A string of a few good days after so many tough weeks, and amnesia already was setting in about the tightrope those of us in adrenal recovery must walk. Managing energy output, being careful to eat more often, and eating high protein, low carb, no sugar, etc. I've been refining my weekday regime and Thursday / Friday were two of my best in a few months.
Weekend broke the routine.
I ate too late in the morning, and not enough. Then I waited too long to eat lunch. Grabbed the most portable thing I could think of ... Avocado sushi roll. Harmless, right? Ate it in the car. Home by 1pm and ate a giant salad with egg, chick peas, peas, celery, beets... But that only lasted me until 4. By 4:30 I knew I needed to eat again, so I made a bowl of leftover lentils and rice. Too many carbs in a row. Adrenals not happy, and though I tried to follow up with some grilled chicken, the horse was already out of the barn. I'm left with that jangly, hyperglycemia feeling that I know will shortly be followed by the hypo version.
All of this is just context. On to the regrets.
As I've mentioned it has taken twelve years, possibly even the choices of the last thirty years to get here. The difference to me between this situation and something viral or genetic is that I can draw a clear line from many choices right to the front door of adrenal burnout. So I've found it unavoidable not to catalog, enumerate in detail those choices, reexamine them, second guess them, and generally stew.
I've been present with regret during sitting practice. I've breathed into it, and breathed out metta (loving kindness, self forgiveness). Late at night I have labelled thoughts of regret and watched them arise, dissipate, only to arise once more. Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to transform them. But nobody said it would be easy. Doing my level best not to allow regret to mature into self-blame, and finding that difficult as well.
The fact is I've only become aware of this as a condition, with potential remedies, in the last two months. Since then I've made some pretty drastic behavioral and diet changes, seen some great progress, and have a long term plan for recovery. I recognize that every erg of energy wasted on regret is something I can't put towards recovery.
But as I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, we live in a culture where anything but the manic exuberance of youth, or the caffeinated accomplishment-driven adult equivalent has the odor of failure about it. So you feel even more badly about feeling terrible.
All of that is also just context. On to the healing.
Taking another page from Maria at Restco's playbook, I just want to encourage anyone who is struggling in the same unmapped territory to take a deep breath, or several, and know you are not going through it alone. This issue is endemic and largely masked by coping strategies from the obviously bad (caffeine, alcohol) to those as seemingly healthful as overwork, working out too much at the gym, and shoring up flagging energy with fruit and juices. All of which just dig our adrenals further into a hole.
There is a prescription, and it is long term, amounting to changing our way of being in the world, while also rebuilding the nutritional foundation of our bodies. And it starts with rest. Pema Chodron says "The only thing that exists is the continual opportunity to either open up to what's happening, or shut down." Time to open up and be present.
Paraphrasing here, and aware of the gentle irony:
Recovery is difficult. Rest with great diligence.
such a lovely full hearted post. I remember my old Zen teacher talking about regret (sange) and its value which is to motivate us to change which is what I hear you saying. She would say, "we are fine the way we are AND we can do better." The idea that these two thoughts could coexist is somehow a comfort to me, to the part of me that wants to wage war against myself.
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you are talking about as someone who has had health issues for many years, including the one that starts with C. It made me feel a failure, as if somehow it was my fault which also engendered shame. So I know the slippery slope. For me these days, (as I hear you doing) it is about acknowledging my part and also acknowledging the part beyond me (as in karma). And with working with it as you talk about here. And it's like that poem about walking down the street and falling in the hole, sometimes we have to do it a bunch of times til we learn to take a different street. Many bows to you, Stonecutter.
"the part of me that wants to wage war against myself." That one hit so close to home when I read it this morning -- still resonating. I think I mentioned the recovering perfectionism. Was it Annie Lamott who said the thing about recovering perfectionists is that they're trying to get recovery just right
DeleteEverything we you said in your blog post about tenderness with the creative process/art materials applies to how we treat ourselves. Another practice. And it's like "if I can do it with the stone, or with my kids, why is it so hard when applying it to myself?"
Lot of the C word in my family, so while that apparently isn't an issue now it is highly likely. The karma piece is one I'm still wrapping my head around. Academically I've studied it, but it has never made sense to me at a gut level except as a way to describe interdependent conditions that may result in any particular circumstance. The Tibetan angle, and the larger scope of karma, still sitting with.
I've not got further back than February on your blog, is there a post that describes how you moved from writing to visual arts?
My thanks for your above. Many warm Gasshos (is that the proper plural?) back!
Hi there. I followed you over from Restco. It's good to find strength in others walking a similar healing path. I look forward to checking back in with you.
ReplyDeleteKatherine
Welcome and thanks not only for stopping by, but for the sense of community your visit brings.
DeleteJust scanned your profile and agree Raising Arizona was a work of sheer genius. Also my Dad and I used to watch all the old Pink Panther movies -- are you a Sellers fan or a Martin fan? I like both for different reasons. This reminds me I have a post brewing on the Buddha's sense of humor I should work on.
Again, thanks for visiting.
Oh gosh. You nailed it on the head here-
ReplyDelete"we live in a culture where anything but the manic exuberance of youth, or the caffeinated accomplishment-driven adult equivalent has the odor of failure about it. So you feel even more badly about feeling terrible."
So good to be catching up on your posting after being away. I once again find myself nodding in agreement and feeling that heart swell that we're all in this together:).
That is a lot of what keeps me going, so thanks for checking in, it means a lot.
ReplyDelete