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Saturday, October 17, 2009

Coping Skills

I've not read much about it but it became apparent this week just how linked our physical condition is to our coping abilities. My post this past week showed I am caving a bit under the pressure of my unanswered questions. None of the questions are new ones, they have been with me at least for the past 5 years. Sometimes they are just a mildly sore places where if I probe at them them become inflamed, but if ignored, well they are under control.
 
I go about my business, doing my exercising, trying to speak Portuguese, testing my skill at being independent in a dependent situation. Sometimes the soreness gets to be unbearable and I make an extended trip to Houston, cook for my daughter's family, visit my mother, drive, talk, handle problems, start to feel like me again, and become renewed in my resolves to make it in Brazil.
 
This past 10 days (or more) I have had what I finally determined is an inner ear infection. I haven't run a fever so didn't think it could be inner ear. A trip to the Internet last night assured me that I either have an incurable disease or my inner ear is messed up. There were about 3 days where I could barely walk the vertigo and nausea were so bad. There is a cracking and popping, feeling of stuffiness in both ears and my eyesight is blurred. I finally laid down on the sofa with a book, a blanket and a hot water bottle and allowed all the bad feelings, and the unanswered questions to come the surface. I thought that this had to be psychological I felt so bad. Unfortunately it was during this time that I wrote my blog post.
 
My eyesight had to be blurred because I spent so much time on the Internet. My life is being wasted.  I needed to drop out. It is probably good at this time to explain to you that I am hardly ever sick. I get an upset stomach from time to time, and generally have two sinus headaches a year - I am a very bad sick person.  No, I think I need to deal with my unanswered questions but definitely don't need to drop out.  Cutting myself off from my limited human contact will not solve anything. Like the photo insert, I need to allow some rays of sun to shine in the dark places. Now I need to go back to the sofa and rest my eyes some more.

9 comments:

  1. Yes! Good choices even when world when you are sick.

    Don't cut yourself off from the world ...ask the world in.

    In my belief system ..the sickness is slowing you down sufficiently to not run from your issues.

    Opportunity for growth is where you are.

    Breathe ....ask for answers ...relax ...they are coming. xxx

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  2. Beautiful picture you have shown us here... :O)

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  3. Wow! Talk about a ray of light! Beautiful photo!!!
    Any illness that makes you sick, dizzy, and nauseous can take you down, for sure! How awful!
    I hope you're feeling better soon, Ginger!

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  4. So sorry you are feeling bad. You have always been so chipper.

    Hope you feel better soon.

    We all hope you don't drop out.

    Take care.

    Love that photo!

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  5. GV- it makes me sad when you are sad. We all have things we have to deal with. Life is not always easy. I know we struggle with things here. But our faith sustains our hope. I hope you get the answers you are looking for. Stay strong my friend and know you are the ray of sunshine!
    <><

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  6. There is definitely a mind-body-spirit connection. One aspect of the three not working right affects the other two. It's important to care for yourself especially when you don't feel right. I hope you feel better soon!

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  7. If you didn't have unanswered questions you wouldn't be human and few people are gifted enough to be chipper when they are poorly. So, take care of yourself and hopefully you will come back all the stronger at the end of it.

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  8. It's been awhile since I've visited you and I have to admit I am surprised to hear that you're not feeling well. You were always the flower girl, so that's what I expected to see again. Whatever you're feeling is certainly aggravated by the bad cold and eye sight. Get a handle on the cold and I'm sure you'll bounce back. A big hug!

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  9. The isolation can be a real challenge. For me as well. Even when I think I'm doing pretty well getting out there -- it's just not the same as being a native.

    One day at a time...

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