Blog changes

Thanks to everyone who followed Training Because I Can! over the last nine years. This blog started with Addison's Disease, hypothyroidism and a crazy idea of doing an Ironman distance triathlon. My life has changed and so has this blog. I am using this blog strictly for Addison's Support topics from here on out. I hope to continue providing people with hints for living life well with adrenal insufficiency.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Addison's Rant: Denial, stop talking and start doing


The definition of denial according to the Free Medical Dictionary is

n."An unconscious defense mechanism characterized by refusal to acknowledge painful realities, thoughts, or feelings."

Do you have a constant, niggling problem or something large wrong with you?  Think about it, have you been complaining about it for YEARS?  If so, this post is for you because you are probably in denial.  This post is NOT directed at people who have taken action over and over again to correct a problem.  This post IS directed at you if you constantly or consistently complain about a problem and do NOTHING about it.

On  a piece of paper, write down what is wrong with you that is causing you problems.  Under that, write down what you've done to fix it.  If complaining is the only thing you've written down, complaining won't fix a thing.  Action could fix your problems.  Stop talking about your problems and start doing.

1.  Do some research into your problems.
2.  Write down all possible solutions.
3.  Find a group of people where you live or online who have the same problem and are actively looking for or have found solutions.
4.  Get medical guidance if your problem requires it.
5.  Start with the easiest and most benign solution.  START DOING IT IF IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL GUIDANCE. (Probiotics?  Taking a multivitamin?  Walking to the mailbox daily?  Journaling?  Meditating?  Showing gratitude 5 times a day?)
6.  Start doing the things you are medically guided to do when you have supervision.

The key here is to STOP telling people that you CAN'T do it and start trying solutions.  If the problem is that you WON'T try any and all solutions starting with the most benign, STOP talking about it.  Accept that you ENJOY your problem and you LIKE living the way you do.  

Here's an example, you've got gut problems.  For years, you've complained about X regarding your gut.  Complain, complain, complain.  For years, someone has been suggesting probiotics.  You say you can't try them because once you tried one and it turned you purple.  You've never tried a different brand, you have no evidence that you turned purple from that one pill yet you WON'T try probiotics again to see if they help your gut. 

 Accept it, you LIKE having gut problems and you LIKE complaining.  

I've got news for you, 
no one wants to hear about your gut problems.  
Everyone would rather hear a success story about what you've done to fix it.

Pull yourself together, try simple solutions, get expert help, keep trying.  No one wants to hear you complaining about something you're not willing to fix.  If you've got a problem that you know instinctively that there IS something wrong and you can't find a doctor who will help you, find like minded people who have had the same problem AND SOLVED IT (don't go to people who are still plagued with the problem!).  The people who have solved the problem can probably help you find an expert who can help you SOLVE your problem.

STOP TALKING AND COMPLAINING, START DOING AND SOLVING