Learn to Pace Yourself
If you're like me and you have a set routine for how you do certain things, it can be bothersome when you realize that routine won't work for you anymore.
I was used to having one major house cleaning day. But as my health declined, trying to do everything in one day was impossible and left me feeling awful for days afterwards. Even so, it took me a while to wrap my head around the fact that I had to reassess the way I went about housework.
The same goes for doing errands and planning outings. I have had to learn that I can't expect myself to do a lot of things in one day, especially if they involve strenuous activity. I have had to learn to plan out periods of rest in my day.
Learn to Ask for Help
Asking for help is not always easy. But it is often an important part of living within our limits. Trying to do it all yourself is generally unrealistic.
We all have different levels of limitations, but I feel all of us at some time or another need to look to family, friends, or even mobility aids to get necessary help.
What Other Fibro Warriors Recommend
Rather than just tell you my own thoughts on this subject. I reached out to the chronically ill community on Twitter to get their input as to what has helped them learn how to live within their limits. The thoughts they shared were utterly insightful.
Many, like myself, had to learn through trial and error — pushing too far and then suffering a flare-up — to understand the importance of pacing themselves.
One had the care of her disabled son brought into question after repeated hospital stays, brought on by overexertion. Another suffered suicidal thoughts due to the flares she suffered from doing too much. Both found real motivation to find their limits and live within them.
I also received some helpful tips. One woman mentioned she is learning accept that she will likely have to change her line of work. Another said that thinking back on her activities prior to the flare helped her to adjust her activities and habits in the future. Supportive families were also of help to some.
There was also mention of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can be helpful in number of situations, one being learning to cope with a chronic illness such as fibromyalgia. It can help with changing patterns of thinking and behavior, and while this type of treatment may not be beneficial for everyone it's something that is extremely helpful for some.
However, one of my favorite responses simply said: “Accepting that ‘limits’ doesn't mean ‘lesser’. I just do things differently now.” Doesn't that really sum it up?
Yes, we have some limitations, but that doesn't mean we are any less valuable than we were previously. We are still useful members of society. Let me say that again: You are a useful member of society!
We may have to adjust how we go about doing certain things. We may have to do fewer things in one day. We may not always be able to help others when we, or they, want us to. But none of that means we can't find another way to care for ourselves and our loved ones.
We might have to go about some things in a different way, but that's what those of us with fibro are good at — finding a way to get things done.
