Lyme is ISOLATING. When you have a government that fails to acknowledge your illness and fails to set precedence for the medical system who in turn cannot establish clear treatment guidelines or grant coverage of that treatment. Because there is no cure or clear cut treatment protocol. Lyme is isolating because you are left to research on your own due to the lack of funding and awareness, to make your own judgment call. Because it invades your head, your mentality and thus your confidence as its heavy fog slowly and stealthy settles in and around your brain. Stealing away memories, redelivering past memories that you didn’t want to relive, adding in dark thoughts that aren’t you but sound like you. As it leaves you feeling disassociated, confused, and questioning everything you thought you knew. When it takes your breath away up a flight of stairs, when it leaves you so tired that you blow off all your friends or even communicating what’s going on because it’s all too much, too exhausting. When it leaves you to live in denial of every professional endeavor, goal, priority, friendship, relationship and care you have because that’s easier than battling head on the heavy fatigue that continuously knocks you out, night after night, although you only worked 8 hours, and although you slept 10 the night before, and for the entire last week. Lyme is isolating but I refuse to let this disease take away my shine and sparkle✨ I will not reciprocate the isolation that Lyme so generously delivers because I’m fiercer, brighter, more resilient and stronger. I will continue to EMBRACE Lyme and all that it brings, reveal my scars to all proudly and be compassionate everyday. It is so easy to feel alone, burnt out, angry, resentful (Lyme or no Lyme) but I know deep in my heart that the power of an ounce compassion can change lives. Not much, including Lyme, can stand up to that. Lyme cannot and will not defeat me, I may feel isolated but I’m not. I’m not alone, I’m strong, and together we are stronger. This post to raise awareness and support for @globallymealliance ‘s #lymeisreal campaign - fundraise.globallymealliance.org/campaign/lyme-is-real/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BrtEdD-n3vD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nkj6p9surx6w
