I live with chronic illness, which is a fact that I make no efforts to hide. I donât hide it because itâs part of who I am. The person I am today has, in so many ways, been shaped by the trials that have beset me due to my health.
⢠What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
⢠What Are Common Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Symptoms?
Something I am sure baffles others about the way I chose my life is how I can be happy and optimistic, how I can even get out of bed in the morning with the weight of my health challenges. The truth is, being sick has opened my eyes to how precious life is and I donât want to vote against this precious gift that is mine, of life, by giving up the fight.
I was born with a genetic disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, that has now caused gastroparesis, a condition that means paralyzed stomach. As you can probably guess, from the sound of it, paralyzed stomach means itâs hard to eat. It wasnât really sudden, but gradually over time. I have come to this point where there are literally less than a dozen things that I can eat and even then, only one of these things is safe 100 percent of the time: Potatoes. Got to love Potatoes!
I was recently diagnosed with a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is a hole in the heart between the left and right atria, along with three leaking valves. Itâs also suspected that I have dysautonomia which can also mess with the rhythm of the heart, so itâs just a fun party!
I live with mental illness, so I get depressed and anxious in general, but it is also triggered by illness. And, this is just a small portion of my troubles. So, why am I so happy?
Iâm happy because I have things to be grateful for. Iâm happy because I am most richly blessed. Yes, I am blessed. I have friends and family members who love me.
I have an adorable min pin and an adorable guinea pig.
Iâm happy because Iâm alive. Iâm happy because I refuse to think too far into the future. This is a coping mechanism because if I think about how long Iâm going to be alive, I might break down and just give up living.
Iâm happy because I can walk, get out of bed, and I can still eat a tiny amount of food.
Yes, I have a lot I could complain about but I donât really want to hear myself complaining all the time. So, Iâm happy because as hard as life is, I know it could be worse. I know that everything I have could be taken from me. I could lose friends and family, and my health could get worse. However, I have been through worse, I have survived worse, I have fought and won so many battles that left scars but did not kill me or beat me.
I know others will try to drag me down, but Iâm happy because of my therapy. Iâm happy because I learned therapeutic ways to cope.
Someone or something is bothering me? Iâll just put my troubles in a boat and watch them float away on water. A powerful coping mechanism.
Iâm happy because I know that my depression and anxiety, let alone every other thing that attacks my body, will not break me. Iâm a fighter with a lot of tools under her belt. Iâm a fighter with a large mental health first aid kit.
Iâm a fighter who is not afraid of fighting and that is why I am happy. I have a million and one reasons why I should be happy. I have maybe 20 reasons I should be sad. Sadness be gone. Sunshine, love, laughter, and happiness are here to stay. Oh, happy day!
Thinkstock Image By:Â Archv
May is a young adult who lives with multiple chronic illnesses including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Functional Neurological Disorder, and complex PTSD. She is a survivor, and extremely grateful for life. Her life's motto is âNever giving up!â May is also an advocate for self-love and self-care.
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