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Post by acres on Dec 5, 2017 5:19:30 GMT
I realized tonight, staying home and just obsessing over my symptoms just amplifies them.... I went to my firehouse meeting this evening (forced myself to go) and initially I experienced a huge brain fog, but after I talked to a few friends and relaxed, I started to feel better.... This knocked my depression right out of me...
A positive attitude (which I lost for a while), keeping your mind occupied on something you enjoy and the comfort of friends is strong medicine (I know this, but needed a strong reminder)
It is easy for me to fall into a rut as my anxiety issues can be overwhelming, so this evening's medicine was exactly what I needed to recharge my fighting attitude....
What does everyone here do to recharge your batteries when you start to feel overwhelmed by illness ? Scott
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kb69
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by kb69 on Dec 5, 2017 15:27:42 GMT
Hi Scott,
I'm glad you had an uplifting night. I appreciate your post because my most challenging symptom right now is anxiety. I find it more isolating than any of the physical symptoms I've dealt with. I can push through a bad headache, but a severe anxiety attack will paralyze me. I was more bold in trying to get out when I was managing pain. But, I'm less certain of what I'm capable of when the anxiety surges.
That said, I'm trying to maintain my job. I work from home when necessary, but I do find when I go into the office and engage with my colleagues, it helps immensely. The distraction of the workplace and ability to contribute to something larger than myself (and outside the scope of managing this illness, which feels like a full time job) is valuable.
When I'm able, exercise is a huge relief, as is running around to my kids sports/activities. I haven't done a good job of staying connected with friends over the last year because it's been hard to keep explaining why I'm still sick (and feeling like I need to convince them that I will get better, when I have my low moments of doubting that very fact). But, I'm going to try to take a walk with a friend, one-on-one, here and there, and take it slow in re-engaging. I'm hoping that will help me recharge, too.
Thanks for throwing the question out and sharing your experience, Kelly
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Post by DJ on Dec 5, 2017 16:21:16 GMT
Hi Acres,
I am with you on being home all the time just adds to my symptoms. Especially my anxiety and depression. I started volunteering at the local dog rescue. I am a huge dog lover and have 2 rescues of my own. I lost that positive attitude for a while, until I started going to the rescue. I go and walk the dogs and play with them in the Kennels. Such a stress reliever for me! I find I am in a lot better mood and not so depressed when I come home from there, but I do pay the price for it. It wears me out, but it's a good wear me out thing! The rescue has this really neat wooded path you can take the dogs on, I love it, a nice walk it the woods saves the soul! at least mine. It's almost a mile long. But benches to sit on if u need to. I get joyful much needed exercise from it. Even my hubby has noticed a difference in my moods since I've been going there. I don't associate to much with the other people there, sometimes I will talk to them about LD, if they ask me why I am there, but other than that I don't bother them, I stay with the dogs! YEP I WENT TO THE DOGS! lol LOL I have the reputation of being a loner there! LOL way I like it! People stress me out with their bs. I have told some of them, not there to socialize with people, I am there for the dogs. I even told a few, I don't like humans they are a pia, animals r more loving, lol yep they think I am a bit crazy! Which I don't care what they think.
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Post by girlie on Dec 5, 2017 20:24:57 GMT
I recharge by meeting up with a certain friend I have. She has been supportive right from the start. I have a few other friends that are, as well, but they don't try very hard to get together with me. This one friend - totally understands what I'm going through. I told her I have horrid nerve pain...and she sympathizes - as she has a foot that once in awhile flares. She said she couldn't imagine having it every single day for hours on end. We see each other almost on a weekly basis...a walk..and/or coffee (tea for me)...and usually a good 2 hour visit.
I told her I may be flying to the U.S. to see a LLMD, and she's going to check - she may have some air miles that she can give me and will cut almost half the price of the airfare.
I'd be pretty lonely without her...that's for sure.
Second recharge is seeing my son. He doesn't live in our city anymore...so I miss him terribly. It was a loss that really hit me hard - being so weak emotionally with lyme. He is only 3 1/2 hours away...but far enough that we only see each other every month or two.
Can't wait to kick this lyme cr*p to the curb...and tell it to f off.
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Dec 5, 2017 21:15:59 GMT
I'm so very glad that this subject was brought up and that you all have things in place that you can 'use' to help during times like these. Sharing what works for us could help others come up with ideas too!
I'm a bit opposite - I'm pretty much a loner, so I prefer to stay home. I have very few friends that are close enough to me to go visit with - but I do have a few very special friends that I can call if things get too bad.
When my issues get too overwhelming, I shut down - no computer, no tv, no phone calls - but when I'm just struggling extra, I honestly like to help others, and they are usually Lyme patients (always seemed a bit weird, even to me!). But, trying to figure out how best to help them, helps me. Sometimes I even come across things that will help me with an issue! For example, someone was asking me about 4 thieves oils/tinctures, so I started looking into deeper. Now, I had used it to help get rid of some pretty horrid heel pain, but I didn't know a lot about it. I realized it may be just what I need, so I made my own 4 thieves tincture, and that's a lot of why I managed to get through the last month or so of tons of activity for me.
I also like to just submerge myself in school when I'm struggling with symptoms. Something about it just allows my mind to go "somewhere" other than my own issues.
When I had my dairy goats, I'd just go hang out with them (boy do I miss them!), and of course, I always have my dogs to snuggle with when things get bad enough that I'm couch surfing all day.
In the Spring and Summer months, I go hang out in my garden, doing little things that I don't have to think much about - weeding, supporting vines, picking any ripe veggies - or even wild harvesting herbs (my newest passion!!).
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Post by deejavu on Dec 7, 2017 11:07:27 GMT
This is a very interesting topic... In the past when I was sick I forced myself to do volunteer work (helped feeding homeless people)... I felt really good about myself and was able to forget my aches and pains. I needed to get outside of myself (in my head)...
That was in in the past. Presently I feel like I'm in jail being a caregiver to my Mom. I am working on getting respite care so I can be free at least once a week and do what I want to do. I was always a free spirit and I miss spending time with my best friend and her grandkids who I am very close to.
Sometimes I just sit outside and look at the lake that's across from my house... I see lots of wildlife and I love that! I also have a bird station set up as I am a avid birdwatcher...
That's it for now! Denise
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Post by alyeska on Dec 12, 2017 8:23:19 GMT
Ok, I'm feeling pretty trapped like Deejavu. Here is my rant, hopefully the only one for this month . Honestly, my attitude has been in the toilet the last few weeks. One of my kids is having MAJOR problems that most parents don't even dream of. I'm pretty much in a constant state of fear for him. My knee and elbow/wrist/hand pain has been off the charts, and I'm dealing with estate details from the fairly recent deaths of my parents. Yes, it's been a very tough week. My horrible acne from die off really is the least of my problems at the moment, but that certainly isn't helping! The stress is probably causing a lot of my problems. So, this helped me re-charge. We celebrated St. Niklaus Day last week because I'm German, and I will not let one horribly behaved teenager ruin a family tradition. I still make everyone put their shoes out the night before and fill them with candy and little gifts if they've been good. (One child got very FEW gifts, and those were more of gag gifts because he's been so terrible. I'm not kidding... police involvement and everything. It's been nightmarish, but if I don't laugh I'll cry.) Anyway, each person gets a switch in their shoe because no one is perfect, right? Each year everyone wants to have the smallest switch of course because that means you've been the most well behaved, and my youngest son always tries to steal the smallest one and swap it for his! He's so funny! Well, I had my husband go out in the pasture to find the biggest fallen branch he could find for our eldest son's shoe. It was bigger than a hiking stick! We all got a good laugh out of that one! Never in my life have I heard of someone getting a switch in their shoe that could break their back. This son really deserves it. I also added a creepy element to St. Niklaus Day this year...Krampus! In Germany, he's a very scary guy who goes around with St. Niklaus and puts bad children in his bag to take them away to the bad place. It's a very old tradition, but I didn't involve him before because I didn't want my kids having nightmares. They all knew of him, of course, but he hadn't been part of our tradition because our youngest gets scared pretty easily. This year I thought they were all old enough to get in on the joke. The kids got letters from him instead of St. Niklaus this year talking about how awfully they've been behaving. They all thought it was very funny. My husband received the Krampus movie, so we watched that after going out to dinner Friday night, and it was actually very nice to have a family night (with #1 son's girlfriend.) If you like the Gremlins movie from years ago, this is a similar type of scary Christmas movie, but it's based on actual tradition. Here is the very cute Krampus I got for being good. They're usually terrifying! Attachments:
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Dec 12, 2017 18:30:48 GMT
Oh Alyeska, I'm so very sorry for the stress!!! Boy, can family members ramp up our stress levels at times, right? I've had a few family stress times in my life too! And, what stress brings to our lives as Lyme patients is no joke!!! I do hope that things settle down soon. Know that you can always write to me and vent any time you need to -and on here, of course!
I'm so very glad that you were able to still have your celebration!!! I have German in my background, but did not know about the story of Krampus!! Thanks for sharing that with us!!!!
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