“But you don’t look sick…..” Ouch, I’ve heard this for years!!!! I don’t have a cane, crutches, an eye patch, or a wheelchair—-but I look “fine” and I act “fine” and some days I climb mountains, surf, and run a race……but…
Over 100 million Americans have a chronic illness and only 6% of them have “invisible illnesses”, which means—WE DON’T LOOK SICK. This can suck too, because nobody knows the pain that we go through on a weekly basis, that the pain is a rollercoaster—-each day is a Jack-In-The-Box toy of uncertainty—you never know when a 2-pain level, or an 8-level, or NO PAIN level will just “pop up”!!! This fucks with your pain, worry, and emotions—not to mention the quality of your plans for the day……
After spending a few years and enough money on traditional and natural doctors, to buy a small house, despite great medical insurance, I was finally diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder, where my fascia and ligaments are more stretchy then the typical person. Most people have tight, rope-like connective tissue that stabilizes joints and muscles. For me, my muscles do the work of my lazy-ass connective tissue, so muscles are working double-time! They get angry, tired, and tight, often causing pain when I least expect it. Ouch, literally, ouch!
PAIN, PAIN!!! WORRY WORRY!!!! MONEY, MONEY!!! STOP THE CYCLE!!!!!
I just stopped. I left the concrete, stress jungle of NYC to the paradise of Peru to get my shit together. T’was the best idea I’ve ever made. I stopped focusing on my “condition” and pain, and started refocusing on LIFE, LOVE, TRAVEL, CREATIVITY.
“I learned how to let go of my ego, limit my intense use of my body, rest well, ask for help, and talk to people about my health condition—and help others with my knowledge!”
My pain nearly went away!!!!! Condition was still there, and will always be there, but little pain.
My mind was allowing pain to thrive.
After some years I’ve noted 5 things that have helped me cope with illness and pain:
1. Don’t hate your condition, LOVE it and be grateful for what you can do and the great things in life each day
2. Take care of yourself, sleep, pick your battles, take a job that works best with your body, sleep whenever you need to, and live like your not in pain (with shrewd limitations).
IF YOU FOCUS ON THE PAIN, PAIN WILL FOCUS ON YOU.
3. Be open and talk to others about your condition or your pain. This lifts you up and can help others who may come out to you about their pain—you’re helping yourself and others!
4. Keep a diary of 5 top things that you’re grateful for each day
5. Ask for help, be vulnerable, drop the ego, let some cute guy/girl carry your bag that hurts you, don’t climb so far up the corporate ladder, and finally—-have NO TOLERANCE policy for ASSHOLES or DRAMA! Stress brings pain……..
3.
