CHANGE YOUR APPROACH, NOT YOUR GOALS
I recently came to the realization that I can either let EDS determine every path I take in life OR I can use EDS to create a meaningful lifestyle that allows me to have the life I want.
This is not to say there won’t be setbacks along the way. Accepting those challenges and adapting is key. Every decision or path we take is because we have a goal for ourselves and life. Keep that larger goal in mind and be flexible with the rest.
Not only will this help with your mental health; but it will also allow you to feel some control over how your life turns out.
LEARN YOUR BODY
I struggled with this for a long time. I wanted to push through the pain. I was tough. I had things I wanted to do. I was afraid to be pitied by others. I would highly recommend skipping over that line of thinking.
Your body is communicating to you what it needs. The more you ignore it, the less in tune you’ll become. Whether it is an ache, a throb, a sharpness or restlessness, your body is sending you a message. Over time, you learn what each thing means and how to find relief.
NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO UNDERSTAND
This is okay. It is applicable to every aspect of life. Accepting it can be the hard part for some.
If you’re like me, looking from the outside, no one would be able to tell you have a condition that affects you daily or causes you to be in constant pain. Having received the comments, “You must be faking it.”, “You can suck it up, it’s not that bad,” or “It can’t be that bad if you were able to do x,y,z.”, I understand the mental toll it can have.
This is my advice. Know your pain and challenges are real. Then be happy they don’t understand because the only people who will fully understand are those who are experiencing it also. Having a positive attitude is hard, but it saves your energy for more important things in life.
LOOK OUTSIDE TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND NORMS
I spent nearly seven years only looking at the traditional or standard ways of treating my symptoms. Do NOT be afraid to go outside the box. Try new things you think could help. I am constantly learning ways to help my body.
I remember the first time I felt relief in my shoulder after years of trying chiropractic care, physical therapy and massage. I found it in something I had never heard of before, neural reset therapy (NRT).
Apply this to everything because it is all connected; diet, daily habits, the products you use, pain relievers, etc.
That last one is big for me. I have always been conscious of relying too much on pain relievers. One of my “hippy-dippy” friends gave me alternatives when it came to pain relief, and many have worked. Do your own research and find what works for you. Use trial and error.
MOVEMENT IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
All of these are equally important, but if I had to stress one, this would be it.
You are not going to feel like working out every day. This is especially true if you’ve been stationary and any form of exercise causes discomfort. I say discomfort because you will experience pain on your journey but other times you will experience discomfort. It is important to push through that discomfort. Pushing through discomfort does NOT mean pushing your body when it’s telling you to stop (this is where learning your body comes in handy).
The hypermobility side of EDS means you have greater ranges of movement in your joints. Strengthening your stabilizer muscles can help decrease that range of movement; in turn decreasing some of your pain. Do research or meet with an experience physical therapist to build a routine for you.
Establishing an exercise routine has helped me more than anything else.
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