Does CFS Affect Who You Are?
April 7, 2007 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Does having CFS change you?
When I am not feeling well (especially when the illness is very drawn out), I don’t handle stress well. I find myself reacting a lot. Under normal circumstances, when presented with a stressful situation. I mull things over before telling people what I think. The exact opposite happens, when I am hurting a little bit.
I had thought that I just react badly towards stress, but it turns out that my personality changes when I am not feeling good. Case in point, today I was teaching guitar lessons (something that is incredibly important to me), and I made 3 students cry. I don’t ever consciously try to hurt my students. I ask for their very best effort (and if it doesn’t happen, I have little tricks to use to get it out of them). I am normally very sensitive to what they are able to do, and am always very encouraging. A positive learning environment is very important to me. I am not sure how, when or why I have started channeling the queen b***h, but it needs to stop. I can only think that its being sick for so long that is making my personality become so nasty.
To my students who had a really hard day, I apologize. I am so sorry about today. I am not like this normally. I will try to be on better behavior from now on.
I just wanted to let you know that I like your blog and I added it to my blogroll…
http://livingwithcfs.wordpress.com/
It’s an informative site for patients, friends, family, and health care providers, of people with CFS. I would love for you to check out my site, and let me know if you have any suggestions on how I could make it better.
Yes, I handle stress very badly when I am feeling ill, and it makes me feel even more ill! I also tend to be less forgiving and more snappy, and completely paranoid as well. I know it’s not me, but somehow it is sometimes.
Hey we are all Human!
Living with this condition for 13 years, I can sympathize. I can relate to getting moody. Everyday is a struggle to compose what stregnth I have to take care of daily rountines. I have 3 kids , 19 , 12, and 10. I have a home based business . So I cant imagine dealing with people face to face . I give you credit. My kids understand my moods, and so does my husband. After 13 years of it, its old hat. It used to be back in the day we all were ” depressed” or had “aniexty disorders”. Thank God for new studies and new medications we have now . I can say its progressed in the past 3 years alot. Maybe one day we actual will have a cure. Well keep your head up , you arent the only one !
Hey missus, chin up – I’m a relative newbie to all this having only experienced thre years of the ups and downs and i know that Stress for us is like injecting poisen, if I’m stressed it knocks me flat on my back, everything shuts down and I become satans daughter.
Sadly it’s ‘natural’ from what I can gather, at least for cfs/me sufferers, I’m just impressed that you are able to teach – that’s fantastic, way to go you!
Catherine,
Thanks!
You have a great blog….very informative.
Ellie,
I hear you on the paranoia thing totally. Especially at work, every time my boss (he works in a different location) calls to speak to my immediate supervisor, I immediately think that its about me. And if the door is closed on that conversation, then all hope of me actually getting any work done goes out the window. No idea why I think like that, since my boss adores me. Dumb CFS mind games.
As for the snappiness….I am teaching again this morning, lets hope that I can curb my frustration for the moment and keep my students happy today.
Patricia,
Thanks for the comment. I can’t imagine having this illness and being a mum! I can barely take care of myself.
I am glad to hear that you are having an easier time of it. Overall my health has improved dramatically since I was first diagnosed. I just hit a really rough year. Very strange though how it coincided with the year I started writing this blog. Coincidence? possibly…although doubtful.
Anyway, I hope you continue to be well. Wow..3 kids! I am blown away. There is a whole lot of credit being thrown your way (from me) lady!!!!
Vics,
thanks for the great comment. “Satan’s daughter”, that has pretty much described me for the last couple of weeks. When I am able to talk, all I seem to do is spew poison words.
While super glad seems to be wildly inappropriate here, I will say that it helps to know that others totally understand.