Dear Reader, Let’s Escape Sick Mentality
Every time the pain in my stomach and chest flairs, I cringe. I think, “oh no, it’s gonna be bad.” But 7 times out of 10, it’s not so bad. Instead, it’s a not so gentle reminder from Life herself that I’m not okay. I’m not 100%, and nowhere freaking near 75% either. Not yet, anyway. But, I know I will be.
That’s the thing I’ve learned about myself, and about being sick in general. It’s so easy to get sick, but getting better’s the real challenge. Not just that, but being physically sick has made it easy to overlook my own mental health. After all, the mind suffers quietly. It’s not until you wake up every third hour of the night, break down in random crying fits throughout the day, snap at someone for making the tiniest of comments, or make a thousand mistakes at work (that you’d never have done in full health), that you realize you’re not okay mentally, either. In fact, your definition of ‘okay’ is no longer credible.
Then, before you know it, you wake up every morning thinking “I’m sick”. The sadness hits. The lethargy. Somehow you manage to slug through getting ready for work, eating a semi-decent breakfast, and driving through 40 minutes of traffic to your job two cities away. You work, eat lunch, chat with coworkers, and all the while that same first thought of the morning echoes in the back of your mind. You know it’s there, you can feel it like I feel it in my gut and in my chest, the constant reminder that I am undergoing the healing process and all the possible nightmares that come with it.
But you know what? I’m not the only one. I know that there are others out there dealing with their own problems, their own illnesses, and their own minds. And like me, they’re figuring out their own way to break free of Sick Mentality. Learning how to say (and believe) “I’ll be okay”, instead of “I’m sick.” Learning to visualize a happy ending, and learning how not to fall back into the old habit.
I have no idea how they are achieving this, but I do know how I’ve begun to try. I have my own ways of coping, and after falling ill several months ago, part of that healing process has brought me face to face with myself. I honestly cannot tell you if I will be 100% percent again, but I am making the effort to get as close to it as possible.
Until next time.
Love, S.
P.S.
If you like what you’ve read, please hit the little heart and turn it green. And if you’d like to reach out or just say hi, feel free to email me at woodsandroads@gmail.com!
