I have chronic Lyme disease, and this past week has been a very rough spell. One day I couldn't even leave the couch because my muscles and joints were hurting so much, and I got out of breath just going up the stairs.
I didn't handle it very well; I wallowed in self-pity and ate candy and a bag of chips, even though it makes me feel sick. Which, of course, made me feel even worse. It's not easy to deal with these kinds of situations. I'm a very physical person, so when that part of me is threatened it hits me very hard. I certainly could have handled that day better. But you know what? It's okay to mess up. As long as you make your next step a better one. 
In the evening I got tired of feeling miserable, so I wrote a list of what I CAN do on days like that. For example:
These are all healthy things to do, and things that will make my condition and mindset better. Armed with this list, and blessed with a bit of energy, the next day went SO much better:
Instead of eating candy, I made popcorn on the stove. Instead of watching movies all day, I wrote and did work on the computer in short bursts to not overwork my joints and forearm muscles. Instead of being sad I couldn't exercise or walk the dogs, I stretched. When I couldn't do my usual vacuuming and mopping of the house, I took the cordless vacuum (which is a lot lighter) and did a rough cleaning to get rid of all the balls of fur from our three pets. It makes a HUGE difference. Related article: Why you should clean when you're anxious & overwhelmed
When tough things happen to you, it's okay to fall apart. It can even be good to have a long, hard cry about the unfairness of it all because it empties you and refreshes your emotional state.
But when that is done, take stock of what you DO have and what you CAN do.
You can't do your normal exercise routine? Do what you can, even if it's just a few body-weight squats and stretching. You're too tired from your job to work on your passion? Just do ten minutes of something that brings you a little step closer to your goal. You caved and had fast food for lunch? Cook healthy foods for dinner, or at least have a piece of fruit. The day is not ruined because you had one bad meal. Whatever your problem is, no matter if it's your fault or not, there are tiny steps you can do to move to a healthier, better, more productive path.
Challenge: Sit down and write a list of all the things you CAN do that are good for you and your goals, and tape it up on your bathroom mirror so you can see it every day.
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2 Comments
Thanks for sharing your struggles and shedding more light on Lyme disease. I like that instead of just keep wallowing you count all the things you are capable of doing and just do what you can such as a rough vaccuum of the house. Sometimes when we have a bad day we continue to have bad days because we are so focused on how bad we are feeling. I've been there when I was battling Leukemia and now dealing with a lung condition as a result of those treatments. We just have to remember what we can still do and just do a little bit at a time. Our days are not going to magically get better if we keep feeling sorry for ourselves!
I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Sabrina. It really is tough, to not be able to do what most people take for granted (myself included, when I'm healthy). But focusing on what we CAN do really makes a difference because being able to do just a few positive things can help us feel a bit more useful and less self-pitying. Not that we are useless, or aren't going through a really rough time, but not FEELING that way makes a world of difference. Leave a Reply. |
Hi, I'm Erika!I know what it's like living with anxiety and depression, but living and living are very different things. I believe in practical tips and methods, and I will use them to help you be the brave, daring, darling individual you are. Categories
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