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ME/CFS Instincts – Don’t be Fooled

4/1/2014

8 Comments

 
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As he frequently does, Tim wrote an insightful comment on last week’s blog that got me thinking about instinct.  And I completely agree that we should follow our instincts as they are right.  I think we have an ancient ‘knowing’ that is programmed into our DNA from millennia of learned successes and failures.  Anthropologists have documented many of them.  And for me, I think we also have this ‘knowing’ at a cellular level.  Cravings come to mind.  And our bodies demand for rest.  But sometimes, as I unfortunately discovered when I was first struggling with ME/CFS, our instincts can fool us.

Prior to my struggle with ME/CFS, I was a type A on steroids.  It was instinctual with me to solve problems by throwing myself into them with everything I had.  I didn’t learn this from those around me.  Somehow, I was programmed that way.  And with every success, it
only reinforced the method.  So as I first struggled with ME/CFS, my immediate instinct was to push through it.  And as you all know from your own experiences, this approach completely failed me. While my body was desperately calling for rest, my brain pumped out something that enabled me to push the pace. I reminds me of the impossibly heavy objects that people are able to lift in emergencies.   And of course, it was unsustainable.  My body finally crashed hard and my brain was forced to relent. Unfortunately this happened more times than I’d like to admit.

So yes, listen to your body’s instincts:  Exhaustion, cravings, pain, confusion, etc. and heed the messages.  My one caveat is to be careful to filter the messages through the logical part of your brain and ignore the frantic, desperate voice. Even a healthy person can’t lift a car every day.  What are your instincts telling you?  What messages do you heed in order to recover from ME/CFS? 
Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

8 Comments
Donna
4/1/2014 12:40:20 pm

Yes, I was a Type A, as well, Martha. And...a perfectionist to boot. My self-worth came from how much I could do and how well I could do it. I've made great strides over the years in learning to love myself simply because I exist. I do wonder if there's any information in regards to CFS and personality traits.

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Martha
4/1/2014 01:52:36 pm

I have never read any research data on ME/CFS and personality types. I'd be very interested if anyone has found any. Thanks Donna!

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Donna
4/5/2014 09:34:42 am

I did reluctantly start my heath log on March 2nd. It may have already helped my doctor and I trace a particular set of odd symptoms: excessive body weariness, loss of sleep and hyper-active brain activity to when I began taking Sodium Butyrate. I discontinued it and will know in a few days if it's the culprit.

Tim Boland
4/4/2014 04:49:57 pm

Thank you Martha, I enjoy writing here as it helps me to better understand myself, and listening to your journey and insights show that there is a way toward recovery. When thinking of instincts, I am reminded of seeing birds, which will often fly at what they perceive to be the slightest danger. Though to us their reactions may seem like over reactions, millenia of experience have taught them to be safe rather than sorry, and live to see another day.

Our human intellect is powerful and the allure of our rational minds. When you speak of Type A personality, and Donna about being a perfectionist (this latter one really fits me), I know when I reflect that the drive to strive comes from messages in our culture to work hard, do our best, succeed. It’s almost as if this is bred into us as Americans. Many of us know the story of someone who went away on ‘vacation’ and came back more tired than before they went.

It’s hard sometimes to feel the difference between what may be habitual and comes to feel normal, and a deeper sense of things and what is really good for us. The deepest cues often come from our bodies, and intuition, what some may feel as a ‘gut feeling’. ‘I’m feeling so tired, why am I so tired?’ Realizing we have been stressed a lot lately and we’re having real trouble calming mind and body. But we’re so driven as a people that these often more subtle cues evade us, or we may even find them bothersome. Whew! I’m tired now, so will discontinue for the time being.

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Donna
4/5/2014 03:22:34 am

Tim's comment prompted my memories of learning the "new normal." At some point in my twenties I became a tightly wired overachiever. This life attitude even continued for years after becoming ill. It took years to learn how to relax my mind and my body, to re-prioritize my life, and longer to become vigilant about mind and body awareness. Then, even longer for the lack of tension in my mind and body to become my "new normal." I wish that I could honestly say that I have conquered it, but during times of extraordinary stress and challenges, I still revert.

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Martha
4/5/2014 09:05:21 am

Even healthy people are challenged to rest and relieve stress. For those struggling with ME/CFS, there are several more layers of 'issues' to work through. Awareness helps but we are after all human :) Thanks Donna!

Martha
4/5/2014 09:10:56 am

Working through the 'clues' and reading the signals is a challenge. Here's an opportunity for another plug - try keeping a daily health log. The patterns will begin to allow you to set the right daily pace and avoid some of the subtle signals 'in the moment'. For me, honestly, I was lousy at paying attention to them. Thanks Tim!

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Martha
4/5/2014 09:50:30 am

Donna, great to hear that your health log is beginning to show clues to help with your treatment. Be patient. It can take a while for your data to show patterns and symptoms that can be interpreted. Glad that you have a good working partner as your health care provider. Both are solid keys to success.

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    Hello,  I'm
    Martha Kilcoyne

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    After struggling with CFS for four years I am fortunate now to be fully well and making choices about how I want to live my healthy life.  One choice is to be an active part of the CFS community and to offer one voice from the fully recoverd to the dialogue.  I'm glad you're here!   For more about me, here's my Bio.

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