The mental game

I believe that one of the worst things to conquer while dealing with Lyme is the trauma that it causes to us, and the no guarantees of getting better. I do believe that I'm getting better with treatment and I'm doing whatever i can to make it happens. Some days are better then other ones and despite all the terrible things that I read on line I know that I will get better. Unfortunately it's a fight that we basically fight alone taking away our health, and life savings while we reach for our health state. Anyways my point is that we have to be optimistic and positive and hopefully the bright days will come very soon to stay for good.

Like boxing, always up for the next round.

Your state of mind is either a strong driver towards a brighter light and better life, or an anvil tied to your ankles as you sink towards the bottom of an endless ocean.

Many, many people suffer neurotransmitter imbalances and cannot overcome them to maintain focus and hope. If you struggle with this, PLEASE talk to your LLMD/ND and ask for help - naturopaths are more up to speed generally. Counseling is critical. Just know that there are others out there struggling in the same way and there is help for you.

-p

Sometimes we just have to deal with this one minute at a time. Trying to deal with one day at a time can often be stressful. As many of us have experienced, not one day is the same. But guess what? It was like that before we got sick. It's just before we had the tools to readily cope with what the day brought. Our bodies and minds were stronger...we could rebound better.

Now when we focus on the "day", it plays out more like, "Is this going to be the day that I get better? Is today going to be a lousy day? Am I going to have aches and pains today? Will I be able to eat today without being nauseous? Am I going to be able to make it to work tomorrow? Should I change my protocol? Is this even working? What do I do now? Wow, I had a good day, what will tomorrow be like? Why me?

Personally I think sometimes we are our worst enemies. We expect too much of ourselves and of our bodies. We sometimes add to our anxiousness and/or or depression because a lot of this recovery journey is just simply out of our control. The Lyme and co's I think do enough damage that we don't need to add to it.

So I would suggest hitting the "reset" button. Let's try to do what we need to do to get better, but let's focus our minds differently. Expect nothing from each day----let it evolve as it is going to do anyway. Let's not put a time frame on recovery, it will happen...if you believe it will. The mind can be very powerful and persuasive---it can control the body. Understand your limitations, and work within them. Try to stay in a positive frame of mind, but if things are continuously bleak, acknowledge it...accept it...and know that at this point you need to ask for help. Own the successes and also own the failures....and learn from both. Know that at some undetermined time you will have a good day, then another good day, then another good day, then another good day until this road will be a distant memory.

Girlie and Krimpet, thanks for sharing. Krimpet you hit the nail on the head for me. You both have been like many others in the trenches fighting for long time, your attitude and help is to me is a gift. thank you.

Geez.......Wish people understood this, what everyone here goes thru.

I try to mention lyme with family any more, they just change the subject anyway. But I didnt "fake" it or cover it up either. I live alone and never gave them details of my worst past symptoms, cause I know they wont get it. They wanted to go for a walk on memorial day, I'm like, its a bad hip day, I'll stay here. Get this look of misunderstanding........I just left it at that and kindly closed the door. Tired of explaining to a wall.

And the people with the "fake happy" attitude ..... kind of a lack of down-to-earth-ness if you know what I mean - Its hard to have a serious discussion about a serious health topic with them. One of the so called "happiest people" I ever worked with, blew his brains out. So much for faking it.


bluelyme - "I miss my dopamine ...and my ability to handle stress..."

Ya, I used to stress in the eye and challange it. What happened?

project- let us know how the book is.

There are of course even self hypnotic healing vids on You -tube.

Some people can fool them selves. But if your not physically well, how do you fool yourself into good health. Maybe your book will unleash the power.

My hip hurts. I told myself its doesnt with a smile. :) It still does, but i need to get up and do stuff that would be helpfull with less pain. : (

May the force be with us.

I'm against violence but I wish that could water board the tick that bit me............. little ******. I'm sick and close to 20 thousand spent with all this bull%$@# that he created me.

It is 4 3:45 am and I haven't slept yet! I read through these posts and realize that there are so many of us who share in this struggle.

I thank God I have a place to come where others share what is on there hearts without fear of being misunderstood. It helps to know you are not alone.

Count me in this struggle as well - 9 years and counting. Of course that includes one year of a failed abx treatment, and a little over 2 years of successful treatment for these infections - then I had a glorious year of health, but too much stress - and my adrenals crashed (one step above Addison's) and it took down my thyroid also - then I got bit again and I'm back in treatments.

The only thing I can concentrate on to keep me in treatments is that I know what it's like to live without them - and slowly dying isn't what I want to do - yet. I've spent the last 45 of 46 years living with these infections or being quite ill from adrenals/ thyroid issues. One day at a time is all I can do. Looking forward for someone like me isn't pretty. I certainly share your frustrations with it all!!

Try limiting yourself to only evaluating how you are doing to once a day - and be sure to look at the whole day.

With all the doubt that's thrown around Lyme and it's testing and treatments, it's not surprising that we have these thoughts, but it doesn't mean they are accurately reflecting what's actually going on inside of our bodies.

I've gotten to the point (finally!!) where I don't hardly allow myself to think about my symptoms other than once a week or there abouts - although my symptoms are mostly in the moderate to mild category now and I know that makes it easier to deal with.