I throw a mini temper tantrum every time the printer malfunctions.
I have quite a lot of patience with people, but when it comes to myself, or technology, I'm not that patient at all.
So the most frustrating thing was always… okay, I'm doing what I'm "supposed" to be doing. Why aren't am I getting better?
Or the worst was when I would see improvements, and then I would go backward again. It was so frustrating. Why should I keep going with these lifestyle modifications?
Will this even work? Is the sacrifice worth it?
But when I was thinking like that, it made everything seem like a chore. All the ways to activate the vagus nerve or the CHOP protocol seemed hard. Even getting in salt was frustrating.
Mostly, when you're dealing with chronic fatigue, your resources are sapped. So, making decisions, even those that will benefit you in the long-term, is very challenging. My body was screaming, "I'm not feeling good, and I want something now. Preferably, I want results now, but if not that, then at least feed me some chocolate!"
The big "aha!" moment happened when I started focusing on just what I could do today and tomorrow. I made minor tweaks and stopped thinking that these things are going to cure me immediately. Instead, I started looking at what they could do for my health in general.
Those modifications helped me cope with stress a bit better and be healthier in general.
Small rewards helped a lot too. Like more bubble baths, time in nature, and trying out various health gadgets. (In the picture below I am rewarding myself with a gentle walk in the sun).
And when I would have a slip-up or another night spent not sleeping, or a flare-up, I would remember that I have made progress so far; that my body is resilient; and that I will get back into it as soon as possible; so the progress wouldn't be lost.
How do you handle the slow process of healing? Let me know in the comments below.
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