In your worst times, what gives you hope to continue?

It kind of depends on what you mean by spirituality. Seems there's lots of definitions of this.

For me, my biggest motivator is I know all too well how I feel without treatment, at least with treatments I feel better, more stable and more active - even if it is hard to keep everything going (detoxing/treatments and all) every single day.

I also lean on the people here, and at home that understand what I'm dealing with. I've had a lot of days of losing hope lately, but, it wont' stop me. I get treatment fatigue a lot lately.

These are very difficult thoughts. I'm a realist and based hope on other life experiences that worked out, I had more than my share. Not everyone does- so that would be more difficult I think- to not have a history of pulling through.

It helps to be busy to keep your mind engaged in other things- this also comes naturally to me.

I had symptoms from late 80's, to really bad 5-10 years ago, a lot better now. I was a very competitive athlete who excelled in a certain sport. I did this in pain because I knew you only live life once. My worst competitive event ever ( bad crash) turned around 3/4 of the way through the race and I ended up winning a national event. It is etched in my mind forever. It was a dream come true, I pushed through the pain on pure desire to win from what felt like a bottomless pit 3 hours earlier. I try to remind myself of this, but I'm needing a new experience to learn from since this was from late 90's.

So thats just my experience which helps. I realize this is a rare experience and would only be a power full feeling to athletes. But there are other forms of this felling I imagine. If you have something that powerful, in whatever form to remember, that might help.

Now that I'm older, this may sound pathetic, but I think of retirement which is not really that far away. But also hope that my remaining symptoms will get better so I can possibly be more pain free in employment. I can deal with pain at home- at work its different, they dont pay me to stretch or lay on a couch LOL. Retirement is kind of a double edges sward, your free from work, but its the last part of life (sigh).

I feel I had 25 -30 years of life stole from me and want to live life pain free. Oh well, there are other way worse off. Look at quadriplegics, be glad thats not you.

I just remind myself to be logical. Its a treatable infection. Remission happens. As Buhner says, know how these infectiins work so you can overcome them. I simplify it and break it down into steps to be overcome.

What gets me going is a hope that I will be able to enjoy the things that shaped who I am.
This is all faiding away most days ....some are worse than others....

Spirituality point of view.....this is when I feel I got this as a punishment for some sinful sin. Yes.
If you are spiritual on the healing side you gotta be sincere with yourself and thy God and face that perhaps I have not done well in some parts of my life. I know which one they are. A punishment. A hell of a punishment. Some folks call it karma. Consider I was such atheist for decades. But when I begun finding the spirutual path I get hit with this. Hmmm...I know I deserve it.

Then my father in law few weeks ago got me really mad saying something along these lines "I bet you are really mad at yourself for getting lyme disease". The reference was made because of my dog who sleeps with us. It really bothered me that he said that.
I was really pissed especially coming from the mouth of a person whose worse SIN is gluttony which has caused so many health problems with him....and he is kept alive through tons of medications....

I always look very healthy and I am a very energetic person delivering opinions as well....so I get no sympathy for anything. I am SURE that most people do not even believe I have the symptoms that I have and think I am a mental case.

What keeps me going is definitely not those who surround me. And that is not good in terms of spirituality or longevity or anything.....studies have been done that those with great social lives live longer. I guess it is a good thing I got life insurance to cover funeral cost. I do not mean to sound selfish, but yes I admit I am. I do not live my life for the others but for myself.
Finally.... I guess what keeps me going is me and who I am. If I loose that I have no reason to keep going no matter what.

ditto jrpsf. ...and I just can't imagine living like this for the rest of my life...I'll get better or I will die trying..
No other way for me.

For me personally, I believe in a God who loves me unconditionally and is working all things together for good. Sometimes I question His sovereignty in allowing this bad thing to happen to me. But, it's then that I have to realize that He isn't a genie in a bottle. He has MUCH bigger plans in mind than just my temporal happiness. He is preparing me for a better glory. I often times have to remind myself of a story in the Bible. Paul evidently had a physical ailment that he wanted God to heal. On three different occasions he asked God to take it away from him. But the verse that follows is what gets me through. God did not choose to take away Paul's "thorn" but instead said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I don't know why I have to be sick. I like to gripe and complain about it most days. But what gets me through is my faith, the church community I'm involved in, understanding people who are fighting it them self, and a list of things that I have gained from sickness. I always try to focus on the positives. 3 positives a day. At least. And then somehow I'm able to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

http://www.simplybeing.org.uk/index.php/poetry/82-the-guest-house-by-rumi
I like this poem.
I try to remind myself when I feel down and frustrated with all the obstacles that are coming up that I am bigger than the things that happen to me. That it isn't what I am worth, and that being sick isn't what defines me. I don't believe in a punishing God, I believe everything is meant to help us dig deeper into our true nature.
I do my best to rise above the 'blahs' every day. Thats all we can do.
I like Simon Templer's attitude of gratitude.
I think its not just about finding what can heal you physically but also about using everything that comes your way to grow a little stronger, to practice a little more self love and self compassion and to be kinder to yourself and more self forgiving. When I first got sick I remember feeling so very very angry at life. I didn't achieve anything. I got told by Doctors that my illness of psychosomatic and I was bringing it all on myself.
even spiritual healers I went to were telling me it was unresolved issues from childhood. I ended up doubting myself so much. I remember being jealous of others with an easier life and more money and that got me no where either. I remember a lot of complaining and whinging up to the point no one wanted to listen. I remember feeling down and very sorry for myself. I know the feeling of wanting to end it. But at the end of the day the days that are worth living are the ones when I chose not to give into those 'visitors' and do my best to come from a truer place of living like the Guest House owner in the poem by Rumi. This helps me - its not always easy because lyme pulls your energy down and so do the physical complications that come with lyme. I know from being a slow learner that its not what happens to you its how you take it. Its the disease that pulls the negative vibration around you and we are all more than that. We are beautiful, strong and good and fundamentally whole and healthy. Thats the lesson.
There is a Neuro Linguistic Programming technique where you pull all that pure spiritual energy around you like an ocean of pure comfort,support, love and wellbeing at the times you feel really really hopeless and ill and cant find anything within you to balance your energy and support you. And you make up your mind that you have a selective view that is all you see. The negatives are still there, you still have to meet your responsibilities etc. but you give a higher reality to all that is positive. I make it a practice everyday because there are parts of my day that hard to do for me something about hormones. Being good to myself is a practice these days and it adds up and builds on itself. So its worth it. When ever I feel down I believe it isn't me its the illness getting the upper hand and I have to stand up to it. The separating that feeling out and not identifying with it as best you can helps the most.

It always helped me to know that there were things that I hadn't tried yet. There is actually
a lot of things to try

As long as I hadn't tried everything I would keep going.

Now I remember how far I came-