Several weeks ago I introduced you to Hillary Rubin and shared with you her inspirational message about embracing your diagnosis as a gift, teacher and blessing. I continue to follow her meaningful work and wanted to share with you her latest e-mail and information about a new teleseminar taking place Wednesday, May 27 at 5PM Pacific/8PM Eastern.
From Hillary
I am committed to provide you with support and ways to really tackle the challenges that arise in order to create more peace in your life.
But in order for me to really HELP YOU it takes your walking with me to assist YOU on YOUR Journey. And it’s easy to find your power, harness your will, enjoy freedom and feel good about it as you heal your disease when you know you are not alone!
It’s Simple – All YOU have to do is send in YOUR question and tell me what keeps YOU up at night so I can better assist you gain all your hearts desire to have more PEACE in YOUR life.
Back in 1996 when I was diagnosed with MS I turned to every book possible. All I had were pages to turn to not a person who walked in my shoes and NOW YOU have this opportunity to ask YOUR burning questions – this one I would of pounced on!
So what are you waiting for?
I have participated in two of Hillary’s calls. Each time I came away with inspiration to apply to my own quest to improve my health and wellbeing, and to one day live free of Fibromyalgia symptoms. There is a saying that goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I assure you, Hillary cares, and I think it would be worth you time to listen to what she knows. I will be listening tomorrow. I hope you join me.
I have had fibromyalgia since (for sure Dx) 1996. Very little had helped over the long run. I have been in “flare” since Thanksgiving with debilitating pain! I have tried so many approaches with limited results. I am really loosing it and just don’t know what to do. A 28 year relationship is very much in jeopardy, my mother (86) cannot understand or even accept that I could be in so much pain most of the time. My grandson have grown up without Grandma being “fun” anymore. I am a very positive and basically a happy, loving, spiritual woman approaching my 64th birthday. I live in the middle of no where, limited medical facilities, a very kind and caring doctor who is at a loss of how to help me. HELP ME
Carolyn, your comment has moved me deeply. The thing that gets us through most flares is knowing they will eventually end. But being in a continuous one since November is cruel.
The first thing I would say is carefully and honestly examine what could possibly be contributing to your flare – stress, foods, overexertion, sleep hygiene etc. – and remove it, change it. Although there is much about FM that is hard to explain, our flares are usually triggered by something. Whatever triggered it is still occurring so you need to examine your habits and behaviors closely.
I do not mean to minimize what you are experiencing, but sometimes in the midst of a bad flare, we forget how we can contribute to our own wellbeing. I know I often fall back on my bad habits when in a severe flare. I stop doing my yoga which has helped me so much, and instead I reach for the comfort food and remote control. I do these things even though I know they will only increase my symptoms and lengthen my flare. We are only human after all.
You mention you are a spiritual woman. Meditation is a powerful way to help you relax and cope during this trying time. There are some great online resources for free guided meditations like these from the Chopra Center: http://www.chopra.com/agniinfo. The meditations are listed with the newsletter archives. Do not let your remote location deter you from the resources that are out there. Go outside and connect with nature. Nature is a powerful healer – of our spirit if not of our body.
Unfortunately there are no magic bullets I can offer you. I can only share what has helped me. I too have been at the point of loosing it and did not know what to do. Eventually I figured out the I am the only person that can help me heal. The most important thing I have done is to reconnect with myself. I gave myself permission to slow down, which in turn allowed me to examine my life closely. I was – and still am – doing a lot of things to exacerbate my illness. It is not always easy being truthful with myself, but the more I am, the more I change, and the better I feel. Sometimes just recognizing that our bodies are not in control and that we actually are can help.
There is no quick or short path to recovery. But you can improve, you can recover. Start slowly, and understand that it will be challenging. One step forward, two steps back is how it usually goes. But if you love and accept yourself, and the journey you are on, it allows those around you to do the same. I bet your grandsons would rather have a happy and loving grandma than a fun grandma. Let go of what you are not, and celebrate and build on what you are.
My Best to you Carolyn!