Life is not linear, and so even within the constraints of living with ME there are moments when we want to DO things.
The difficulty, for me, is making myself rest immediately after doing that thing, whatever it may be.
You see doing "a thing" feels good!
Probably because the stimulus of the activity releases hormones like adrenalin, and these can mask warning symptoms and so delude my body into believing that it is coping okay.
Sadly, it is my experience that I have to pull back, slow up, and start resting much sooner than I'd like. And usually much sooner than my body starts giving me those warning signals!
This is one of the toughest things about having ME: if I don't stop soon enough, I risk making my condition worse long term, and that is just not fair on anyone.... least of all my family.
So I have to think beyond what I want in the moment...
Take today, I went out and did some agility training with my dog. (I use a mobility scooter, so it's not like I'm running around or anything mad like that.) Anyway, I had a lovely hour with club friends and I came straight back in afterwards.
I had wanted to stay and out longer - wasn't I good?
Once back inside however, the excitement was hard to wind back down. I usually feel "okay" at this point, so it is easy to just carry on doing a bit more of this or that. The point is, I'm not "tired" yet, but if I carry on doing things until I AM tired, then I really have messed up!
So, I have to force myself to sit down, recline my chair, put my feet up and RELAX!
And in that moment, I feel like a small child told to go to bed while the party is still happening!
So I'm wondering now about everyone else.... Do you STOP soon enough?
And how do you manage to curb those childish voices in your head that urge you to just push on a little longer??
I guess it is something with which we all struggle....
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PS I've written a bit about Pacing in these posts. However it is one thing knowing what I should be doing, it is quite another managing to gracefully put it into practice! ;)
Managing Illness through Pacing;
Pacing and Unpredictable Events Sept 2014
"Play-Up & Lay-Up" not "Boom & Bust" Sept 2014
The Exercise Catch 22! Jul 2014
ME Awareness - Why NOT Exercise? May 2014
Thoughts on Travel and ME Mar 2014
The Dilemmas of Exercise and M.E. Dec 2013
