It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and I apologize. I have a goal to be better about it, and will try to post at least once a week from here on out.
It’s #MSAwarenessWeek, and I thought body awareness would be a good pairing for the week – really every moment.
I saw a post from Selma Blair yesterday about switching medications, which made me think about how many times I’d done that and why. She mentions that she spent time with herself, listening to her body. Do you sit with your body, listening and bringing awareness to every part of your body?
This brings together a few things I’m passionate about – deepening the connection I have with my body, helping others learn how to connect to their bodies, and advocating for the health of our greater MS community.
In the beginning of my MS journey, I used to do everything I could to escape my body…I didn’t want to even think about being aware of it. I didn’t think it was working properly, and pretty much treated it that way. Whether it was pain, numbness or just going limp, I didn’t want to sit with my body and be aware of how it was – or wasn’t feeling. I now know that was a mistake, and make sure I connect with my body as much as I can.
For years after my diagnosis, I took medications that were giving me a host of side effects, and frankly, just not stopping the relapses. It’s funny that I feel I was very aware of all of the side effects and how horrible I felt back then, but I just kept pushing it out of my mind, wallowing in that state. After years of wading through that cycle, I figured out a few things.
First, it’s important to sit with your body – pain is part of life, whether it’s physical or emotional pain, everyone has it at one time or another. By learning to connect with myself, I am able to understand better what is going on, and how I’m truly feeling. Coming back to my body is also a way to contain energy (way less fatigue) and heal myself.
I can chose to sit and flounder in that mental state, or I can chose to make the most of each moment and breath. Realizing that it’s ultimately your choice how to deal with whatever is going on is mine (and yours) alone. Yes, I can feel tired, have pain, worry about the future, etc., but at the same time I can chose to be positive and focus on right this moment.
And, you are always able to talk with your neurologist about switching DMTs. When I was first diagnosed, there were only 2 on the market – now there are more than 20, which gives us many more options to test and see what truly works best for you. After all, we are snowflakes, and each drug reacts in our bodies differently. I switched seven times, with the last one finally stopping the relapses, letting me get stronger, and eventually going off the meds. It’s okay to have that conversation with your doctor, because it’s your body.
Have you had success or struggled with connecting with yourself, switching DMTs or overall body awareness? Feel free to drop me a note or comment below. Hope to see you soon.
