Thursday 26 July 2012

Everyone's Path Is Different

Recovering from ME can been done in so many ways. Lots of people have recovered. Yes, some have recovered because the original diagnosis was a mistaken one and the chronic fatigue was found to be a symptom of something else, but most patients have been correctly diagnosed and chosen different paths to wellness.
My path has shown me so many things over the years. By finding my husband I had a new purpose and guided myself to remove the seizures from my life. When this was achieved I had a much clearer view of the ME and could decipher the symptoms. What options were there? we decided to clear my life from any complications and give me space. Then reading was done and lots of research about ME. So many options were out there but we realised that so many of these were about one part of the body: just relaxation, or just changing the diet. We knew my illness went a lot deeper than that, and I had tried a lot of these before. So we delved deeper.
From the different recovery stories we read it became clear that I needed to change my lifestyle completely and do many things at once, not just the one. Yoga and meditation appeared as something that had helped many people. I had never wanted to just do a yoga class for an hour once a week. As I investigated I knew I was right in that sense; I found that true yoga is a lifestyle. Encompassing the whole life. Mind, Body and Spirit. It is not a faith it is a belief in oneself.
Now it sounds like I'm preaching!
I found a form of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), ME specialists with information ready to be tapped, free and paid for (thank you Internet!). I found information about how the ME body is working so differently to a well body. All the time believing and disbelieving, having good days and bad days, some times feeling more like floating, others sinking into the ground with heaviness. Look how far I have come. I can get dressed most days. I can sit at a table and type. I have dedicated myself to recovery and because I am believing it will happen and am much better for it, it is happening differently to every time I have found a better place before. The yoga has helped me so much, in mind, body and spirit, and I feel that the Qi healing that I have started will too. I may devote my life to them in the future and help people who are finding it difficult like I have been for the last twenty-five years. This is currently my path.
So many things can encompass mind, body and spirit- music, art, gardening, family life. Because by playing music you move your body, you fill your mind with sounds and tones, with understanding and visual learning, you fill your spirit with joy and encouragement.
Gardening can be about movement (and eating!), learning about the trees and flowers, the wildlife they attract and about finding beauty and sounds, enjoying the smells and the rhythm of life.
I encourage you to find something to devote to. Be aware of your illness and be aware of your body at all times. If you want to study your body then do, if you want to study food and find simple ways to make nourishing meals, then do, if you want to study the outside world, then do, if you want to study your family and surroundings then do.
Take time to read, practice, enjoy and find a purpose. If this purpose can continue into your life as you recover and find work, so supporting the rest of your life, then all the better. Just take your time, be aware of your body's needs as you recover and it will happen. Along your own path.

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