Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
Anxiety is the antithesis of faith.
I never would have described myself as anxious before CFS. Now I recognize that anxiety has become my frequent companion. Anxiety is the sense that something is WRONG with the world, and if we don't do something, anything .. well the world will just fall off its axis now won't it..WON'T IT?!?
Truth is whether I do my laundry or not.. the world keeps turning. When my bills are paid up and I feel in control .. the world turns and it really doesn't stop turning when I miss a payment or feel out of control. Whether I'm having a good day, or barely able to crawl out of bed .. the sun still shines. I know..I've checked.
Docs have told me my cortisol is out of control. Cortisol is the stress hormone. It feeds on anxiety and then it sets of a path of destruction in my body, assaulting my heart, kidneys, liver, my brain. Anxiety is one of CFS's main weapons which leads to our destruction.
So I choose to fight anxiety by asserting FAITH. Particularly on the days when I am overwhelmed I have to remind myself to 'let go and let God'. I have to recognize that if I 'cast my cares upon him' and then I continue to worry about it, then I really haven't handed off the burden have I?
I have to learn the true meaning of "be STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD".
I'm still learning...
I never would have described myself as anxious before CFS. Now I recognize that anxiety has become my frequent companion. Anxiety is the sense that something is WRONG with the world, and if we don't do something, anything .. well the world will just fall off its axis now won't it..WON'T IT?!?
Truth is whether I do my laundry or not.. the world keeps turning. When my bills are paid up and I feel in control .. the world turns and it really doesn't stop turning when I miss a payment or feel out of control. Whether I'm having a good day, or barely able to crawl out of bed .. the sun still shines. I know..I've checked.
Docs have told me my cortisol is out of control. Cortisol is the stress hormone. It feeds on anxiety and then it sets of a path of destruction in my body, assaulting my heart, kidneys, liver, my brain. Anxiety is one of CFS's main weapons which leads to our destruction.
So I choose to fight anxiety by asserting FAITH. Particularly on the days when I am overwhelmed I have to remind myself to 'let go and let God'. I have to recognize that if I 'cast my cares upon him' and then I continue to worry about it, then I really haven't handed off the burden have I?
I have to learn the true meaning of "be STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD".
I'm still learning...
We live, everyday, with a chronic illness & that, in itself, is anxiety inducing. Finding ourselves a little anxious is a given for us. Sometimes, just knowing that it is caused by my illness helps me to let it go faster. I can certainly see that your cortisol problem could definitely be a factor. Is there any medication you can take for that?
I am so happy that I have my faith, I couldn't make it without it. Gentle hugs to you, Denise
I've had an anxiety disorder since I was in my twenties. I still take medication to keep it under control. My Cortisol level has been checked by saliva and urine for a three day stretch. Turned out that during the day the proper amount of Corisol was released, but my 11PM reading was high! AHA! My stupid adrenals are pumping out "get up and go" right when I'm trying to go to sleep. There's the explanation for the insomnia. Nobody offered me any treatment for this. They want to check it again in a year. I do have the palpitations, and stress anxiety though....and I believe it has a lot to do with the constant Cortisol bursts!
Faith is key in getting through my day to day life. Faith means that although I can't see the answer, there is one, and God knows what it is. It will get here in His timing, not mine. This doesn't make me very happy.......but I do believe that God has allowed this illness into my life, and He is teaching me to exercise my faith. "To believe without seeing". Not an easy thing to do. But you are right. We need to be STILL and know that He is God. He already knows what is in store for each of His children, and while we are here pacing and anxious, he wants us to sit by Him, our Father and be peaceful.
We're all a work in progress, Max. He gives us each other, to help us out of the dumps when the bad guy throws anxiety our way.
Stand strong. Faith.....we are learning. We are!!!
(Um folks, if this turned into a mini sermon, I apologize. I'm a preacher's kid.....stuff just comes tumbling out of my heart onto the written page because I believe it so strongly! I try not to do this, but it's hard for a woman to be quiet. Ya know? )