Tips and key things to help with Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Chronic illness/TBI /mental illness etc.
It's easy to feel alone in it. Depression will effect 3 out of 5 people at some point in thier lives. Depression can be deadly. We need to stop the silence about mental illness. At my worst its really hard to keep positive I am managing. Yes sometimes it sucks to the great beyond and back. I called the help lines when I really needed a professional to talk to, that helped get me through those really dark times. These services save lives. Glad to announce I am no longer suffering from depression. It took 5 years of self reflection and using all kinds of tools, most I will use for the rest of my life and that's ok. I am alive! It is a choice. I chose to listen to my body, when tired or upset you or anyone needs to slow down and rest.
With BBVP, Fibermyalgia and TBI I must move slowly, sometimes I forget and move too fast and I get hurt from loosing my balance. Patience and compassion is needed for our bodies.
There is no cure for Chronic /pain/fatigue yet. We know for sure it will not go into remission unless we can respect our literal physical limits. Energy management is so important for recovery. Get things done as they pop up. Do not procrastinate, it can be your emotional undoing during difficult times. Do things when you have the energy, there's no room for regrets either. Schedule difficult tasks or fun time when you're at your best and ask for help. Break up all physical tasks down to what your comfortable with-toggle with rest. I learnt the hard way. Trying to push past your exhaustion and doing too much can land you in hospital and for sure in your bed; for all the wrong reasons.
Over time I have found out that negating your feelings or minimizing your pain, or being too proud to ask for help just makes it worst. Stress, isolation, feeding the negatives isn't going to help your health either. Cut loose those toxic people in your life. Understand that coming from a place of despair and anger just attracts more of what we don't want. Try your best to stick with the positives. We spend a lot more time in bed than we would like. Use it to your benefit. Research, read and think how to simplify. Plan for tomorrow today. Write out what daily tasks, goals that you would like to accomplish for the next day.
I have found posting encouraging quotes, positive messages around my home helps too.
Stop worrying about getting it all done. Stuff like house work, groceries, bills, laundry, sweeping etc, will always be there and there's alternative available too. Yes keep up with it as best you can. There are times when you got to let that small stuff go too. So I paid my bills 2 days late for various reasons, nothing terrible happened and it ment way less stress for me. Join a support group, it's helping me. I couldn't get out on my birthday this year but I did get a beautiful card from the .org. and when your feeling up to it, they have lots of beneficial activities with other people like us.
Emotions and physical problems countering you, asses your lifestyle, what can I improve? What do I need to be healthy and happy. I had to look at everything. It really helps journaling your tough emotions. Writting about a day in a normal life 5 years from now was a really helpful exercise. Not once did I write about pain or my disability. I was still me, just the crappy stuff didn't matter. I was living the life I wanted despite my afflictions. I've discovered there's a way around stuff if you ponder on it long enough. Inspiration will come. Being happy and healthy in this broken body is possible. To change my perspective I had to look at everything I was doing and what I wasn't. I asked myself what can I control? My sleep, diet, exercise, balance of activities, socializing etc. I started with my diet. It was really hard to eat. I was always feeling like I was about to hurl. Banana Smoothies with berries, pea protein powder and ginger got me through. I also did as much researching my brain would allow. What foods do I need to eat to support good brain recovery, how to treat Fibermyalgia and down the rabbit hole I went.
This is what made a difference for me.
Found some great online free apps for exercise and brain injury that helped keep my moments more productive and helpfull rather than destructive. Cutting out trigger foods 1 by 1. Started eating more and more fresh produce, less processed foods and doing adaptive yoga, Isometric exercise, meditation and practicing mindfulness. I also learned that colouring, games and puzzles are important for us as humans too. Little bit here, a little bit there. I am transforming my life of crisis and adapting it into a life of ease. I'm still a work in progress, but aren't we all? No worries if you still have triggers, extreme moments or have to use memory aids and "other things" for "suport". Often we must do what is necessary to ease our suffering. Like me walking with crutches. I get further on them than I would without them. Give yourself a break. Life is fucking hard sometimes and that's the reality. Learning moments for sure. This is who you are right now, never mind what was in the past, no worries over the future your taking care of your "now" moment. It's a new beginning. A time to redefined. To be curious, helpful and have fun. Acceptance, forgiveness and patience is key when dealing with any kind of illness or tragedy.
You can’t change anyone or anything external, but you can let go, meditate, practice mindfulness, change your responses, take control of that inner critic and allow space for healing.
Success and healing is possible when we treat "all" of us, the body, mind and the spirit, I am not talking about religion here. Your passions, the activities that you enjoy. Learn to sing, start a hobby, pay attention to your wants, thoughts and goals That's the Spirit I'm talking about.
This worked for me-Find compassion and create space for yourself. You do this with slow acceptance of your truth and exposure to dealing and managing triggers. Share your experience, find acceptance for the things you can not change and let it go of negatives. Do the work! Be committed to being the best you possible. We are always learning and changing. Stay positive, be good to others and yourself daily. A good goal is to include more fun in your schedule.
1) Support yourself -make a commitment to yourself- put your health first. You must learn to recognize and respect your energy and feelings. All of them, not just the good ones. Get at the root of what you are experiencing. Learn ways can you improve your mood. Listen to your mind and body. Get at the root of your "issue" is it lack, stress, fear, overwhelmed etc. Listen yourself, make strides to deal with the issues as they come up. Accept, confront, understand, integrated or let go. What's the lesson here? How can I improve myself and the situation.
2) Dont isolate yourself. Us humans prefer to be in groups of similar feathers. Chart in fun time just as much as chore time. We all need a little space to unwind and check in with ourselves too. Join a support group or make your own.
3) Tools-Remember to be the observer, to take a step back in times of triggers. Acknowledge and accept. Use breathing technics and meditation. Above all be objective, realistic and simplify in order to meet daily goals.
Chart daily, weekly and monthly schedule. Follow it. Remember to toggle activities,rest, work and hobbies. Use a Schedule, calendar, breathing exercises, practice mindfulness, yoga, resting, eating healthy, exercising your body and mind with healthy pursuits. Be part of your solution.
