Sunday 29 July 2012

Slow Down You Move Too Fast

I'm sure many of you will realise that I am quoting the Simon and Garfunkel song there! The phrase sums up a very important point that ME patients need to keep in mind.
With stress being such a fundamental factor in ME, rushing at any point during the day can only encourage more stress. This has be a key part of why much of the Graded Exercise Therapy has not worked; by doing an activity for only two minutes, the natural instinct is to do as much of that activity as you can in that two minutes- putting washing on the line quickly or cleaning the bathroom sink quickly, chopping vegetables quickly or reading quickly.
Rushing causes mistakes which need to be reversed and if not possible to reverse the consequences form those mistakes then have to be followed up. A simple mistake such as knocking over a drink in your rush to organise your breakfast can have many disastrous effects which suggest more rushing and stress. The instinct would be to rush quickly and find a cloth to clear the mess before it makes even more mess by dripping on the carpet from the edge of the tray, or even more mess by also reaching the clean washing, which is sitting in a pile at the end of the table!
By practising relaxation and meditation the brain is encouraged to take things more slowly. You will notice over time how much calmer the rest of your life becomes. I would laugh about the disasters in life in a couple of hours before but sometimes it might take a few days for the big crises! Now a spilled drink, is a spilled drink. Material things can be damaged and mended- OK an iPhone falling in a bath might not be such a great option for quick laughter, but such luxuries are on home insurance and can be replaced, so laugh about it, tell your mates, enjoy all their stupid stories too- we've all done it! Even what has happen in the last week(link) gave me a laugh very quickly, I was able to even write a post and not feel too embarrassed. Yes it was a stupid mistake and I was sucked in. But I am in a vulnerable position and I accept that, a life's lesson was learned and I am thrilled, elated to be out of it before it went too far. I am also in a calm position, a relaxed position, a slowing down position.
Give it a go, everyone, ME or not, we all need a bit of a laugh and to quote another great song: "The sun'll come out, tomorrow..."
Let's let it come out today!
Slow down, don't move too fast

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