The man that knows the most about matter in this world and other worlds, is Stephen Hawking. If only he could will his hands to move by thought alone, as is the pleasure of those, who, at least for now, do not struggle with such simple acts.

I utterly agree that a positive attitude is needed to face chronic illness. Thank you for acknowledging that effort is not always rewarded with success. I appreciate that. Thank you also for recognizing that attitude is important when facing any obstacle, be it physical or psychological.

I also appreciate the enthusiasm of reading a new self help book and the resilience of youth. I was at one time wise myself.

I wish nothing more than to see some one, any one, conquer the disability, not just the pain that comes with neuromuscular disease. I would hold them in highest regard.

In the last couple of years - I’ve listened to hundreds of hours of (what I call) personal development ebooks. I took all of that very serious.

So serious that instead of making notes - I made over 6,000 pictures. They act as notes/reminders. They change every 60 seconds on two laptops that sit on my desk.

On this topic - “The Secret” comes to mind.

Over simplified - focus on what you want - not what you don’t want. That same messages is all over in all kinds of personal development - motivation but .....

While The Secret was a “nice” message - I really did not get it until I found 10 hours of their work shop. The redundancy of the message finally soaked in.

A few points from it:

- Pick the best thing about someone or something and use that as your focus. While thinking about the best feature/part you will come to realize other even better parts about the person/thing/situation.

- Instead of thinking about the bad - potential worse - negatives ...... view the entire situation with a hopeful positive outlook.

A guy named Eckhaart Tolle ...... made a very lasting point - in one of his ebooks.

Your life is now - right now - right this very moment. You can’t change anything about the past - that is not your life anymore.

(thinking about the past is often thinking about regrets - thinking about the future is often thinking in fear - we need to live in the now - the right now - this very minute now)

Sometimes when we are thinking about our problems - if we just shut our eyes and focus on that very minute - we may see that in that very minute - we don’t have the problem at all (in that moment - in our life - our life is RIGHT NOW.

Yes I firmly feel - we should not think about our problems all that much - including our health problems.

Aussie - I have mentioned it before - I died July 20th 1998. In November of that year the panic attacks started. I “learned” my way out of them. At first I visited panic/anxiety forums ......... then stopped that. Reading about people having panic attacks for 20 years or more was not helpful.

I also mentioned I had a TIA (or 10) over the last 40 days or so. Well that was stirring up the anxiety again. I had to look for ways to get that back under control. The panic/anxiety was for sure making anything (I was having or not having) worse.

One of the big big things that helped me (back in 1998) get past the panic was ........

A Dr at the ER said “I just hold my breath when I feel some anxiety coming on”.

Often hyperventilation comes with panic/anxiety. Holding your breath does the same thing as breathing in a paper bag. It slows the oxygen intake - giving time for it to convert to dioxide that carries it to the brain.

Learning to breathe 12 time a minute also helped me.

This time around I have turned this desk chair (Herman Miller Aeron) into a full body vibrator/heater and give myself a 15 minute relaxing “treatment” each day around noon.

I have not had any anxiety attacks for a few days - mostly because I have not had any TIA/stroke scares in several days now but - I hope I can hold my own if I do have another one. I am convinced the anxiety/panic makes everything worse.

I don’t even come here and read much anymore ....... I also think - thinking about our health problems (too much) decreases our quality of life.

for people to vary in opinion. I think it's perfectly reasonable to offer a different point of view. I am not saying that the book is right against all other opinions as it is a point of view. I may today agree with the book and tomorrow think it's rubbish.

What I have a problem with is personal attacks, belittling,and essentially launching a personal insult against someone.

Who cares if the book may be full of rubbish. It made me feel better reading it so I guess it got it's point across, and since it's a Best Seller.. I reckon I am not the only person it helped. I try to keep an open mind.

If I read such a post and did not agree for whatever reason, I would say to myself "that poor girl wasted good money on a silly book", and I would go on with my life.

Live and let live.
This is only a forum. It is not a court trial nor is it the Bible.

Lastly, the book never claimed that positive thinking will halt organic disease. The book discussed pain & perception of illness. The book also explained that medicine is an ever evolving field of study and the brain still an enigma. There is more we don't know about the power of the brain than what we do. We as humans only use a fraction of the minds capability.

I am not agreeing with everything the book states, but I am agreeing with much of it in my case. My illness never has been just PN. It's aways been PN and fear of PN (anxiety). My perception of the illness has almost handicapped me. I needed to change. I needed to be more positive. I needed to add a bit of joy and laughter back into my life. The book was well worth the $25 I spent on it. If what I wrote can help just one person on this forum, than that is more than enough for me.

And if anyone thinks the book is full of %#@*... that's ok to.

What else can I say except that in this life their is much suffering and pain. If we see a chance to find some peace and happiness,by all means grab it weather it came from a silly book or a song or wherever. Hope... never give up and reach for the stars..........

Akutamata
"No worries"...for the rest of your days.

Nice to hear that you are feeling better Ron. I am glad to hear that the panic anxiety is under control. That in itself can be far worse than the illness.

Wanted to pop in and vouch for the effectiveness of focusing on one's breathing during times of stress. I must admit I do not suffer from anxiety, but I have found that certain medical procedures are more physically painful if I do not distract myself by making sure I am breathing slowly and deeply. By relaxing myself in this way, I no longer pass out after a blood draw, I can endure a nasty EMG, and I do not feel claustrophobic while getting a brain MRI.

No cure, certainly, but a worthwhile form of distraction.

fanfaire

Hi Ron good to hear from you,I have used breathing for just anything
that upsets me..The only thing I have had to learn to do,is please ask
others don't keep asking if i'm ok,it disrupts what i'm trying to do,and
that's not go into a panic attack...

Mybe it's my age,althrough i've heard younger people say you can't
live in the past,not much can be done about it now.Alot of people
spend alot of time living in the future,that's ok,but you got to
get there. So as.so wisely said live for today,the right now.
I think that's so true,and wise to remember.. Thanks for your
post.

I don't want a fuss about anything,but Aussie,this not to hurt you
are your feelings. There are a lot of best sellers out there,that are awful
but many people will read anything...I'm never been much on
self help books. That's me,and if it helped you that's great.Just
like I do a lot of my reading at the library,it saves money,in case,I
don't think in my own mind it's a best seller..And I don't mind waiting,
your name can be put on a list,.the wait has never been that bad.
besides right now,u bills,gas bills and such are necessary..Amaon
is another way to save if you don't mind used books,and i've gotton
soom best sellers in the hospital and Drs. office for free..We are
all different in our way of thinking..But like you,I do like a good book,
if i like it I will mention it to others.

Hugs to all and good to hear from you Tony,hope your feeling a wee bit
better..Sue

Ron:

I must say, I did like what you said about thinking in the present. We can't focus on the past, nor can we focus on the future (that brings fear). And thinking about the past (which we can't change), well there goes the regret stuff going on.

I only wish I could explain to my son how all his negativity is hurting him and our family. My son is the most negative person I have ever met in my life.

He only speaks in the minus column (so to speak), never the plus column.
He once told me "the difference between you and me mom, is that I see the glass as half empty and you see the glass as half full"

I said "is there anything you can do to change your perception of life, to find people that you can relate to??, to find some happiness in your world?" and he just said:'

"No, I want to do what I want to do, I don't want anyone controlling me, or telling me what I have to do, I'm not a team player". Other stuff also.

And he's only 26 and has no major physical ailments. I can only imagine, (if he keeps up with this way of thinking), that when he hits 40, and he has no friends, never made friends, continues to be alone, and god forbid he gets some ailment, that he'll have no positive way of dealing with life. That is what support systems are in place for. Support groups, therapy..etc. Whatever it takes!! I really believe this.

People who are continually negative (and who never let in the light), well they live in darkness. This has absolutely nothing to do with god, religion or anything.

I have my very bad pain days. I'm just happy when I don't get up crooked.

Like the other day, I got the results from my mammogram. All was normal. 20 years ago, when I got my first mammo, they found a tumor. So ever since then, well, you know what we women think, ... well, they found one, they'll probably find another one. I've had tumors in other parts of my body also.

But when I got those results the other day, I walked over to Alan and said "I love my breasts!!" Alan laughed and said "well, I love them too". I laughed and said 'no, you dont' understand, I got the results, they are normal".

He said 'wow, that's great".

I only wish the rest of my life could be so great, but since I can't control the future, I just live my life one day at a time, and keep out negative stuff.

That includes people, and things.

Not too happy a thing to have to distance oneself from one's own child, but hey, it's survival going on here.

So let's all get together and sing 'KUMBAYA!!!! LOL

Melody

I'm finding this thread very interesting - it really shows how we all are so different - and find out own coping mechanisms to get thru the day - no matter what the actual problem is...... pain, nausea, financial matters, family issues, etc.... we are certainly all in a different place and all have our own demons to stuggle with every day.... and if one can find a book or saying or exercise - anything that strikes a cord to help us deal - its awesome.... what works for one may not work for another - but that doesnt matter - if it works for the individual....

I know personally I spend a lot of time right now planning for the future not only healthwise but housing, etc. - because I have too - its an overwhemling priority and if I ignore it - I'll be in very serious trouble.... again, for each of us it is different.... and we have to find that balance of giving ourselves a break during the day to strengthen our bodies in any way we can...... I appreciate hearing how each of you deal with the stressors - because yes, this is it, we're here right now, and we dont want to waste any time!

So thanks to all you folks, if it works - love to hear about it!

I am quoting.....

"I am wondering what the course of PN would be on someone who spent there time being positive, not giving the illness fuel, and being happy?"



Does my advanced PN imply that I did not spend my time in the above specified manner?

Again Cycleops you are missing the forest for the trees. Lets' s just assume my post did not agree with you at all. That does not give you the right to insult me nor carry on in this matter. I at times have disagreed with things you have posted, as well as other members but I have to keep perspective, this is an open forum and I am not a dictator.

It's over...move on.

I agree you are much older and you were also in the healthcare indusrty but it doesn't appear that it has afforded you much compassion nor tolerance for others. I finally admit I am wrong and you are right. OK? You win.

Let it go it's over.

Please do not post anymore on this thread.

ITS OVER!!!

Anymore posting... and I am now feeling you are harrassing me.