When I first started seeing my Lyme doc, he told me that to heal, I needed an island lifestyle. He didn’t mean I needed to literally move to a tropical island and live in a hut (although I do think that would be extremely therapeutic).

What he meant is that I need to reduce stress as much as possible.

Ever since then, my life has been continually and consistently filled with many, extreme stressors.

Daily living in and of itself is usually pretty stressful in my world. But we’ve also had numerous major issues (like severe illnesses of parents and children).

Everything illness related feels stressful: buying and making clean, healthy food and home products; maintain the many doctor visits, daily therapies, as well numerous and ever changing meds, supplements and remedies. I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that at one point I was taking 86 pills, 15 liquid remedies & 3 IV meds every day. Can you imagine?!

Add in things like battling insurance companies, annual disability renewals, organizing medical bills for taxes, and normal every day things like laundry, cleaning, dentists, etc. It’s too much.

So finding ways to calm my heart and mind is absolutely critical. And so much easier said than done.

Right now, I’m re-watching Lost (kind of appropriate since they’re on a bizarre, tropical island). When I’m physically unable to do anything else (which has been most of the day lately), Lost lets me disappear from the things that make me feel stressed and overwhelmed and let’s my body rest.

Right now, I wake up every morning, with a calm mind, low pain and a little energy. By 8am, my entire body has shifted into pain and weakness. By noon I am absolutely tanked and usually curled up in bed hoping for a little sleep.

Finding ways to reduce stress is very personal and highly dependent on the physical, emotional and mental constraints of the individual.

Some days, my garden is my sanctuary. I love putting my bare hands in the dirt and soaking up nutrients from the soil and sun.

Other days, I read or write (or both).

On a really good day, I might go shopping with my daughter, play games with my family, or take a walk with my husband.

But today, after I take my pills and remedies, and do a therapy or two – I’ll probably be binge watching Lost.

And that’s ok.