Hi everyone. I'm thrilled to have found this forum. I've had CFS for six and a half years now and had pretty much given up on getting better - then I read "The Mind Body Connection" and my life changed. The problem is that that was mid July. First I had to convince my doctor to let me try going back to work, and then I had to wait for a work hardening program to be set up for me (that's just how it's done at my workplace). Now, finally next week, I meet a teacher with whom I'll be volunteering for increasing hours per day and then finally in December or January I'll actually meet my class - - - aaaargh! I feel as though the waiting is a time for me to slip out of feeling well and back into old patterns - I know it's just one week now until I can finally start the work hardening, but I feel so frustrated. That alone has lead to some resurgence of my symptoms.
It doesn't help any that my 2 1/2 year old son is teething again and I cannot get a full nights sleep.
I have a question - somewhat unrelated. How do you stop yourselves from letting your goodist tendencies kick start your symptoms? I've been spending lots of time reading pedagogical material and preparing for work - I'm really excited, but I know I tend to go overboard and I don't know how I'll manage to balance home and work. I want to be a great teacher - not just a good one and that is a huge job. Any thoughts?
Well to be quite frank (and even though you probably don't want to hear this if you are a goodist), it is probably impossible to be a great teacher, mother etc... atleast at first. It sounds like a huge success to me that you are returning to work after having CFS for 6 years. Climb the ladder one rung at a time and give yourself some credit along the way, it takes alot to do what you're doing!
Glad you found the forums! I am so excited to know reading The Mind Body Prescription has ended pain for you. Sounds like you had a lot on your plate having to convince a doctor and workplace to get you back on track to your career. Congrats on being able to navigate all that.
So you are feeling anxious about the time between now and January when you start back to work full time? Are you afraid that by not hopping back to work you will obsess over the symptoms in the down time? Or are you more concerned about slowly building anxiety about your job instead of just jumping in sink or swim style?
That's awesome that you are a teacher...me too. Before I recovered from arm pain after reading the MBP book I only worked as an assistant teacher. Last year I started my first full pain free year as a lead teacher and my emotions were definitely intense. I felt sad and frustrated in a depth I'd never felt while TMS was masking those feelings. However the joy of doing work I loved and living without pain helped mitigate the negative feelings.
Thought I'd introduce myself...
Posted - 10/09/2007 : 15:57:35
