Take Care of YOU!!!

Over my life I have not been proud of who and what I was or had become. I have not admitted to: the vulnerability, self esteem, isolation, and safety issues I deal with. I’ve “put my mind to it” and pushed through the energy pain fatigue issues of being legally blind. I’ve not acknowledged the isolation and the loneliness of the disability. I’ve impacted not only my life but others lives negatively by not dealing with my stuff. Ultimately I’m still recovering from PTSD “Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome”.
There are times in my life where the stress of: work, relationships, disability, life in general, has been intense. During those times I’ve learned through the school of hard knocks to take care of me. Taking care of you is a BIG change. It was very hard for me as I was used to and comfortable with accommodating the needs of others. Anticipating sighted people and trying to appear as “normal” to them as possible. I don’t know if it was age or the felling of emptiness that finally motivated me to work on accepting me for me and stop expending the huge amounts of energy trying to be something I’m not.
Here’s what I try to remember and do when things are tough.
Believe in Yourself
Sometimes i have to repeat over and over again: “I Love I”, “I Forgive I’, “I’m worth it”, “I believe in I”. Its helped me.
Stop Punishing Yourself
You have to forgive yourself and realize that you are not the cause of world hunger or global warming. You are not GOD and you don’t have to crucify yourself for the world around you. Or for other peoples feelings and issues.
Work to Reduce Drama
I know having conflict or turmoil or big changes in your life can be fun. What do they say a change is as good as a rest but. After a while those changes you make to distract yourself will stop working. You know the people who’s marriage is in trouble they are the ones that move and them move again then have a baby then get divorced.
Avoid the Medications:
Stop medicating your problems away. Avoid the cookies or cake or pop that you might medication yourself with or that new fling or that retail therapy trip. Don’t use alcohol. Stay connected to the real world. If you have to cope by escaping into a fantasy world you need to change your life NOW!!!
Quit Being an Addict
Its so easy to become addicted to your own adrenaline. Having trauma tires out your body so its only calm or in chaos. Rest your adrenal system and everything will improve. Insulin rushes are a blast!!! Making drama in your life or eating lots of sugar or caffeine or doing crazy things to get a rush. You need to get clean and stop the madness.
Eat RIGHT
Use the pie model 1/3 carbs, 1/3 veggies, 1/3 protein and every time you eat eat a protein buddy. Your body thinks its starving and turns everything to FAT if you don’t eat protein every time you fill your pie hole.
Exercise
Get up and go for a walk. Dig that bicycle out of the shed and get on it. Go Swimming. The more energy you can get out exercising the less energy you have to get crazy with emotion.
Engage Your Support System
Talk to your parents or friends. Get some valuable feedback on yourself form your mentors. Get reminded that you are valuable. Go to the doctor make sure your healthy. Get a counselor. Get a haircut. Take care of your appearance. Go to Church. Go on a vacation. A change of scenery and messaging helps.
These things wont cure the problem these things do make life more bearable. As a person we all have to be willing to take honest looks at ourselves and be willing to change. The hard thing is actually doing something about the situation. Not getting into the mess or if your in the mess get out of it. Sounds simple but really isn’t. Once your into something and its become comfortable even if it doesn’t feed you as a person it is very very hard to get out of. My definition of hell are the self imposed holes we stick ourselves into. Accepting nothing and believing we are worth, nothing. Its amazing how hard your mind and spirit will resist coming out of that self imposed hell. Its a lot of work but remember you are worth and you can do it.
I’m still learning but making some progress.