This website is for people with chronic illnesses: CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome), FM (fybromyalgia), PPV (Post polio virus), Hep C(hepititus C), ME (Myalgic Encephalomyilitus), and more. It is a place for both the person with the illness and also for the people who know him/her. Feel free to email me your links and I will put them here for more of a resource for people struggling with chronic illness. Social Activism is Welcome!!!!
September 30, 2004
When I became ill, with no energy to connect with anyone, I slept away hours of my life, days really. My next insight was realizing my academic major did not have words for what I was going through. Then, I searched the Internet. That is where some of the voices stay ready for reading and normalizing the symptoms of CFIDS. But it sill bothered me that the mental health and medical doctors knew less than I did. So it began my search and my way to make sense of this "Dreaded Disease" (Pyhillis/cybermouse/2001)
For three years I have been researching via data base, anecdotal evidence, and personal experience for the data necessary to conceptualize a Theory of Identity for People who have lost their health. This must be one that satisfies an understanding of loss of identity, re-formation of a new identity and a possible return to health which might entail another new identity. I submit this article for consideration and discourse to ameliorate the lack of present theory.
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Because the loss of health evokes so much emotion and psychic dualism of acceptance with denial, my attempt is to put a name to use in the psychological literature. I am also appalled that after years of psychology, I was unaware of how to access services, balance feeding myself with knowing what my rites/rights were/are.
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My familiar is the joy of my life: Lucky is the mirror of the love I have to give and we exchange it every day. Death does not scare me. Like my client, I think I fear the process and hope it is not too painful or hard. Thank you for asking for this information. It was truly an enlightening process for me. Death is life energy in another vehicle - I sometimes cannot wait to see what the Universe has in store for us/me.
On August 23rd during the second relapse, Lucky went to kitten heaven; he passed and left a legacy behind. I was guided to the two boys I have now. Bacchus and Magick. Together, they hold the fun, meaning of life that carries me through each day. We all have something or someone that sheds meaning on our life. These kittens do that for me.
with hope, Teresa
