Lyme Warrior
Pam was in Boston last week so we had the luxury of free time together. We were enjoying each other’s company and an adult beverage when we realized we had been talking about our ailments for over an hour. When did we become the kind of people who have enough health issues to fill hours of conversation?! Welcome to middle age.
If you know me in real life you know I have been battling Lyme Disease for 18+ years. I went undiagnosed for 15 of those years going from specialist to specialist; to naturopaths, and homeopaths looking for an explanation for my weird seemingly unrelated symptoms. Joint pain. Brain fog. Exhaustion. At the worst I was bed ridden for 4 months, couldn’t read and was having word retrieval issues. Finally getting that diagnosis was life changing. Putting a name to the problem and being able to treat it not only made me physically better but allowed me to have hope for recovery.
Being diagnosed CHANGED THE STORY I was telling myself. I went from being sickly, crazy, and not taken seriously by doctors to being able to name the problem. With the problem named I could spring into action. I could research treatments, connect with fellow Lyme warriors and follow the protocols set out by the amazing healer who diagnosed me. My internal story went from victim to warrior literally overnight.
Since then I have had years of remission with a few relapses. Right now, I am experiencing a relapse. With each relapse my first thoughts go straight to victim mode. I’ll never be healthy again, never feel good again, never beat this damn thing! Each time, I have to re-remember to CHANGE THE STORY. Become the Lyme Warrior! Remind myself that I have beat this in the past and I can do it again.
Two months into this relapse and I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have more good days than bad days.
With each relapse I am able to change from the victim story to warrior story quicker.
Where in your life are you telling a disempowering story? How can you change it to one that serves you?
