Coping Corner, Winter '97

By Jenn Waterman

Originally published in Youth Allied By CFIDS, Winter 1997

Happy new year! I hope this edition of The Coping Corner finds you fully recovered from holiday fun! I have resolved to make this column increasingly informative and interactive in the new year. This time I have some great tips from two special friends as well as more Dream Box ideas! You can share your thoughts by writing to: 103 County Road, Reading MA 01867. I hope that your new year is full of friendship and laughter. Until next time, keep on coping.

Reach Out and Touch Someone
It can be all too easy for bed-bound young persons with CFIDS (YPWCs) to feel cut off from the world and even the rest of their household. Bedrooms are miles away from family rooms and kitchens where everyone else is having tons of fun… or so it seems as the laughter drifts up the stairs and down the hall to the flatbackers. All that you're missing out on becomes magnified and you can be left feeling lonely and sad. CYA's Sharon Walk offers some wonderful ideas for coping with these feelings of isolation… and for putting a stop to them without having to resort to tying up your family and keeping them under your bed.

Sharon recommends a number of communication devices: "An intercom system can help you to talk with family in other parts of the house without having to scream. Walkie talkies or a baby monitor can work, too."

The walkie talkies are my personal favorite. With them you can not only keep in touch but you can also conduct super-spy missions. However, I gave my younger brother walkie talkies for his last birthday and because of my over-zealousness he never lets me use them. If you get some, maybe I'll come over to play! Over and out.

Pillow Pals
People with CFIDS spend a lot of time in the same surroundings. Staring at the same stretch of ceiling or the same four walls day after day can get to be dull and tedious and can cause you to go a little stir crazy. Twenty-year old YPWC Ginny Hedrich made a quick and easy change in her environment by getting a bright new pillowcase. This simple change added a freshness to her flatbacking time. Another idea is to get new sheets, some colorful toss pillows or perhaps a reversible bedspread.

It only takes a little bit of time and energy to rearrange your posters and it can give your room a whole new look. Why not have your friends and family members help you in redecorating by making drawings and personal, original posters for your walls? This will not only give your bedroom a new look but their pictures and words can brighten up a dark day.

I like to rearrange my furniture once or twice a year. When my bed is in a new location (not in another house… just a different spot in my room), it gives me a whole new perspective on my habitat. Get creative and make some simple changes when you're feeling blue and cooped up. You may be surprised what the new look can do for you!

Dream Boxes
Last time in "The Coping Corner, "I talked about creating a Dream Box. If you slept through that column, I'll review: A Dream Box is a box that you decorate with favorite magazine clippings, stickers, pictures, wrapping paper, glitter, etc. This box is filled with things for you to do when you have insomnia. You only open your Dream Box in the dark of night or on a dismal day when you're in search of a quiet activity to beat loneliness and boredom.

I hope that you've all been working on your boxes and finding great things to fill them with! Drop me a line sometime with your Dream Box ideas and we'll share them with everyone else! Here are a few more thoughts on what to put in there:

• Legos! Legos are one of the best Dream Box fillers. They are easy lap toys and are fun for everyone. There are many varieties. I prefer the town Legos or island Legos, but you may be more of a spaceman or a jungle girl. Any kind is perfectly acceptable. When sleep cannot be found in the late night hours, you can curl up with your Legos and build a dream castle, design a magical planet, or a cozy village.

• Flashlight A flashlight is imperative for each and every Dream Box! Any size will do. You can have a Sesame Street flashlight, a lantern or a pen light. There are a vast number of things that can be done with this light. Fun things. Mundane things. Mysterious things. When my older brother and I were younger we used to play with our flashlights at night. We would have the circles of light chase one another across the ceiling and walls. He had a world map at the end of his bed and we would have them race from country to country. To make that game a little more entertaining (hehe) my dad would have us look up facts about each country. But that may be TOO much fun for your Dream Box. What do you think?

I hope that you all have a happy new year! I'll see you next time with more tips from The Coping Corner.