Chronic Lyme Disease - Metaphysical and Spiritual Aspects

Here's a quick article about the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of Lyme - why we get it and how it changes us.

ezinearticles.com/?Chronic-Lyme-Disease---Metaphysical-and-Spiritual-Aspects&id=3056426

I'm finding a good deal of this to be true. I've just started my journey, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I see a lot of people, who are now well or in remission, that have changed paths or have become healers - helping others with Lyme. Does anyone feel like Lyme has made their life better? Has it helped you find your true purpose? I've been depressed about Lyme for months, but recently I'm making attempts to simply make art (when I feel OK) even if it's just draw a simple picture. I'm happiest when I make art. I've even dusted off my old cameras. It's been a year since I've taken photos for fun. I was starting to feel like I was a photographer and writer in a former life, but doing what I can, even if it's a little, brightens my day, if nothing else.

I don't think there's a such thing as a "Lyme patient pattern".
We're sick because a tick bit us, not because of certain personality traits.

However, Lyme certainly has the ability to alter ones personality for the better as we take the journey to healing. It teaches patience, gratefulness, makes you humble, etc.

From a spiritual perspective, I disagree with Traveler's post. While this is not what our lives were "supposed to be" from our view, a higher power knew we were going to be here since before we were born, IMO.

But a long discussion on spirituality is probably beyond the scope of this discussion group.

Mustard Seed, without "getting into religious aspects of it" I agree with you. I especially do not think there is a lyme patient pattern.

It is Rikky - but we would be off discussing religious philosophy, not these infections. We can all agree that we all experience our higher power (for those that believe this) in different ways, and we should leave it at that - there are just too many opinions on religion to be able to agree with everyone that has these infections - and that's what this forum is about - discussions on these infections, not the religious aspects of having them.

Religion is even more personal that what choices we make with treating these infections - and that can be hard enough to maintain a balance on in a forum that reaches world wide.

I don't know how I feel about Lyme making life "better". I hasn't yet anyway. Some people have said it's a blessing in disguise and right now, I feel terrible so if this is a blessing, I'd hate to see a curse.

I've also heard some people say they got better once they figured out what their path was or somehow found meaning to it all. I suppose it's a person by person basis. I know I've been doing a lot of soul-searching these past months. The common theme of my life has been the unfairness of it all. Life has been doubly unfair to me and I've spent a good deal of my life taking care of others. I've gotten a lot of raw deals and now this. I've put off my dreams for other people. I've been lamenting how unfair it is and I wonder if there isn't some hidden meaning. Is it unfair? Is it just a roll of the dice or is there some meaning I must ascribe within myself to make it better?

I just wondered if anyone was else was figuring this out. And I have seen a patten to Lyme patients. Mostly I've encountered caring people, helpful, creatives, go-getters, adventurers, etc. IDK. Who knows what it all means.

I agree with Traveler.
I also want to offer that a person has to heal in a path that they are comfortable with.

Whatever these infections take away from us, our natural inclination is to live, to survive.
Unfortunately the disease can cloud that inclination for some, but not all.

Many are pulled from their dreams, some right in the middle of living them, but have the presence of mind to find some kind of beneficial activity in spite of their limitations. Often it's activities never dreamed of before.

That doesn't necessarily mean it's a better path or journey....it's just a different one.

Like PeteZa(I think?) used to say, "making lemon water out of lemons".

"The biggest common denominator seems to be that Lyme arrives when some anger has gone unexpressed and when self-love does not match the degree of love and blessings these folks spread into the world."


This definitely was not true for me...

Chronic disease always leads to thoughts of the bigger picture. Spirituality, philosophy, questioning why things happen, always part of chronic suffering. Of course we have to be careful to respect each other, but this seems like exactly the place to explore these ideas.

Most religions seem to teach that the universe gives us what we deserve, especially the new age point of view. Like it may be a terrible, painful experience, but in the end its what's best for your personal growth. Maybe. Try telling that to a child born with horrible disfiguring disabilities. In those tragic cases the only logical argument from the "benevolent universe" crowd is that these people are learning a hard lesson for mistakes made in a previous life. Maybe. Or maybe the Buddhist are right, life is largely pain and suffering, and enlightenment, and escape is the only solution. Who knows, interesting stuff though.

KristenBee I think its great you are enjoying your photography. I have found doing creative things has really helped me too. I hope it opens doors for you.
I think everyone asks the question - "why do we suffer'. Lostcoast wasn't being religous just philosphical and I agree with the comments.

I was necessarily trying to open up a religious conversation - I guess I really wanted to know how Lyme has affected anyone in a positive way, if at all or if they'd managed to find some deeper meaning - not necessarily religious. Just meaning. Right now I'm having hard time getting passed the "why me?" stage of the illness and feeling pretty sorry for myself. I have my ups and downs, but I keep getting this message - either from my research or other people - what lesson am I supposed to learn here? I already know I'm strong as heck. I've been through some major tough times. I survived. I know I'm a survivor. Anyway, thanks all for your responses. It helps to hear what you think.

Im now a certified apitherapist and i too have dusted off my camera...
aint nuthing like dying to make ya wanna live ...
inam pursuing creating a viable buisness venture and some productions .i was a tornado and faith in the glory of my suffering is the only thing that motivates me to do the 60 hrs of treatment every week...ya anger resentment ,procrastination ,everything a astrologist says can apply to every human some what ...ya every little bit helps ..so i have seen angry people get cancer but is anger the root of cancer or is it a viral or spirochetael pathogen ...?
Lyme has made me a microscopist amateur pathologist ,herbalist ,pharmacologist ,nutritionalist ,functional medical duc ,iv admin nurse ,bee keeper ,frequency technician ,advocate and activist ...but id rather bee doing normal people crap worrying about normal people problems ...

Post Edited (bluelyme) : 2/20/2017 5:45:41 PM (GMT-7)

Lostcoast said...
Well KristenBee, I've also thought Maybee the universe is trying to change the path I'm on. This experience is surely going to do that, hopefully for the better. What can be learned from pain and suffering? On good days I tell myself "faith is a verb" and try to believe everything will fall into place exactly where it belongs. But....we live in a privileged society, we expect life to be pleasant. Millions of people in third world countries would certainly beg to differ. So I try to think of those living truly horrible lives, and remember, it could be worse, much worse. I think it really helps to think of what life is like for the truly unfortunate. We have to be careful not to compare ourselves to the Disneyland life we see on t.v., and realize our culture is incredibly far removed from the realities of actual human experiences around the world.

Anyway, life is short, try to enjoy it, do the best we can, and help each other to have more happiness and less pain.

While I can appreciate what you're saying, I also know that although I have not been on deaths door with this - I do know people who are suffering immensely.. and others who have died. So, for some people it can't be "worse, much worse".

[quote]While I can appreciate what you're saying, I also know that although I have not been on deaths door with this - I do know people who are suffering immensely.. and others who have died. So, for some people it can't be "worse, much worse".

I hate to create a divide over a topic like this, but I think it goes both ways. Plus, it's about perspective, and individual situations. How you look at it, wherever you're at.

Sometimes, I do feel it really could be worse; we could be dead, whether from this or something else. It's hard not to compare Lyme to those things, cancers or something like AIDS, and for good reason.

One of my classmates has cancer, and she's been telling me how the chemotherapy isn't working, and that they're going to have to try something else. I've suffered longer, and in more ways, though maybe not as severe or immediate, which is the thing - she could be dead a year from now. Of course, so could I, but I do feel my odds are much better.

You can fight those things, but they have bigger reputations for being killers, right? That's why they've got the public eye, not Lyme. We're experiencing the "slow death," as it's been called.

Though, when compared to her situation, I'm glad to have Lyme disease, not cancer, because I think I've still got the years to keep fighting.

That, or take the people you've known that have died, that could be us. I've got it bad, I think, and my life is pretty heavily weighed upon, but I know there people are a lot more affected than I am. You hear about people that can't talk, walk anymore.

Then, there's a part of me that knows I could have made a better life for myself, being dealt a "worse" hand in one of these impoverished, war-stricken nations. So long as I've got my life, my life, I'm good. Again, we've got the possibility of death, but I guess I'd rather die young, with my soul and personality fully intact, than sick and safe in America.

Thing is, I am not a very smart person. Deep-thinking doesn't suit me right now. This is all opinion. I do think the story could have either ending, but go with whatever sounds best to you.

As for the original article that was posted, in some ways, it's a nice way to look at things after the fact, some of us are better, stronger people for having these health woes, but... unless you were out there severely abusing people, raping, murdering, then you would have been better off, and the world around you for it. Call me crazy, but I would have been famous for my words, my big mouth. I had personality, and something to say about everything I felt was wrong in the world. At the very least, I would have been a very bright, bubbly, and intelligent person - college graduate, nice job, etc. Fulfilling hobbies, group of friends, close connection to them, my family, and myself.

Then, to touch on the lessons taught by being in our situation, they're great... but what use are they to sick people who can't: 1) remember the darn things, at times and 2) get our there in society much and put them to good use?

But, you know, keep trying. Keep it positive. Things will turn around, someday, if you keep going.