Party Time

A few years ago I was part of a management team that worked hard. We and our 100 employees helped a major pharmaceutical company bring cancer treatments to the market that saved lives across the globe. It was not easy work, but certainly  rewarding.

Perhaps because of the daily head’s down focus of the work we did, we also learned that playing hard was just as important.

One of the things I’ve discovered in the midst of this Autonomic Dysfunction journey is that self care and looking for answers is also very hard work. Did you know that some people go years before they find a physician who can make sense of their cluster of medical problems?  The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis is a disappointing 6 years.

The more I read about Dysautonomia, the more I understand that people who have this problem are not negligent in seeking care. There simply are not very many physicians who understand the problem.

For instance, my own case is similar to the game “Whack-A-Mole“. Just as one symptom starts to fade, a new one takes it’s place. Often between doctors’ visits, I can run the entire list of manifestations, only to return to the first.

So, in the midst of the hard work of seeking a diagnosis and dealing with the unease and frustration, how do we also find fun? How do we let off steam when every moment is spent in absolute fog and fatigue, numbness, dizziness, overstimulation or pain?

Well, you might not want to join a crazy Christmas party…that would send me over the edge right now…but you could try some of these ideas:

• Try new foods. Engage your senses by eating new and exciting foods. If you are like me and have your groceries delivered to your house because a trip to the store is just a little more than you can bear, order a fish you’ve never tried, or a vegetable that is unusual, or a dish served in a different culture. Be brave and keep trying new things.

• Read magazines. Magazines are filled with pictures and short articles, require very little long-term focus,  and are available on every topic and interest, from food to flight, science to scriptures, art to architecture.

• Pet a dog, cat, bunny or fuzzy blanket. It’s no secret that this can be a healing act. Word of advise: Stay away from the mongoose and wolverine family of mammals to meet your petting needs.

• Watch a movie that tickles your funny bone. Movies can take you into a happy place. And with the advent of streaming services, you can pause any time you want to use the bathroom without missing an important scene. I’m hesitant to offer specific movie suggestions because everyone has their own taste in film and funny. But, if I were on a desert island with only one comedy to watch, it would definitely be, “CLUE“. (Remember, this is a judgement-free zone.)

• Write letters. I’ve discovered that people love to receive hand-written letters. It’s so much better than catalogues and electric bills and it takes only a few minutes and the cost of a stamp. If you’re cheap, send a postcard. Don’t talk about yourself but perhaps a fond memory you remember of that person, or their family, or better still, something that reminded you of them today and brought a smile.

• Meditate! I know, I know, it isn’t a party. It isn’t crazy fun. But it might just change your life, one breath at a time. I use the “CALM” app each morning. Despite my many efforts, I am still learning to breathe for 10 minutes without my mind wandering. But the daily practice brings peace to my heart and in fact, does CALM my mind.

Even if you don’t have a chronic condition, some of these ideas might be helpful for you, too. Try them and let me know how they work!