Managing Your Mental Health While Physically Unwell

My energy was that low. Goodness me, and nothing to be ashamed about; yet this article idea has been saved on my Vocal Media stories page for about a month now. If that tidbit does not hammer in the point that I have been as sick-as-a-dog (literally) out of the blue for the last few months, until a couple of weeks ago (as at the time of writing); then I don't know what will.

The proverbial can of worms opened up on a research project where I was asked to participate in a blood test (have not had one of them since 2021 prior) - where I would be paid (because it was part of a research stipend that yours truly was involved with), together with the results shared. Of course, why not. The truth came out on the paperwork: I was diagnosed (out of the blue) with moderate anaemia with micro-cyctic red cells. This was another full circle moment where life hits you (proverbially) like a ton of bricks. From there, iron supplementation was immediately prescribed with more blood tests, and my first ever iron infusion (spoiler alert: the latter was a game-changer) irrespective of the final Ferritin serum results. (Quite literally, my right vein is still bandaged up from the post iron-infusion blood test as I write this article.)

It is safe to say that I ended up in remission from anaemia the second the needle was taken out of my left vein at the hospital where the iron infusion procedure took place, a day out from Halloween. It is fair to say that the anxieties culminating from the battery of tests was next level, and therefore for the sake of your own sanity and longevity; it is ever so crucial to take care of your own mental health while physically unwell. I do not say this lightly, as things can quickly spiral down hill, with more health challenges on your plate to contend with.

From the moment that yours truly was diagnosed with moderate anaemia (worse than having Long Covid three times); being tested for the FOB Illness, Celiac Disease, Thalassemia, and (wait for it) even Cancer is enough for anxiety to knock on heaven's door, quite literally. Not to mention having a number of medical staff involved in your care (thank you, I am ever so grateful), as well as the number of drugs to consume, combined with GI upsets from moderately to expensively priced Iron supplements; the last three and a half months was a roller coaster ride. I also learnt that contracting pneumonia the second time while anaemic paved the way for an interesting and long urgent care centre visit.

Firstly, from a mental health perspective, it is healthy and normal to feel a little sad, depressed and anxious while dealing with a chronic illness; with yours truly speaking from such on a short-term basis. Your lifestyle significantly changes. Dealing with a myriad of symptoms that impact your quality of life, from fatigue to ringing ears, hair loss, headaches and cold feet to only name a few - as well as needing to go to bed for a little bit in the afternoon, in addition to your normal sleep patterns is like a full-time job. And it is cruel and unnatural. When you acknowledge and accept the fact that in this moment in time, you are not well; such positivity and optimism paves the way to be gentle with yourself. This too shall pass. Focus on the long game of recovery. You did not become physically unwell overnight.

Easier said than done, as you do undergo a lot of exercise resistance with a physical illness; yet moving your body, even for a few minutes a day while physically unwell is better than nothing at all. Despite having a low Ferritin of <6, and then 6 in the span of a month; walking at least 10,000 steps a day without overdoing it was a priority to me, for the sake of my mental health. If (say) 10,000 steps feels a little out of reach; just go for some gentle yoga like stretches, where there is no need to sit on the floor. A little stretch goes a long way, and endorphins are great at keeping mental illnesses at bay. There is nothing wrong with resting in-between.

Surrender to what is when it comes to taking the rest that you need, as well as drinking plenty of filtered water. Your outlook begins to change. Know that sleeping through your nap alarm will pass, in addition to having sporadic moments with 14-hours of straight forced sleep as a result (combined with the dehydration associated with it). There are an abundance of survivor success stories out there. Today, mine just happens to be one of them to inspire, and to help you. As hard as it is, continue to eat well. Engage in the recovery plan that your doctor has collaborated on with you. If you are unsure of anything in that care plan; there is no harm in asking, and in booking a quick follow up appointment. I get it, when it comes to money. From a financial perspective, your finances can and do take a back seat. Remember that you, and your body is way more important than money. Kudos if you have an emergency savings account to lean back on. Having the latter just makes the ordeal much easier to experience, and hence to therefore manage.

Money can easily be made back. Time can't. This body is a temple, and it is the only body that you have.

If it gets to the point that you need to see a therapist; just keep those initial appointments short and sweet. My first therapy appointment to assist me with the transition from illness to wellness went for an hour, and that was long enough. Thirty-minute appointments are surely available. While in Covid isolation in the past; a 15-minute live chat session with a therapist was adequate. It is really wise to reach out to family and friends, and just be open and grateful to any help that they choose to offer you in making life just that little bit easier. There is no shame in that. They might be able to save you a bit of dough from engaging in a temporary support worker for similar supports as an added bonus. In saying this, yours truly lost a lot of friends during that three-months of being anaemic, while contracting pneumonia in between. They are no longer the right friends anyway. The good one's stick with you through thick and thin, no matter what. Trauma dumping is where a therapist comes into the equation.

Let go of the guilt of not being as productive as you normally are, or would be, had you not been physically unwell in that specific moment of time. It is ok if your home is a little messy. Having to quarantine yourself from the rest of the world, for when extreme fatigue kicks in is not a lot of fun; yet you still have control in steering your thoughts in a more positive direction, as well as making your living space more inviting and healing. Again, if your energy levels are low in order to make the latter possible; it is ok to call in necessary supports. When we lighten our material loads, we feel so much lighter. When you are physically unwell, you do begin to focus on what is really important, among finding your tribe. If you want to create a meditation space for your healing, then go ahead and do that. If you wish to find other ways to distract yourself, then go ahead and do that.

Negative thoughts will appear, and they can be gently challenged. When you are not well, it is easy to accentuate the opposite of what you want, in tandem with being ever so hard on yourself. This does not help anyone, least of all you.

Laughter is definitely regarded as the best form of medicine out there. In Rhonda Byrne's documentary called The Secret; there was a woman who healed herself of breast cancer without needing any traditional cancer treatments (like radiation and chemotherapy) all through the power of laughter, and in enjoying some comedy based shows for true comedic relief. Funny podcasts are also helpful. Netflix anyone?

Finally, it is wise (has worked for yours truly as well) to dream while physically unwell, and to dream well. If you love to travel for example, then go ahead and visualise yourself as the person who boards and disembarks planes with ease on a holiday for when you are cleared to, and/or for when your body is fit and able enough to allow you to travel again. Put together a list (or even better, and if you are up for it) a vision board of all of the activities (just keep it to a few, in order to help focus) that you are looking forward to, for when you make a full recovery. For me, I am grateful to say that I have already had the confidence to book a two-night interstate trip into the calendar at the end of this month (at the time of writing), although my dreams to jump into a soft pit again at a trampoline park has not quite manifested as yet. When your therapist says that you no longer need therapy (not to impress, but rather to impress upon) is a wonderful sign that these bits of pieces of pure, applied wisdom is working for me; and my wish to you is that these work for you too. On that note, if you are currently experiencing illness (hopefully more so acute, or of the short-term chronic variety), then I wish you well, in conjunction with a speedy recovery.

We all deserve lifelong health, energy, vitality and wellbeing.

In the spirit of healing, the below song is equally as relevant to help someone heal from illness, and not just a breakup. Enjoy.