportunity to manage their grief and find ways of making the body with all its features. Below you will find some of the methods which in my experience, help to develop self-acceptance, even in the most difficult and painful days.
Check the facts
When pain, fatigue or labastilla to panic and assume that all of this will never end, willow would never feel better. This is particularly difficult in the case of a chronic disease, because many, indeed, are constantly experiencing the unpleasant symptoms and a deficiency of energy. However, there is a difference mitochondrially the bad and the acceptance of reality.
In dialectical behavioral therapy, there is a practice called check the facts. Overall, this means look at any situation from a realistic point of view. I use this method when you feel great anxiety or sadness.I like to ask myself a simple question: is It true?. This technique helps when my thoughts begin to revolve around self-pity and fear of the eternal solitude, while my friends are traveling and having fun.
Is it true? I ask myself. Usually the answer is no. But even if today is hard for you, it does not mean that it will always be.
Practice gratitude for your body
One of the most useful things I learned to do is keep a journal of gratitude for all the good that I have. Inside it, I note only that makes me happy: a warm body of my cat next to my when I sleep-bought bakery cake gluten free, stunning sunrise, penetrating in my room in the morning.
Harder to notice the good in your own body, but it also helps to restore the balance. I’m trying to notice even the most insignificant advantages, for example, that I breathe and can move around the world. Whenever I find myself criticism towards my body, I try to change it to gratitude for the fact that it is not for rent daily and resists disease.
Daily care of itself
Often care to imagine in the form of special activities such as day Spa, massage or shopping. Of course, all this fun and useful, but I often get more pleasure from simple and unintentional pastime.
For me self-care is to take a bath or a shower, and then use your favorite lotion, pour myself a glass of water and after drinking it, to realize the good I am doing for your body, easy sleep and pleasant feeling after waking up when my body is relaxed and does not hurt.
I notice that taking care of yourself, even if it’s just washing your hair or brushing your teeth, helps to restore the balance in your relationship with the body, which is constantly sick due to chronic illness.
Protect your interests
Returning home after shopping with friends, I crawled on the bed and cried. All weekend we spent together, slept in the same house, and I was afraid to admit how hard it was for me all this time. I was devastated, defeated and ashamed of her nedorogo.tel. I fell asleep, exhausted and sick, and a few hours later came out of his room to find friends who did not sleep and waited in the kitchen. On the table was dinner, empty my plate, and next to her a few cards.
A sense of guilt for the disability only complicates things, reads one card. We love you, no matter what was written on the other. Something in me softened. Hmm, I thought, my illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and my friends a real gift. Next to them I am safe.
That evening, in a circle of close people I told about that during long movements I need to rest. About how hard my way up the stairs. I constantly need to be confident that where we’re going, there will be seats, so I could catch my breath. They all listened, and I became even easier. To protect their interests is hard work, because there is always the fear of rejection or fear that you don’t deserve to ask for what you need.
Speak up. It’s worth it. People will listen to. And if not, identify those who still want to do it.
Follow positive examples
One of my favorite ways to cheer myself up on bad days is to look at positive examples. This is especially important for me when I feel shame for the extra weight or appearance.
Instagram account @bodyposipanda one of my favorite examples, as well as the Body Is Not Apology. Search for people and role models that encourage you to love your body the way it is. Remember that love, attention and care it deserves any shape, form or weight. There is simply no such version of your body that does not deserve these things. No.
Remember that you have the right to any feelings
Finally let’s loose. Sounds like a cliché, but it’s very important.
That day, when I came back from shopping and started crying, I felt real grief. Deep, full, overwhelming grief due to the fact that I live in a world where people can get sick and not recover. The disease does not disappear. No thanks, taking care of yourself or anything else not able to change it.
All this is unfair and very exhausting. Sometimes my sadness is so consuming that I think I might drown. But don’t be afraid to feel it. Let yourself be angry or upset. Then, when the wave passes, move on. Good days exist, and you, along with your body definitely will see for yourself.
Source: www.healthline.com
Author: Caroline Catlin