...DEFEAT Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: ...............................................................You don't have to live with it
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ME/CFS Rest – Ease and Release

1/30/2018

3 Comments

 
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I’ve been thinking about what rest is.  Some would say it’s the opposite of physical action – inaction.  Some would say it’s a state – at rest.  I think of it as a combination of stilling the body, the mind and the spirit.  Without all three, for me, it isn’t true rest.
 
When I was struggling with ME/CFS, I spent many long periods of time in bed – supposedly at rest.  But for many of those hours I was either completely awake or in a semi asleep state.  Although my body was horizontal and only moved occasionally, my mind was grinding - either hung up on one particular worrying thought or bouncing all over the subject map.  My mind was definitely not resting.
 
Then sometimes I could accomplish a period of time when my mind was quiet and my body was still but my spirit was low.  My attitude and my outlook were down.  So I was still draining my energy allowing it to ooze out of me as I sat in a negative place about my situation.

 
Ultimately, for me, true rest came when my body was still, my mind was at ease and I released the emotionally heavy weight of my situation so I could lift up into a place of real rest.  In those moments when I was able to accomplish true rest, I could replenish my energy and take steps toward regaining my health.  How do you rest?  What are your strategies?  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


3 Comments
Tim Boland
1/31/2018 12:21:56 pm

What you say is so true, Martha, about resting of our bodies, our minds and our spirits. We may lie (or is it lay) still, but with our minds working overtime with past memories, regrets and concerns for the future, it is not truly being relaxed and at ease.

Again this morning I listened to a Qigong video which I have, I don't actually do the movements though as that tends to aggravate my body. The man who leads the movements is a master from China, who now lives in Hawaii with his wife. One day I called her expressing some concern that I was not able to do the movements, but she said that so long as I am able to follow the exercises in my mind, they will be of benefit.

Since the onset of my illness, I tend to be more reactive to stress that in the past, I don't concentrate as well at times, I tend to get more 'worked up' about stressful events, even organizing things for the day. I realize part of this is my own reaction to stress, and though it Is harder than when I was well, I have some control over my own reactions to stress, how worked up I get. Often I will head for my very comfy recliner and allow my body to relax, listening to gentle music. I like Soundscapes on Comcast's music channel, and often after even ten or fifteen minutes, I feel a very definite change in my body, how more relaxed I am, and part of this is allowing concerns to drift away.

Reply
Martha
2/1/2018 11:39:11 am

I tried a yoga class this week. The instructor gave the same advice. Do the moves you can and think through the others while you rest. Perfect for me. Thanks Tim!

Reply
Tim Boland
2/4/2018 09:11:28 pm

I want to be like the lion resting on the branch that shows in your picture this week, Martha. Now that's what I call relaxing ☺


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    Hello,  I'm
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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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