10
Things That Have Helped Me Cope With This Illness Over The Last Year
A
Top Ten Tuesday list!! Aha!! I bet y’all thought I’d forget or otherwise not
get a list up for today; after all, if there is one thing I’m consistent at, it’s
being inconsistent.
Over
the last year or so, I’ve made some changes. They weren't huge changes, but
changes just the same and it has made all the difference in the world. Maybe I
shouldn’t call them changes, but more like, discoveries. I didn’t make any rash
decisions like quitting smoking or enjoying my beer, that would just be
cray-cray!!
So,
I figured I’d list the top ten things that have helped me cope with this
illness over the past year or so. By the way; do I still have tachy…yes, do I
still have anxiety issues…yes, do I still spend an inordinate amount of time on
the toilet…um, yes. Do I still have my “in bed all day” days…yes. Do I eat
better…no. Do I exercise…no.
Basically, I’ve
decided to LIVE my life in spite of this illness, so here goes, in no
particular order, well, maybe in some semblance of order:
1. My Lord
and Savior. I’m still not where I should be spiritually and won’t be until I
see His face, but I love Him and He loves me, and that’s all that matters.
2. My Big
Handsome and my gems. They have had to live with this illness right along with
me and they have been nothing short of heroes in my mind.
3.
Focusing on what’s important. For the first few years, while trying to
get a handle on this crazy illness, I would inundate myself with information. I
would eat, sleep and live my illness. I read everything I could get my hands on
via the internet, not that it’s not important to be informed, but I was getting
to an unhealthy level. I would wake in the morning and have charts to fill out,
complete with bp and hr readings, whether I slept well, how much I slept, what
I ate, how much I ate, whether I exercised, and for how long; the list goes on
and on. See where I’m going here?? My life revolved around feeling like $hit
and I was documenting every $hitty moment. I was so busy writing and recording
everything that was going on with me physically, I was allowing my life to pass
me right by. I cannot tell you the last time I took a bp reading. That is not
to say that I condone not keeping track of one’s health, but now I have learned
to “read” my body and do what it says.
4. Getting involved in Support Groups via FB.
When I first started out I was a part of just about every support group I could
join. Now, while I’m still a part of some, I focus on two; the two that have
helped me the most: POTSY Paradise: https://www.facebook.com/groups/potsyparadise/.
and Coping With Chronic Illness: https://www.facebook.com/groups/664857806880898/.
These two groups have been a godsend to me. They were started by a beautiful
woman who has become a cherished friend along the way. As I said, at first, I
was part of just about every group out there. What I found out was that some of
the groups were not helping, but hindering my journey forward. They were filled
with complaining (believe me, I can do my fair share of complaining just see
some of my other posts), filled with drama, filled with people that were
actually lying about their illness, or lack thereof to obtain sympathy (granted
those people needed help for other reasons). With the two above mentioned
groups, I have found people that share and care. I have found people that are
supportive and encouraging. Most importantly, I have found that I can support
and encourage others; that I believe, is so important. The sweet lady that runs
the above groups reminds me, on a daily basis, that I am more than my illness,
and guess what she’s taught me…I AM MORE THAN MY ILLNESS!! And so is anyone
that is reading this post.
5. In the
words of Christopher Robin: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and
smarter than you think.” At the onset of my illness, I basically became an
agoraphobe. I wouldn’t leave the house. I had to call Big Handsome home on more
than one occasion, because I was freaking out. I would spend days in bed. My
poor Big Handsome was suffering, my gems were suffering, and I was suffering. It
took a good, long while for Christopher’s words to sink in. Know what? I am brave, I am strong, and I am smart.
I push myself to do more. Back then, I wouldn’t drive, I couldn’t drive; now, I
drive…why you ask? Because I must. Life goes on whether I’m sick or not. I can
choose to be a part of it, or I can curl up in bed hoping for the day I wake
and the illness is gone. Well, this illness isn’t going away anytime soon, so I
best just learn to live with it. I best just learn to LIVE.
6. I’ve
been bitten by the “Art Bug”. Last year, I had the opportunity to teach an Art
Appreciation class at our homeschool co-op. I kicked myself at first for
agreeing to such a task, but it has opened my eyes to so many possibilities. I’ve
been scrapbooking again, I’ve been bookbinding again, I’ve been painting again,
I’ve been crafting again. What a breath of fresh air, which leads me to the
next one on my list.
7. Joining
an Art Journaling FB group. Again, no negativity, no complaining, no drama,
just pure support and encouragement. I’m posting pictures of my work and people
put the sweetest comments. Trust me, I’m no artist, but I’m trying and I’m
having loads of fun, and that is all that matters to me.
8. I’ve
discovered YouTube!! Who knew that if you ever wanted to learn something new,
all you have to do is look it up on YouTube! I still have insomnia, but what
better way to spend my time than to watch a video on how to bind a book, how to
make a junk journal, how to make gelli prints, how to, how to, how to?? Now, if
they could only tell me how to keep my house clean and organized…oh, wait, they
CAN!! All I have to do is look it up. Alas, I have no time for that, because I’m
having too much fun creating art J
9.
Spending time with the family. We have a second home now (I know, first
world probz). We go down just about every weekend to enjoy spending time with each
other. It’s on the water (via canal) so we have our boat down there waiting
each weekend to be taken to the beach across the bay or out to the ocean to fish.
Even if we don’t take a boat ride, it’s super cool to just get away for the
weekend and enjoy time with the fam. We might go to the flea market, or visit
with friends, sometimes we just sit in our breezeway and listen to old time
country music and sing along. I’ve learned along the way to enjoy the little
things.
10. Being thankful. I’ve learned a lot over the
last year or so. So much has happened in my life that I am thankful for. I’ve
experienced joy in so many ways. I’ve experienced sadness as well (that’s a
whole other post), but I choose not to dwell on all of my limitations. I have chosen joy and happiness, and you can
too! Does this mean that I don’t have bad days…no, I still experience bad days,
but I rest up, do what I can, when I can, and wait for the new day to dawn.
Tomorrow is always a new day with so many possibilities.
Be well my friends!
Always remember that even though we might feel helpless at times, we shall never be hopeless J
