Relaxation Skills....

The habit.. of maintaining.. an unnecessarily high degree.. of bodily.. and mental tension.. during part.. or all of a normal day... will... in the case of an non C.F.S sufferer... itself.. pose problems.. as in..

Which then in return.. may lead to problems.. which will disrupt their...

In fact.... any activities... which involve co-ordination of the body and the brain....

In the wonderful life... of yes... there is help... and you can deal with it... there are many... who do not have the strength of character... they just want to shut it out....

Many people have turned to alcoholism.... some... have became drug addicts... and yes.... unfortunately... many have taken there own life's... as in suicide..... but the mind.. is a complex.. yet... fragile organ... our thought processes are different... whereas... we can conduct a response... to another's activity... ask yourself... one question.... how would you deal with this situation ??? YES!! of course you can... and you will also give an example... be in that situation... and I will ask again.... exactly!!!!!!

SO.. THE MORAL OF THIS STORY... IS NEVER JUDGE... OR BE JUDGED!!!!

In the case of a C.F.S sufferer... the above symptoms... can be part of the illness itself... or an effect of trying to deal with everyday life... plus.. dealing with a long term illness.. itself regardless... of what came first... "the chicken or the egg" this has to be dealt with.... as stress.. anxiety... etc... leaves us fatigued... and excaberetes the illness... itself...

HOWEVER!!!

There is a natural antidote to this tension habit called...

THE RELAXATION RESPONSE

Which can be learned... like any other skill.. through a structured programme of exercise... and practice....

This can consist of many different outlets...

You may.. want to ask a physiotherapist.. for advice.... or take into consideration... the fact... that many places hold yoga classes or buy a tape... which will enable you to learn relaxation techniques....

In the event... that you choose to buy a tape... and try to teach yourself the process of relaxation.... Always... BE COMFORTABLE!!

Do the exercises whilst lying down... or seated..

If you choose to lie down.. lie flat on your back... with arms by your side.... and legs... outstretched and uncrossed...

If you choose to sit... ensure that your back is supported.. and your head is held upright against the back of a chair.. keep your legs uncrossed.. and try to rest your hands on your lap.. or on the arms of a chair..

AVOID INTERRUPTIONS!!!!

Relaxation.. should be practiced with your eyes closed.. so that you are not disrupted....

PASSIVE CONCENTRATION....

Do not try to rush the process of relaxation.... or worry about it... as this process.. will enhance your tension.... and exaberate your illness...

THEN.... HELLO... WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF REALITY!!!

Me... I'm a single parent... trying to hold down a job... got a very demanding 7 year old... Aaarrgghh!!!! and I have C.F.S.... please.. tell me... when I get the chance.. to relax!!

I within.. have had to develop my own techniques.... of relaxation as in a world of... UNREALITY...

Reality... becomes... a dim light in the horizon.... which I will never invite intentionally.... but.. now and again.. it rears it's ugly head.... and... within this brief period... my illness.. tends to consume me.. I am armed now... and will dismiss that threat to my existence.....

I now... have different boundaries and resources... and when feeling threatened.... I will quickly dismiss them.... as it now... a condition of survival... regardless... of the cost.. yes... maybe.. at times... I do feel socially isolated.... but to partake of these activities... is at my expense....

Solitude.. then becomes a virtue... firstly... if you do not gain any aspects... of companionship... then you will not feel let down.. another tends to be.. once the frame work of your acceptance... is in of others.. is in order... those around you... will adhere... to your.. wishes.

Although... Persistence.. will never prevail... my thought process... will never carry me to that level.... it will never be dismissed though.. as I will.. well ... within.. combat the scenario... at my level of acceptance... but Without... any disregard to the pursuer.... although.. at this point... he or she may feel negligent.. regarding their actions... this will always be my attempt... to translate... his/her interpretation... of the case scenario....

My life... has became consumed.. within a tomb of darkness... whereas... darkness... has become my friend.... it shields me from reality.. and within this.. aspect... it shields... from the light... reality has become my demon... and.. darkness.. my sanctuary...

LET THE BATTLE... COMMENCE...

Within... myself... this battle already exists.. it began 3 years ago reality... prevailed it's title.... for at least... 2 years... then unreality... slowly crept up.... "slowly slowly catchee monkey" or so they say....

NO!!!!!

I do not always have my tape available.... but we live in a dog eat dog world.... I need to survive....

I now... have different boundaries and resources... and when feeling threatened.... I will quickly dismiss them.... as it is now... a condition of survival.... regardless... of the cost.. YES!!! maybe.. at times... I DO feel socially isolated.... but to partake of these activities... is at my expense!!!!

I'M IN CONTROL!!!

I WILL DISMISS... ANY SITUATION... THAT ENHANCES MY ILLNESS...

AS NOW... My life... is consumed.. within a tomb of darkness...

WHEREAS!!!

Darkness... has become my friend.... it shields me from reality.. and within this aspect... it shields from the light... reality has become my demon... and darkness... my sanctuary.. I dismiss... the inevitable.... and ignore.. the reality of the situation....

YES!!!!!

Maybe I think.. I have encountered coping techniques.... I still have to encounter problem solving techniques!!

MAYBE ANOTHER DAY....

Today... hasn't gone so well... at the moment... I'm at the beach... Watching the sunset.... colours of every hue float across the sky... I look into the horizon... is that a ghost ship I see sailing by??

I look away... then my eyes are lured yet again.. towards the ship... realisation... within... then begins to set in.....

Within this scenario.... this ships.. destination... is to one of.. whereas.... there are no..

I'm frightened.... that my demons.. are starting to consume... my thoughts!!!! or do I succumb... to it's invitation???

As of now... my life consists of boundaries... NO!!! I did not perceive nor plan them... the uncertainty... of my illness.. has dictated them.. which I will adhere to....

BUT I WILL ALWAYS... ACKNOWLEDGE..

"The getting out of jail free" scenario... enough... is enough....

I'M TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT!!!!

BUT STRUGGLING......

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY... WHO WOULDN'T!!!!!!!

~YAWN~

Tonight... I have only tried to shut reality out..... for a while... yeah... I did win... had myself a couple... of cans of beer....

OH WELL!!!!

Worked for a while.. for a short period I was in control of C.F.S. but alas.. it now reigns... but to be honest.. regardless.. of my trials... and tribulations... I did try!!!

SUCH IS LIFE!!!