Meditation. Beating Symptoms of Lyme Through Mind Power.

As I sit here typing this post, I think about the fact that I was in a wheelchair during our family Disneyland trip in October, 2007 (just last fall). I also remember deep frustration during those many years while extremely ill and desperate for answers. I wouldn't turn back the clock and lose the experiences I had during those years. Without them I would not be the person I am today.

When I was finally diagnosed properly with Chronic/Late-Stage Lyme disease, the miracles of healing began. Now, here I am, a completely changed individual. The treatment of Doxycycline for four months, supplemental vitamins and minerals (Bio35), Noni Juice, Mangostein, wonderful family and spiritual support, and my mind-over-body meditation are the main contributors to my wellness success.

The mind-over-body-type mediation is something that I have practiced for over 15 years. However, when I was having coping issues during my years with chronic, misdiagnosed illness, I sought out counseling with a psychiatrist who specializes in Cognitive Therapy. This Cognitive Therapy approach greatly enhanced my mind-over-body meditation and changed my reality from "doom and gloom" to "positive no matter the circumstances".

This earthy experience is a one-time opportunity. Notice that I said "opportunity". The purpose of this earthly experience isn't for us to lay around, complain, abuse our bodies or minds, become mindless through too much TV and/or video games, let our bodies succum to illness and deteriorate, etc.

No. The purpose is for us to find and utilize our talents for the good of ourselves, our families, our communities, our country, our world. The energy we release mixes with the energy of others and creates our reality.

Therefore one question I always ask myself before thinking, speaking, or taking action is this...

"What kind of energy am I sending out to the Universe?"

Another question I ask myself is this...

"What energy do I want to surround myself with and what energy do I want to return to myself?"

In order to do this effectively, one must practice the consciousness of thinking, speaking, and taking actions. Doesn't it seem that there are many days, especially when feeling ill, that you unconsciously go through the motions of each day and that the days pass and you feel as if you are not really participating in this life, that you are just here?

Here is a process that will expedite your journey to wellness and keep you well if practiced regularly.

Take the following steps to initially launch your mind-over-body power.

1. Lay flat on your back.

2. Keep your legs relaxed and straight, feet approximately six (6) inches apart and relaxed.

3. Place arms, hands with palms up toward the ceiling, slightly away from your body. Your arms should be relaxed, your shoulders should be slightly back, elongating your neck.

4. Keep chin slightly down toward chest, however, your head must be relaxed and can be propped up on a regular size pillow.

5. Breathe slowly and deeply in through your nose, feeling the breath on the back of your throat and feeling the inhale in your stomach, instead of your chest. Focus on the breath. Note: Feeling the inhale in your stomach is relaxing and will help get you centered.

6. Breathe out slowly through your nose, again feeling the breath on the back of your throat. You should hear your breath against the back of your throat. Focus on the breath.

7. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Attempt to keep your mind centered on your breathing and not wander toward your list of things that need to be done, etc.

8. Now add positive, relaxing, self-talk. Start with visualizing each area of your body and how it is healed and perfect. Here is an example...

"My brain is perfect... The cells in my brain are rejuvenating and telling the rest of my body to heal and become perfect...I remember names, dates, faces, tastes, smells and everything I sense with ease and perfect detail...I can recall each and every one of these details with ease...My hearing is perfect...My eye-sight is perfect...My head and neck feel completely relaxed..."

9. Keep the deep breathing continuous as you progress with your positive self-talk.

"My glands and organs work perfectly...All of the cells in my body are rejuvenating and are healed and perfect...My shoulders are relaxed...My arms are relaxed...My hands are relaxed...I feel the positive universal energy in the palms of my hands..."

10. You continue your self-talk toward each of your body parts, imagining a perfectly functioning and healthy body. You tell yourself that you have energy and stamina to achieve all of your goals.

11. Continuing with the deep breathing, begin the self-talk that will bring more positive energy into your life. Here is an example...

"I have positive energy flowing through every cell in my body...My aura is full of positive energy...I am magnetized to positive energy and positive energy is magnetized to me...I am magnetized to positive people and positive people are magnetized to me...I am magnetized to positive situations and positive situations are magnetized to me...I am magnetized to positive opportunities and positive opportunities are magnetized to me...My positive energy shields me from all negativity..."

Continue this meditation each day, as well as reading uplifting literature, listening to uplifting music, taking walks, and other additional activities as your body and mind allow.

Test the results for yourself.

Remember that you have control over the way you think, even when it seems that the world is out of control. You have control in the way that you act and react to the world going on around you. You have more power than you may have ever thought you had and you can utilize it so that you can have more opportunities and joy during this experience on Earth.

Chronic Fatigue and Lyme Disease

Interestingly, in my research regarding Lyme disease, I have made a discovery. This discovery may not be much to someone who is not fighting the battle of the disease. This discovery may not mean much to someone who is not fighting the battle to gain awareness for testing. However, with both of those battles in my lap, I feel the following linked article to be a great discovery.

www.chronicfatiguesupport.com

As you read the article, you begin to realize that someone is acknowledging factors that others are not willing to acknowledge.

First, this comes from Chronic Fatigue Support.com. They are acknowledging that Chronic Fatigue may actually be Lyme disease.

Second is a statement that I have gathered from many locations and sources into one and this link seems to sum it up rather profoundly.

"The incidence of asymptomatic infection has not been adequately delineated. There appear to be substantial numbers of patients who remain asymptomatic, but reactivate their disease a number of months or years later, following trauma, pregnancy, a medical illness for which an antibiotic is prescribed, or other stresses, including psychological stresses. The Lyme OspA vaccine has appeared to reactivate Lyme disease in a number of individuals who knew, but some who did not know, they had prior Lyme disease. The mechanisms responsible for the reactivation of the disease have not been defined, but may include both molecular mimicry and underlying infection."

Third, that many in the medical field don't recognize that there is Chronic Lyme disease or Late-Lyme disease. In this article, they are refuting those claims.

"That chronic Lyme Disease actually exists, and is likely the most common form of the disease, is supported by epidemiologic studies demonstrating that 30-50-% of treated and untreated patients go on to develop a multisymptom disorder typical of, and indistinguishable from, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue (1, 28). As with other multisymptom disorders, chronic Lyme disease is a clinical syndrome consisting of fatigue, arthralgias and myalgias,and other nervous system dysfunction(7).

Furthermore, the results of treatment studies appear to support the hypothesis that persistent infection is responsible for the chronic symptoms. It is likely that Lyme disease will serve as a useful model for other chronic multisymptom disorders. Whether the pathogenesis of "late" Lyme Disease differs from that of the chronic form of the disease remains to be established."

This last point is one that arguably could save the U.S. economy millions of dollars in healthcare costs, as well as saving lives and relieving stress of the individuals and families involved.

Sources:
Chronic Fatigue Support.com

Hyperbaric for Lyme

Lyme Disease. A Clear and Present Danger.

Lyme Disease. Medical Mystery on GMA.

Cognitive Therapy and Lyme Disease

Anyone who has been chronically ill for any length of time understands that you, many times, may feel less than adequate to handle your day-to-day activities. How do you take that thinking and change it to the positive? Cognitive therapy.

"Cognitive therapy seeks to identify and change "distorted" or "unrealistic" ways of thinking, and therefore to influence emotion and behaviour." wikipedia

"One etiological theory of depression is the Aaron Beck cognitive theory of depression. His theory is regarded as the most verified psychological theory of depression. His theory states that depressed people feel the way they do because their thinking is biased towards negative interpretations. According to Beck’s theory of the etiology of depression, depressed people acquire a negative schema of the world in childhood and adolescence. (Children and adolescents who suffer from depression acquire this negative schema earlier.) Depressed people acquire such schemas through a loss of a parent, rejection by peers, criticism from teachers or parents, the depressive attitude of a parent and other negative events. When the person with such schemas encounters a situation that resembles in some way, even remotely, the conditions in which the original schema was learned, the negative schemas of the person are activated.

Beck also included a negative triad in his theory. A negative triad is made up of the negative schemas and cognitive biases of the person. A cognitive bias is a view of the world. Depressed people, according to this theory, have views such as “I never do a good job.” A negative schema helps give rise to the cognitive bias, and the cognitive bias helps fuel the negative schema. This is the negative triad. Also, Beck proposed that depressed people often have the following cognitive biases: arbitrary inference, selective abstraction, overgeneralization, magnification and minimization. These cognitive biases are quick to make negative, generalized, and personal inferences of the self, thus fueling the negative schema."

Through therapy with someone who is trained in cognitive therapy you soon realize that no matter what happens TO you, you can create your reality based on YOUR reaction to what happens. This therapy also helps you create your reality the positive way, regardless of what has happened in your past.

When I have listened to, watched YouTube videos of, or read about those who have been chronically ill with Lyme or with other illnesses, it seems that many wallow in their situation.

Research has proven the mind-body connection regarding illness and healing. When your mind is constantly on your illness or disease, it tends to cause the symptoms to get worse and often times causes a delay in healing.

When you talk to others, do you constantly discuss your illness?

When you are at home, not feeling well, do you just lay around?

Keep up on world affairs and/or other topics (other than your disease or illness) that you love. Use those as conversation pieces.

When you are not feeling well and are at home, do you set goals for yourself? Set a goal of what accomplishments you'd like to take care of during any particular day. Make these goals reasonable. Don't make a long list. You will be happy and boosted up by accomplishing those little tasks that you set as goals.

Additionally, when you have down time, don't lay and watch TV. Read. Stimulate your brain. Read uplifting literature. Take time to stretch your muscles. Use a beginner Yoga and/or Tai Chi video to make yourself stronger. It will make your mind and emotional center more calm, as well as help your muscles to become stronger and less sore. You will be amazed at the results!

Without cognitive therapy and the practice of what I have been taught, I would not make it through each day in such a positive manner. I love life! There are endless possibilities!

Lyme Disease..."What is going on?"

"Lyme Disease: A Clear and Present Danger"

Comment from the YouTube site:
"Thank you so much for making this video. 15+ doctors later, i am still sick. When is the CDC going to wake up and change the standard testing to the Western Blot? Who profits from the ELISA? There we will find our answers. This is such a TRAVESTY to MANKIND."

Lyme Disease...We Can Make A Difference.

Ignorance of a Plaque. Conclusion.

Concluding from the past two Fridays, the following is information regarding a report written by Dr. Scott Taylor called "Lyme Disease (Borreliosis), A Plague of Ignorance Regarding the Ignorance of a Plague".

The more research I do, the more I come into contact with interesting bits of information that I can relate to my own experiences with Lyme. One such piece of information was this.

"Lingering Lyme: The Chronic Persistent Infection

Some symptoms and signs of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite. This stage typically involves intermittent episodes of joint pain or numerous neurological symptoms such as: meningitis, Bell's palsy, dysfunction of cardiac rhythm, and migratory pain to joints, tendons, muscle and bone. Arthritis is most likely to appear as brief bouts of pain and swelling, usually in one or more large joints, especially the knees. In some patients, the first and only sign of Lyme disease is arthritis. In others, nervous system problems are the only evidence of Lyme disease. However, any combination of symptoms can be present.
...
The course of the disease can best be described as persistent, with periods of worsening symptoms, often cyclical every few weeks or monthly. Especially disconcerting are persistent symptoms such as pain, headaches and fatigue. Some patients are more symptomatic than are others, which may reflect gender and genetically-determined differences in response to infection. The disease is progressive, destructive, and debilitating, and in severe untreated cases, it can be fatal.
...
Lyme disease causes metabolic/endocrine dysfunctions that lead to weight loss or commonly chronic weight gain.

Generally, women struggle with chronic Lyme disease more severely than men do. It is not known for sure why."

In the past, I have written posts that have included lists with Lyme disease symptoms. However, my lists have not been as inclusive as the following from this report.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

"As I mentioned before, every organ and organ system can be affected, here’s a list of some of the LD symptoms as they relate to specific areas of the body:

Head – headache, neck pain, facial pain and paralysis, difficulty chewing, pain in teeth, dry mouth, loss of taste/smell, numb tongue/mouth. Peculiar metallic or salty taste is also common in LD. This is likely due to the BLPs present in the system.

Bladder -- frequent or painful urination, repeated urinary tract infections, irritable bladder, interstitial cystitis.

Lung -- respiratory infection, cough, asthma, pneumonia, pleurisy, chest pains

Ear -- pain, hearing loss, ringing (tinnitus), sensitivity to noise, dizziness & equilibrium disorders.

Eyes -- pain due to inflammation (scleritis, uveitis, optic neuritis), dry eyes, sensitivity to light, drooping of eyelid (ptosis), conjunctivitis, blurry or double vision, swelling around eyes / bags below the eyes.

Throat -- sore throat, swollen glands, cough, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing

Neurological -- headaches, facial paralysis, seizures, meningitis, stiff neck, burning, tingling, or prickling sensations (parathesia), loss of reflexes, loss of coordination, equilibrium problems/dizziness (these symptoms mimic an MS, ALS, or Parkinson’s like syndrome)

Stomach -- pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, anorexia

Heart -- weakness, dizziness, irregular heart-beat, myocarditis, pericarditis, palpitations, heart block, enlarged heart, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, mitral valve prolapse.

Muscle & skeletal system -- arthralgias (joint pain), fibromyalgia (muscle inflammation and pain)

Other Organs -- liver infection / hepatitis, elevated liver enzymes, enlarged spleen, swollen testicles, and irregular or ceased menses.

Neuropsychiatric -- mood swings, irritability, anxiety, rage (Lyme rage), poor concentration, cognitive loss, memory loss, loss of appetite, mental deterioration, depression, disorientation, insomnia

Pregnancy -- miscarriage, premature birth, birth defects, stillbirth

Skin – EM, single or multiple rash, hives, ACA

Another interesting symptom often noticed is an increased susceptibility to electrostatic shock. This is likely due to the BLPs causing a change in the electro-potential in our cells/nervous system. Some of these toxins are likely sodium channel agonists and can change the electrical potential of our body. Thus, the likelihood of electro-static shock."

During his section regarding the diagnoses of Lyme, Taylor states the frustrating issues with the tests, such as ELISA and Western Blot, which often have false negative results. Clearly, Western Blot has fewer false positives. However, many doctors will stop at the ELISA test when that proves negative, not following up with the Western Blot. Again, an emphasis needs to be placed on the percentage of false negatives and re-testing should always be the clear consideration upon a negative result.

Taylor suggests that treatment be multifaceted.

"The best approach to therapy is a multifaceted and comprehensive treatment regimen that includes conventional antibiotics, numerous complimentary and alternative therapies, and a nutritional regimen specifically designed to reduce inflammation, aid the liver in detoxifying the BLPs, decrease the risk of yeast infections, repair damage caused by the disease and strengthen the immune system."

One source he sites for better treatment than the basic course of antibiotics as offered as the conventional treatment is protocol for sarcoidosis found at www.sarcinfo.com.

Sources for therapy that are listed as "Papers for Physicians" at the www.sarcinfo.com site are the following.

"Antibacterial Therapy induces Remission

Implications for Autoimmune Disease
(Here is Fulltext preprint)

Antibacterial mechanisms for ARBs

Antibiotics in Sarcoidosis- The 1st Year

Rationale for abx in Sarcoidosis

1,25-D and Angiotensin II

"New Treatments Emerge.."

Jarisch-Herxheimer in Sarcoidosis

Vit.D and Calcium in Sarcoidosis

Protocol Phase 1-First 3 months"

If you are familiar with the conventional treatment plan, these plans listed are much more multifaceted and comprehensive.

One treatment, often used with Doxycycline is Metronidazole (Flagyl).

"Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a very effective antimicrobial for treating chronic Lyme disease. It distributes well throughout the body and is able to penetrate tissue and cells. This ability allows metronidazole to reach the cryptic borrelia throughout the body and kill it. Metronidazole is also effective at attacking the cyst form of borrelia. This may be the single most effective antimicrobial pharmaceutical for treating Lyme disease. The disadvantage of metronidazole is it’s toxicity to the liver and neurological system. It can raise liver enzymes and cause peripheral neuropathies similar to LD itself. These side-effects must be prudently monitored."

...
"Several antibiotics work together synergistically to improve the therapeutic effect against borreliosis. Examples of antibiotics that work well together when combined include: amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin or zithromycin, and co-trimoxazole. Co-trimoxazole works well in late stage Lyme disease, especially when given in combination with other antibiotics like amoxcilliln and/or a macrolide such as azithromycin. Earlier, one exception to antibiotic combinations was the use of metronidazole and the tetracyclines together. It is now believed that these two antibiotics do work well when combined. For example, there are reports of good result when doxycycline is used with flagyl."

Additional therapies recommended in Taylor's report are "Hyperthermia", or hot baths, showers, or saunas that raise the body temperature, "Pulse Electro-Magnetic Fields" (pemfs), "Rife Machine", "Beck Electrification", "Lauricidin", "Colloidal Silver", "Cat's Claw/Samento/Saventero", "Artemisinin", "Goldenseal root", "Teasel", "Olive Leaf Extract", "Garlic", European (or Hungarian Mistletoe", "Peroxide", and "Ozone".

This report is amazingly detailed. Taylor has remedy recommendations for controlling inflammation and the immune dysfunction, protection of the nervous system from neurotoxins, detoxifying, etc.

Additionally in his report, Dr. Taylor explains and emphasizes tick protection and prevention.

I conclude with his conclusion, as I have no way of wording my feelings any more concisely or clearly.

"As the word spreads about the complex nature of this disease, the hope is that more doctors will begin to learn about Lyme, and will take the actions necessary to fight this disease. It is critical that the public and the medical community are made aware of the true prevalence and dangers of borreliosis. Until this gap of ignorance is filled, many unfortunate individuals will suffer needlessly with Lyme disease."

Sources:
www.autoimmunityresearch.org
www.sarcinfo.com

Ignorance of a Plague. Continued.

Continuing from last Friday, the following is information regarding a report written by Dr. Scott Taylor called "Lyme Disease (Borreliosis), A Plague of Ignorance Regarding the Ignorance of a Plague".

In his report, Dr. Scott Taylor explains some of the quandaries regarding the reporting procedures for the CDC regarding Lyme disease. Additionally, he explains the problems with finding a "Lyme Literate Doctor" or an LLMD. Adding to this, one of the main correlations with finding the correct doctor will be asking whether they have a background in Parasitology or parasites. If they have not dealt in that area, they are not going to help you get rid of Lyme disease or its co-infections.

Lyme disease expresses itself much the same as Sarcoidosis. That is that it presents itself as inflammatory disorders.

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

"What Is Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis (sar"koi-do'sis) involves inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in various organs in your body. The lumps are called granulomas (gran"u-lo'mahs) because they look like grains of sugar or sand. They are very small and can be seen only with a microscope.

These tiny granulomas can grow and clump together, making many large and small groups of lumps. If many granulomas form in an organ, they can affect how the organ works. This can cause symptoms of sarcoidosis."

Because of the similarities between the two disease presentations, Dr. Trevor G. Marshall, Ph.D, and Frances E. Marshall, Grad. Dipl. Pharm, have a theory that there may be the possibility that both could be treated with the same medications.

"In summary, Dr. Marshall’s discovery reveals that during the pathogenesis of borreliosis the BLPs of borrelia trigger inflammation via TLR signaling pathways or by other intracellular activation of NF-kappa B, which stimulates the gene expression for inflammatory cytokines. When the inflammatory cascade goes chronic, it eventually goes into the self-perpetuating cycle described by Marshall. This cycle will continue to produce disease until it is stopped by intervention.

In my opinion, Dr Marshall’s discovery that A-II perpetuates a TH1 inflammatory cascade is nothing short of major medical breakthrough.

Dr. Marshall’s work has not only given us the model for the pathogenesis, he has also given us the therapeutic approach that breaks the perpetual cycle that maintains the inflammatory cascade.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade. The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) called Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) has specific ARB properties that block this self-perpetuating inflammatory cascade.

Benicar therapy is a medical miracle for those suffering with chronic borreliosis."

I have yet to find this being used as a therapy in the forums, blog journals and other sites I've investigated. It would be interesting to find feedback regarding this method of therapy. I will do more research for another post on this therapy.

Another interesting point made in his report...

"Killing of Borrelia burgdorferi by macrophages is dependent on oxygen radicals and nitric oxide and can be enhanced by antibodies to outer surface proteins of the spirochete."

"Borrelia lack the microbial toxins called lipopolysaccharides (LPS) however, they have over 150 genes that encode for the BLPs that are the key to their pathogenicity. This is over 50 times greater than other pathogenic bacteria. That is, other bacteria usually only have 3 genes for lipoproteins, while borrelia have 150!

With this many BLPs [Bacterial Lipoproteins] triggering an imbalance of the immune system and other innate responses in the body, it’s not hard to see how a cascade of chronic problems can arise from this."

The above terms may seem extremely complicated. However, later he goes through a question and answer sequence that is very interesting. One of the question and answer items is particularly interesting.

Q: It seems that many people are not even symptomatic until years after the original tick exposure.

A: This is true with borreliosis...(this happened in my case). It's also true with syphilis.

This may be due to borrelia's ability to code for so many different BLPs. They have the genetic code for over 150 different BLPs.

Depending on which ones and how strong the expression of these BLPs genes are may determine how virulent the borrelia is at different times

.

We know that borrelia change the expression of these genes when exposed to different environmental factors such as temperature.

They express different BLPs in ticks since they are in ambient temperature, but once inside a mammal, they begin to change the BLPs that they express.

They also have an effective ability to accept plasmids and pick up other pathogenic genes in this way.

Work has shown that removing certain BLPs from virulent strains makes the borrelia avirulent.

The evidence is very suggestive that BLPs determines the pathogenesis of borrelia."

There are so many fascinating aspects to this incredibly detailed report.

"Gulf-War-Syndrome (GWS) has very similar symptoms to chronic borreliosis."

Dr. Taylor states that the bacterial lipoproteins of borrelia "have the ability to turn our own immune system against the extracellular proteins of our body".

What does that mean? It means that our immune system is fighting against the very "mortar" that holds our cells together. Borrelia "have the ability to grow slowly and avoid attack by the host's immune system", as well as suppress the host's immune system.

For many, Lyme disease is characterized by the "bulls-eye" rash, along with flu-like symptoms. However, when there has been no rash detected (only detected in 50% of Lyme cases), Lyme can remain dormant for months to years before presenting itself with "mystery illness"-type symptoms.

"Lyme disease is an extremely challenging infectious/toxic disease for both doctor and patient. It can exhibit many different symptoms. The clinical picture of LD can be similar to fibromyalgia, including: chronic fatigue, joint pain (arthralgias), muscle, fibrous tissue and tendon pain. Lyme disease can also manifest primarily as a neurological disorder, including fatigue and many neurological symptoms. It is important to remember that there are hundreds of symptoms that are caused by LD and it can mimic many diseases; for this reason, LD is often called, "the great imitator."

Because there is so much to this report, I am continuing this information in next Friday's post.

Note: I've been on Doxycycline for 5 months. I was having headaches whenever I wore my contacts (my glasses weren't so bad because the prescription was outdated). I went to my eye doctor and my vision has improved considerably in both eyes. If you are experiencing headaches while being treated, please visit your eye doctor to see if your vision may be a contributor.

Sources:
www.autoimmunityresearch.org
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Mental and Physical Self-Therapy for Lyme Disease

During the course of suffering with the multiple symptoms of late-stage Lyme Disease, your body goes through a roller coaster of symptoms that include atrophy of your muscles from lack of use, loss of memory, and depression from chronic illness, among lists of other symptoms.

Here are some pointers from personal experience to help yourself (and those around you) cope with some of the symptoms as listed above.

Physically...

There will, realistically, be days when you will be in bed. You will crash and burn because you push yourself to take care of the functions of daily life.

Mentally...

Don't feel guilty about those days. They are necessary for your body to recuperate from a debilitating disease that remained untreated and misdiagnosed for a long period of time.

Physically...

Because of the multiple symptoms, you may not have been in the habit of exercising your body for quite some time. In order for your body to become strong again and to heal, you need to get your body moving. This will need to be a gradual process. Start with short walks, when weather permits, as the fresh air will also help the mental side of the disease. Your muscles also need stretching. Use a DVD or Video that includes beginner yoga with meditation so that you can incorporate the mind and body into the process. With yoga, your muscles become stronger and become stretched out at the same time. I recommend...



It's simple. Note: Don't feel like you have to do all of the things they do, just do your best and build up to it.

Mentally...

The physical and mental connection is strong. If you can take care of both of them by doing a yoga routine, that is definitely worth your while. As your body becomes stronger, you will notice that the mind fog begins to clear up and your thoughts become more organized, which can help you communicate with your doctor(s) with regards to your treatment and the options.

Physically...

Noise is a big factor at times and things become overwhelming. Don't feel bad if you only get part of your grocery shopping done because your legs feel like they are going to give out on you. Go home, put your feet up, and read instead.

Mentally...

Forget about feeling guilty. That is something that is easy to do, especially after years of illness. You have a diagnosis of Lyme Disease. It is treatable. You have hope. Now, use your time that you would have used to finish the grocery shopping and, instead of turning on the TV to be brainless (which, I admit feels pretty good at times), read uplifting literature so that your mental/intellectual state improves. You need to exercise your brain as much as you need to exercise your body. Both have been through great ordeals.

I recommend reading something that will get you away from your burden of illness and on to the possibility of giving service to others. It is amazingly healing! Right now I am reading...



He teaches you to think of yourself in a much better frame of mind and to give more to others. I've really enjoyed this book!

Physically...

Leave the house once a day. Go for a walk. Go to the store. Walk to the mailbox. Just get out. Depression happens to everyone who experiences chronic illness and you need to get out of the feeling like you are in a cave. Also, ask for help when you need it. You may find that this is a great way to get to know your neighbors. People feel good when they help others so you are actually blessing them. Just make sure that you limit it to asking for help ONLY WHEN NEEDED, or they may feel used.

Mentally...

When you get out of the house, you will notice a feeling of awakening. You will feel like you are getting out of your cave, out of your fog, and you will feel like you are becoming part of the regular world again. It can be such a relief and a great step in recovery when fighting the depression that comes from chronic illness.

Overall, remember that these steps take time. Don't give yourself dates to accomplish certain things until you reach a point that you can actually predict better when your crash and burn times might be. Try to avoid those crash and burn times by methodically spreading your chores and errands out so that you set reasonable limits for yourself. However, keep stretching to do a little more so that your recovery can continue on an upward path.