#lyme life
“Pain that persists is terrifying because it sets off the amygdala, before the parts of the brain that modify our emotional responses can be turned on.
The result is that we re experience the trauma that caused the pain and this trauma is continuously reinforced by it.
The terror demoralises us, and as pain processing areas expand in our brain, we lose our full ability to problem solve, regulate emotions,resolve conflicts, relate to others, distinguish other sensations from pain, effectively plan and even remember our past experiences to control pain.
Every time a person worsens, it feels like it is here to stay, and we must avoid it at all costs.
The amygdala is not a place of moderation.
It is a place of extreme emotions, fight/flight and post traumatic stress disorder. ”
Norman Doidge, the brains way of healing
IMAGINE how much better you would’ve felt if your doctor had explained pain and how you were feeling like this instead of telling you not to think about it. I wish I knew this when I was begging for help, traumatised by my pain
I don’t need for everything to be perfect
I just need to feel well again
#chronicillness
I spent so many years fighting
Fighting for my body
Fighting for my mind
Fighting for the right diagnosis or at least one that made sense and treatment worked
Fighting to be seen and heard by doctors
Fighting for validation
I’m finally at a place where I can rest
The “right” diagnosis finally came and a year later im improving
No more fighting
No more surviving
I’m living
I’m living small but I’m living a beautiful life
Don’t ever give up
You will heal and keep healing
What I now realise know about stress and anxiety, is that rather than a dysfunctional thought pattern, weakness or worry - it can get be an overstimulated state of being.
Unconscious. Subconscious. Bucket almost overflowing with accumulated things. Viral load. Inflammation. Trauma.
Stress can be excitement- good or bad
It isn’t always the stereotype worrier, neurotic, over thinker
It’s just an undercurrent of overwhelm that can manifest in even the most calm person
The enemy isn’t stillness
It’s the mind telling you to go faster
It’s just a belief and a belief can be changed
Do you do things physically struggling, miserable with post exertional malaise and push through or do you wait until you feel better so that you can really appreciate what you are doing/seeing??
But what if this is as good as it gets?
A long life of being house and bedbound with chronic illness
Or
A shorter life filled with no pain and ease?
