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
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
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