For those with Lyme Disease (and many other difficult-to-diagnose chronic diseases), the coronavirus pandemic comes with unique challenges, concerns, and stressors. As someone who is personally and professionally involved in the treatment and maintenance of chronic Lyme Disease, I am forced to think about these unique challenges. We’ll address the challenges here.
Fear of being unable to get appropriate care.
For most of us with Lyme Disease, we suffered for years — decades, even — without the correct healthcare team, diagnosis, or treatment plan. From inaccurate tests to healthcare mismanagement, we all suffered through a time period where we didn’t receive the correct help. So during the time of quarantine with healthcare facilities closed down or inaccessible, we’re reminded of the time period we went without help. Just remember that support is available to you, even if it’s through video call instead of in a doctor’s office.
Fear of going to the hospital.
I’d argue that most of us have aversion to going to the hospital, as hospitals often lack the knowledge, understanding, and patience for multi-system chronic diseases. Add in the concerns of entering a place with a high risk of infections during a pandemic and this becomes a recipe for a panic attack! Take deep breaths, recognize old patterns and symptoms that are occurring to determine if symptoms are new, recurring, or life-threatening; and try to prevent the need for a trip to the hospital.
Limit Stress.
This will mean different things to different people. People deal with stress very differently. However, the root of stress is just a fear of the unknown, which can cause you to feel very out of control. In order to cope with this, follow steps #4 (take action) and #5 (keep breathing).
Take Action.
The way that I avoid being overwhelmed with stress is to put in place an action plan. By laying out a plan of what to do in the event of a crisis (Lyme symptoms flare, you contract COVID-19, etc.), you won’t have to make decisions and use significant brain power as you go through the crisis. Also, gather necessary information, supplements, vitamins, botanical medicine, pharmaceuticals… Really, anything that you may need in order to get you through the crisis. While we can’t control the future, we can be prepared for whatever may come.
Keep Breathing.
Okay, I mean this literally and figuratively. Breathing literally helps the flow of oxygen into our cells, which will help our body function more optimally. During times of tension, we will literally hold our breath, often without knowing we’re doing this. So remember… Breathe! Inhale, exhale, and keep smiling.
Stay Reasonably Informed.
Currently, we’re being bombarded by the media. If you dive too deeply into the media rabbit hole, things look very gloomy. While it is important to remain informed, it is also essential to stay afloat as the media tries to drag you down. For me, I trust others (my parents and a few close friends who I communicate with nearly everyday) to relay the important, new facts to me. It saves me time, energy, and significantly decreases my levels of stress!
I know that this is a scary time, and you may not trust your body to have the capacity to get rid of Coronavirus if you contract it. We’re in a time period where it’s very easy to feel scared and feel like everything is out of your control. So just remember to keep breathing, keep your immune system healthy (by eating well, sleeping well, washing your hands…), and know that you are not in this alone.