Autoimmune Hangover

I remember laying in bed the morning after a holiday weekend a couple of years ago…⁣
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I overdid it that holiday weekend and my mind tried to figure out what to call how I felt.⁣
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I came up with the term autoimmune hangover, along with this definition.⁣
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I shared what I’d come up with that very day on social media, not knowing if any fellow autoimmune warriors would relate.⁣
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Soooo many did and continue to relate each time I share it.⁣
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You see, finding joy while learning to live well with autoimmunity is tricky stuff.⁣
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There’s a fine line between enjoying the heck out of life, and overdoing it.⁣
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Especially if we are new to our diagnosis and our wellness journey.⁣
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So if you are laying bed today with an autoimmune hangover,⁣
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know this whole living well with autoimmune disease thing is a learning process, and you’re going to figure it out as you go through experiences.⁣
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Here in the US, it’s the day after a long holiday weekend,⁣
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and I lived it up this past weekend so I wondered how I’d feel today.⁣
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My family and I spent the long weekend plus Friday at beautiful Lake Powell with one of our favorite families,⁣
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tent camping in over 100 degree heat,⁣
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boating, wake boarding, wake surfing, swimming, cliff jumping, laughing, etc.⁣
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I wondered how I’d feel today after getting home last night.⁣
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I woke up about my normal time without an alarm, and I feel great so far!⁣
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You see, it’s taken me years to learn to manage my energy and support my health while still doing the things I love with the people I love.⁣
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I had lots of setbacks over the years since my diagnosis and still continue to at times.⁣
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But the setbacks getting fewer, further between, and less intense.⁣
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So don’t give up.⁣
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Pay attention to your body.⁣
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When symptoms pop back up, think about what led up to it, and see it as a learning experience.⁣
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You got this!