I
think anyone with migraine disease or other chronic illness can identify with
setbacks. As frustrating as a setback can be, they are part my life. It's the
way I deal with them that makes a difference.
Here's
an example for you. A few weeks ago I went to Philadelphia for HUConnexion17, a
conference held by Health Union, the parent company of Migraine.com. I was
finally able to meet my favorite fellow migraine disease advocates – such an
inspiring group.
In
gearing up for the trip, I had
organized and packed my essentials all while mentally preparing for when I got
back home. I kept a running narrative in my mind that it was going to be a
rough week and self-care would be of the utmost importance. The thing is, self-care
has always been a struggle for me as it's been easier to take care of others
than myself, even after 20 years of being chronically ill.
As
difficult as travel is, I made it through the event somewhat unscathed. I did
have a migraine attack on the second day, but was able to abort it using
sumatriptan nasal spray. But when I got home, I felt like I'd been run over by
a Mack truck. I felt exhausted, in
pain and was becoming frustrated. I
wasn't really surprised; I sort of prepared myself for it.
So
I made it a point to take care of myself when I got home. I concentrated on
listening to my body; resting when necessary, drinking plenty of water and
eating healthfully. These necessary elements helped keep my setback from
turning into a full flare. I've ignored the inner voice that says “get up and
DO something, anything,” and that is success in itself.
Let
me know what you think and how do you deal with setbacks?
Thanks
for reading!
Help
me close the S.E.A.M.S. in migraine disease:
