Many decades ago in an old house’s kitchen I began preparing my cup of instant coffee confessing it would be my last.
I had severe psoriasis plastered between my eyebrows and my nose screaming ‘UGLY!’ When I didn’t drink coffee my face felt ‘PRETTY!’ so what was I to do?
The connection between the psoriasis and the coffee was evident.
As I glanced away from my final cup sitting lonely on the ancient bench I heard a sound I was not familiar with. Having grabbed the milk from the fridge I stoodaghast.
My dearest final coffee cup had split in two. My precious coffee was leaking all over the ancient bench, spilling onto the floor. No! I gasped. What is happening?
I begged the broken cup to speak to me. Did you have to go that far? It was my last…I promised… Why did you do this to me?
Decades later I found the reason. It is based on the video below with insightful information:
Little did I know that the coffee was not only messing with my facial psoriasis. It also was related to the Hypothyroidism that I was not aware of.
Neither did I know then that the coffee and the added ingredients were offsetting my Celiac, also unknown at that time. All I could see was the Psoriasis/Coffee connection.
Finding Out The Reason:
During an Allergy Testboth milk and coffee came up with red lights. Still no explanation why.
Coffee and milk were not the only allergies with red lights. I had a total of over thirty red light allergies. It was everything I had been eating! What?
No explanation at that time. Now we know due to the self-education that is available all over the internet if you search for it.
Check out the article for an in-depth explanation of my red light allergies, how and why.
I found Psychology benefited me with my chronic illnesses, making me feel a lot better over time.
Making it Normal by Timothy Weymann, LCSW
Summary Tips from The Psychology of Chronic Illness: Relationships
Blame Game
Low social support = distressBaby Boomers have been raised in household duties and childcare responsibilities which can make life challenging for a high social life and income.
This in itself can cause a lot of distress.
Yet it could happen to anyone.
Adding chronic illness to it makes it even more challenging with low social support.
Becoming a ‘scapegoat’ Click on this link to gain insights you might not have seen before.
You will find more than you expected and very accurate.
As a recovering scapegoat I found this article particularly pertinent and a good read.
Finding A Safe Balance
Over-involvement I am guilty of over involvement probably due to my ‘scapegoat’ status always trying to do my very best to my own detriment.
Once I realize I was in over-involvement mode I purposefully decided to change my ways.
Especially for the sake of my health while reversing chronic illnesses.
Diseases part Having encountered multiple diseases throughout my life I know how much it affects daily life.
Having care takers is valuable while very challenging without support from others and loved ones.
If you lack full-time support you might have to find your own resilience to get through it, as I have found.
Sharing The Load
Our part/Their part It is beneficial to have cooperation with a supporter doing their part to help you.
It is also fair for the one who is chronically ill to do their part as much as is possible.
It also encourages the one who is ill to feel their contributions are valued and appreciated.
Family/Marital Therapy If you are chronically ill it can take a toll on any type of relationship.
Receiving regular therapy can be a life saver.
Having an outside view of the situation can help balance tension. Responsibility and understanding can also benefit all concerned.
Interpersonal Therapy There are important benefits managing your situation with Interpersonal Therapy in a deeply personal way.
With confidentiality you may feel better being able to talk freely, receiving the help to relieve your situation.
Social Media use In the event that it is difficult to connect with friends or family Social Media platforms can be the next best to keep socialized.
Feeling part of something greater than home-bound chronic illness, restricting you from face to face contact, can make you feel better and less lonely.
Learning To Cope
Coping Strategies I have discovered many coping strategies unique to me.
Intuitively I discover ways of helping myself, having become resilient, watching how others cope and having regular therapy.
It makes me feel less helpless, more hopeful and more able to move forward.
Support Groups What a difference support groups made for me.
Having attended support groups for five years during my cancer years.
A fibromyalgia support group helped me get through to reversal stage.
My goal is to return to that support group to share my testimony of healing.
Remember: There is hope always with bountiful solutions. Choose which ones work for you and your loved ones.
Anxiety’s big issue can still find happiness by feeling better with love and hope.
I know anxiety. I have two family members genetically that also know it.
For me it was more than an anxiety disorder as I was diagnosed with complex trauma.
Once I realized I had a mental health condition my life began making sense. And it wasn’t my fault, neither of my family members. It is what it is.
It makes us unique and it gives us a reason to fight to overcome it, no matter what.
Researching and understanding the condition is paramount. Psychologists, in my experience, help by listening to you, validating your fears and anxiety. They are not only in your mind, but also held inside your body.
Seek help without shame or blame. It is something we all experience. The main difference is the level of severity.
Also the willingness to acknowledge and accept the comforting validation. You might find that you are resilient, intelligent and open to moving forward with your life.
Accept your dreams can come true.
So let’s look at some professional solutions.
Let’s make happiness out of our illnesses.
Summary of ‘Making it Normal’ with Timothy Weymann, LCSW: Anxiety
Anxiety Who hasn’t experienced anxiety if you are human? It affects us all, but for some of us it is more predominant. This is where professional help can help soothe and heal our mind, body and spirit.
Obsessions Do you know anyone who doesn’t have obsessions from time to time?
We may have more than the average, so let’s address it.
Replaying memories Who doesn’t replay their memories? With anxiety it definitely speeds up the process. So learn how to slow it down to management point.
Safety and Vulnerability
Safety We all feel unsafe some times during our lives, but it is true for me that anxiety speeds it up.
Learning to feel safe within ourselves is something very worthwhile learning.
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