Day 204 - Fibro Sure Has its Share of Surprises

"In the world of silent illness, life becomes non-linear". (Sveilich,MA). Ummm, no kidding. I never did think much of life was moving in a straight line, anyway. But certainly, throwing an invisible, chronic condition into the mix has its share of surprises. I was reading today that abstract thinkers have a bit of an easier time coping with the unpredictability and chaos that can result from the ups and downs of managing a silent condition.. Mostly because people who are more into ideas and possibilities are more into thinking that anything can happen anyway and they problem solve within that kind of framework. On the other hand, concrete thinkers who expect that if I do A, B will naturally follow. do not embrace the unpredictability quite as much. An example might be, if I take meds like the doctor told me, I will feel better or if I rest tonight I should be able to go to the family party tomorrow.

Concrete problem solvers expect a good plan will result in the outcome they planned for. With fibro and fatigue and a host of other invisible conditions, an action just does not guarantee a particular result and that creates additional frustration and disappointment and even anger. Abstract thinkers tend to want to think of lots of other things they can do and sometimes get frustrated that there are just too many ideas and possibilities for treatment and feel bogged down and unsure of their choices. We don't control whether we're born thinking in ideas and possibilities or have thoughts based in what is practical and real. One isn't better than the other. That's a gift given at birth. Whether our heads are more in the clouds or our feet are firmly planted on the ground, we are all challenged to find a different way to see our daily lives and make those adjustments.

There is a real sense of a loss of control with fibro - not just with not being able to rely on our bodies, but in the way we live our every day lives. It wreaks havoc with making plans for a safe and predictable existence (which those concrete thinkers thrive upon). Security is a basic need for everyone and when the rug is pulled out from under us it can be frightening. It appears that research has shown that if we tend to solve problems presented by fibro and fatigue a bit more creatively we might find it less difficult to adapt to our illness. It might be helpful for all of us to let go of our attachment the outcome of the plans we make and decide to make the best of whatever is presented. That decision just might start us on a new path for expressing our lives and a different way of seeing the possibilities as we create each new day.