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