Coping Corner, Winter '96

By Sandy E. Becker

Originally published in Youth Allied By CFIDS, Winter 1996

Greetings from Amicable Ann Arbor! And Happy New Year! As I sit here typing, the sun is hiding amongst the clouds, the wind chill is in the low teens (and dropping!) and snow is on the way. I believe Old Man Winter has arrived here in the Midwest. Time to get out that wool quilt and bundle up!

Tip #1- Be Prepared
If you are going out of the house for an appointment or to run errands, it is a good idea to be prepared for unexpected delays. You never know if your appointment is going to run late or if the traffic will be bad. So, you may want to consider bringing along a snack, some water and any medications you may need. You may never even have to use them while you're out, but at least if you do get delayed, you will be ready, and won't have the stress of worrying whether you'll be home in time to take your medicines, or to eat or drink something before you are plagued with hunger or thirst.

Tip #2 - Let Your Anger Out
If I'm in an angry or hostile mood, I've found that one of the best things I can do is to sit down and write an advocacy letter to raise awareness about CFIDS. There is a lot of feeling, passion and energy that go into anger. It tends to get your adrenaline pumping to the point where you feel "wired" and perhaps even ready to take on the world!

So, when I get that way, I write letters to people in government or the media. In all that anger, I find the words I need to write an effective advocacy letter. Whereas on other days I may sit in front of a blank page for an hour trying to think of how to even begin my letter, on an "angry" day, I can sometimes finish four letters in an hour!

Tip #3 - Color Away
One of my favorite quiet activities has become coloring. Now, you may be thinking, "A 22-year-old girl spends time coloring?!" Well, indeed I do! And, I've found that it's something I can do on good days or bad, it doesn't take a lot of energy or brain power and has tremendous stress-relieving powers. If you feel silly using a "children's" coloring book, with Big Bird or Barney in it, it is fairly easy to find "adult" coloring books in craft stores - I have one that has Victorian-style buildings in it, which I color using colored pencils instead of crayons. I usually don't finish a page in one sitting, but it eventually gets done, and I end up with a pretty page that I've had a large part in creating. It is a fun activity and you feel as though you've accomplished something when you finish a picture. So, give coloring a chance, and you may find out why little kids like it so much!

I wish you all the very best this year. I know that being a young PWC is difficult, and a struggle that no one should have to endure. But doctors. researchers and CFIDS advocates are working really hard right now to help us, and they are making great progress. So, keep your hope and faith intact and someday all of our dreams will come true.