Sunday, February 24, 2019

I Can't Remember What I Was Gonna Call This Blog Post


"She would grab whatever she could - a look, a whisper, a moan - that she could salvage from perishing, to preserve. But time is most unforgiving of fires, and she couldn't, in the end, save it all."
 - Khaled Hosseini, a Thousand Splendid Sons




So, my short-term memory kind of sucks.

So, my short-term memory kind of sucks.

(And I'm fucking hilarious).

Smiles,

Lora




Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Keep on Keeping On

"If you're going through hell, keep going."
 - Winston Churchill




So I sit here alone…on my bed…sobbing.

But this is just a rough day.

I tell myself again that I've got this. I can do this.

I am doing this.

The thing is…it doesn't just go away. This anxiety…this feeling like my heart is racing...that I can't catch my breath…that it is all too overwhelming…that I'm going to lose my lunch…it still pops up out of nowhere.

I am learning not to panic when this happens. It doesn't always work but I've become much better at it.

Being anxious about being anxious is probably one of my biggest challenges. When I start to feel anxiety coming on, I have to use my tools to calm down and get the snowball rolling in the right direction, as it were. If I don't…the feeling can get easily carried away and I usually feel much worse. Ya know…that whole self fulfilling prophesy deal.

Grrrrrrrr!

So I'm trying to breathe. Slowly. Slow down. Everything is gonna be OK. You're gonna get through this. You're strong. You're a warrior. You're a survivor.

I'm a survivor (what), I'm not gon' give up (what)

I'm not gon' stop (what), I'm gon' work harder…

What?

Sorry - I digress.

(Now I can't get that frickin' Destiny's Child song outta my head - but that is the least of my problems).

I remind myself that I have gotten through times like this a million times over with a 100% success rate.

In case you're like me and are not a math wizard…100% is a pretty damn good number.

I'm still here. I'm still breathing…I'm still wagon-training.

I have to keep on keeping on.

I'm fighting.

And I'm fighting mad.

But that's OK. It's OK that I feel mad sometimes. This is not easy shit. Trying not to let my anxiety get away from me takes one part focus, one part distraction and a little luck doesn't hurt.

***

I went back to work last week.

And a lot of people have been encouraging and supportive and want to know how it went.

Well…all in all, I'm happy. It felt so good to be back. I did have some anxiety about returning after two years away from the office, but I went in for three mornings and I felt good.

I felt ready.

I felt determined.

But this week…I came upon today…and today was a more difficult day.

I woke up really anxious. Something new? No.

Was it about work? Not really.

I often don't know what my triggers are.

But it continued - despite my best efforts.

I went to work. I kept it in. I focused on the job at hand. I did what I needed to do. I focused on my work and distracted myself with all that I need to re-learn to perform my job.

I got through my morning at the office without any spinning. I kept it together.

And that is something to be celebrated.

But I got in the car to leave and my stomach was turning.

Then I got home and ate a healthy lunch - a chicken salad - knowing that I needed to get something into my stomach besides the butterflies.

Just in time to lose it all.

Yeah…I got sick.

Now I'm writing a blog post to try and divert my energy and attention to something other than my anxiety.

And I'm slowly calming down.

Why am I writing about this? Well, I know I sort of sound like a broken record talking about my struggle…but that is part of it…the fact that it IS a struggle and that I DO feel like I'm on a merry-go-round sometimes.

Life isn't perfect and I'm no exception.

It is all part and parcel to my recovery. Because my condition is chronic…I am probably not going to just "get better".

I mean…better…yes!

But it probably won't ever be totally gone.

And I need to continue to embrace this fact because you can't do anything about things you don't acknowledge.

Day by day…sometimes hour by hour….sometimes minute by minute…I have to keep going.

And I get tired. I get so damn tired of the fight.

But I am determined.

I will continue and I will prevail.

One day...one moment…sometimes even one second at a time.

I'll keep ya posted.

Smiles,

Lora







Sunday, February 03, 2019

Taking the Leap: Moving Forward with Chronic Illness

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly."
 - Buddha




Yeah, so it has been a while again. But I'm sorry…I've been focusing on other things. Like my heath.

And I am hanging in there.

As you know if you read my blog on a semi-regular basis - I have had struggles with my mental health for most of my life. I have suffered from chronic clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder for a very long time.

And I'm about to hit a big milestone.

I'm going back to work after almost 2 years away from the office!

Am I anxious about it? Well honestly yes. I am a little anxious about it.

But I (I am starting sentences with "but" but I say sue me)…but I just can't wait to get back to my routine. I'm doing a lot better and look forward to getting back to my job…to my work friends…to my life.

Does this mean I'm cured?

No, it doesn't.

I wish.

Does it mean I have had treatment and have fought my way to get to a point where I feel I am ready?

Yes it does.

But (there I go again!) here's the thing.

My illness is chronic.

It's not gone.

It is being managed.

Oh how I wish it was gone forever…but chronic depression and/or anxiety does not totally go away.

That's what chronic means. It is an ongoing struggle.

Like any other chronic illnesses, there are many tools but no magic cure.

And so I (start sentences with "and" - don't tell the grammar police!)…and so I move forward. I take my toolbox of tricks and I take a leap while managing my condition as best I can and with a fighting attitude.

To try and resist the fact that I do have a chronic condition is like resisting the truth - it often causes more problems and is a set up for failure. It can also manifest the self-fulfilling prophesy that focusing on something negative can bring.

This is the reality of my illness - this is my truth.

But as I have said before and as I will say again…my illness - no matter if it is chronic…does not and will not define me.

Making big steps in overcoming the depths of depression and/or anxiety takes a warrior spirit.

I'm not saying I am any more special than anyone else.

I am simply saying that I - like so many others - am brave.

I have been to hell and back. (Voluntarily) hospitalized four times in less than 2 years. Electro-convulsive therapy. Intensive, every-day, group therapy programs. Doctors and councillors and therapists and social workers. Other brave souls. Countless hours of personal work. Help from a strong support system I am so lucky to have.

It takes a village.

It takes blood.

Sweat.

Tears.

Anyone who has suffered from a serious illness - chronic or not - knows how difficult the fight can be.

But I'm still here. I'm still fighting. I have been taking baby steps (two forward and one back in many cases) to improve my health.

Am I scared about this big step of returning to work?

Yeah…I'm a bit scared. But I enjoy my job and I love the people I work with.

I'm ready.

Do I still have a chronic illness? Yes I do.

But I am going to fight like hell to keep travelling forward and focussing on the NOW.

Now I am feeling better. Now I am feeling stronger. Now I am feeling braver.

It is not perfection. I will still be challenged by my illness.

But it won't stop me.

And for others who are also in my shoes - the same goes.

You may struggle - but you are not alone. You are stronger than you think. You are braver than you ever thought possible.

You are special. You are your own person. You are NOT your illness and you do not need to hide.

You're an amazing and awesome individual just as you are.

Yes you!

You, like me, are a warrior.

Smiles,

Lora