Chronic illness of the “vague” sort – like adrenal fatigue – can be a tricky thing. It’s not visible. It’s not outwardly obvious. And there’s no clear line between “doing okay” and “dysfunctional.” Since things can often be in flux, with good days (or weeks) and bad days (or weeks), it can be hard to even know, yourself, how well you’re doing.
I have to confess that this is a struggle for me. I was doing better – more energetic, thinking more clearly, etc. – for a while. And lately I think that I just…haven’t been. But it’s such a subtle, gradual thing that it’s hard to recognize until I look back and realize what isn’t getting done, how often I didn’t have energy, etc.
The trouble is, this makes it hard to know if/when to ask for help, or with what.
You’ll probably notice the blog’s been sparse this month. That’s largely why – lack of energy and ability to think without fogginess (well, that and a really ornery computer!)
I just wanted to acknowledge this phenomenon for anyone else out there who might be in the same boat. It’s okay to take a look around and realize that, “You know what? I’m not doing well, and I do need to cut myself some slack.”
(The good news is, between a hair analysis I’m in the process of getting, and the resources in the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle and the Fall Into Health Bundle coming up next week, I should hopefully have some solid ideas for practical ways to move forward. I know the theory, but putting it into practice with a real life, real schedule, and real budget is a whole other ball game!)
Thank you for verbalizing this. I struggle with anemia (the iron-deficient type) and not for lack of nutrient rich foods; malabsorption seems to be the case.I also have 4 kids ages 2-7 and homeschool. Most days are such a struggle to even get out o bed. But I do have good weeks, even a good month here and there but in the end I feel the anemia always kicks me down again. The fatigue, weakness, and brain fog characterize my days most of the time. It takes everything in me to change diapers, keep kids fed, clean up spills… By the grace of God and some really good things he is showing me, we are able to homeschool. But I have felt alone in this for so long, feeling less than all those other super mom bloggers out there and like I couldn’t possibly do things like they do because the energy is just not there.
I don’t feel so alone anymore.
I’m so sorry you’re struggling with this! But I’m glad I could make you feel less alone.
As a total side note on the off-chance that it’s helpful: a new nutritionist I just saw this week put me on vitamin B12. She said that what appears as iron-deficiency anemia is often not an actual lack of iron, but the inability to use it, and B12 helps with that. (Apparently those of us who aren’t assimilating our nutrients well can get deficient in B12 more readily than the general population.)
I will add you to my regular prayer list!
Thank you so much! I will get on some B6! I had no idea, I had heard that there were 2 types of anemia (or 3 but only 2 you could get control over) and one was a B6 deficiency and one was iron. I thought they were 2 different things. I need to see a nutritionist as well. I appreciate your advice as well as your prayers 🙂
Ooh…you said B12 (blaming the brain fog haha). I will have to try that. Thanks again!