WHAT’S FIBROMYALGIA TRYING TO TELL YOU?
Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and evaluate what your body is trying to tell you. Whether it’s from a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, RA, MS, lupus, CFS, etc., or even looking further into your symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and IBS your body has something POWERFUL to say!
Many years ago, I put together a wooden jungle gym like the one – ALL BY MYSELF!
The most difficult part was getting the rungs to the ladders and overhead monkey bars to fit together. You see, the ladders would start off OK, and then go wonky somewhere down the line.
I’d fit each rung into the left hand side rail, and make sure the fit was snug. Then, I’d try to line up the right hand side rail by fitting in each rung one by one, but it would go out of alignment before I reached last rung.
Each time, I got frustrated somewhere down the line, blaming the rung that I was stuck on thinking, “If only this ONE rung would slide into place, then it would all work out OK.”
Of course, that wasn’t true. The problem wasn’t the rung I was stuck on. It was the unit as a whole. The entire thing was out of alignment.
Deciphering health problems is a lot like assembling jungle gyms. We get “stuck” on specific symptoms such as pain, insomnia, IBS, etc. and feel that if we could fix “that one thing” then life would be grand – everything else would fit neatly into place.
Not so, Tonto.
It’s not that simple.
Chronic illness is an indicator (OK, a pretty BIG indicator) that something in your life is out of alignment – out of balance. Each symptom is like one more “rung out of place.” Your symptoms are telling you that things don’t fit together very well.
Are you listening? Have you gone back to the basics? Have you referenced your instruction manual (might I suggest purchasing your own or dusting off your copy of FibroWHYalgia)? Have you looked at possible root causes of your “misalignment?”
Sometimes going back to the basics requires you to re-evaluate where your priorities in life are out of balance. What self-care activities do you do regularly?
It’s interesting that we’re all looking for that “one” fix — as if we could force everything into alignment by using our own persuader of choice. Perhaps it’s time to take a step back and look at things from a different angle?
Take a new look and let me know what discoveries you see. I look forward to hearing about the progress of your health construction project!
I made a big sign for my desk that says” Don’t Anticipate…..Participate” Now it has a little addendum….”Under Construction”. Thinking I need to tear down and rebuild from the bottom up!
I tore it all down, and am rebuilding from scratch. So, now I sometimes get frustrated because it does not seem to have a manual with a certain amount of pages, so I never know how far I am along the project.. Also the manual keeps changing, and sometimes things are not as they seem.
So, jupp, under construction with no definite finish line, or any timeline at all. You see, no one ever built one of these before,,,, :-)))
Thanks
Hilde — you’re so right! You’re unique and you’re writing your own instruction manual as you go. The point is, that you’re doing it! So many others are staring at the misaligned “project” and saying, “there’s nothing wrong that I can fix.” We can fix things — one rung at a time 😉
Great comment, Kim! Love that sign. I’m thinking of making a few of my own 😉
I’ve been thinking along the same lines recently. The searching of websites and bookstores to read other people’s wisdom only tended to get me so far and then I realized I needed to write the book of ME if that makes sense. I need to listen to the messages that my body is sending me. You are so right Sue.
Yes — writing the book of ME makes total sense! Way to go 😉
I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired…….over the years ..I have tried so many different things……I will try once more with your information..in the hope that this time…I can receive some relief and satifaction….thank u
Barbara – I’m very sorry that you’re dealing with the frustrations of chronic illness. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but I do wish you success in your search for remedies for you. I have many posts on various subjects, so please feel free to read them here and also read the news and articles posted on facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/FibroWHYalgia.
I have suffered over two years and I have recently found the right nutritional supplement. Being healthier and feeling better has changed my outlook on everything.
Kristen – so glad you’ve found a resource that works well for you!