When Dorothy proudly pronounces the name of her illness: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I had to laugh a little, also felt a bit of sadness. As a long-term "unknown illness" patient I know exactly how she feels. Patients with an illness that bears a recognizable name would much more easily win others' understanding and compassion. Without a sounding name, you would just have to struggle through a painful/endless path alone and even endure being mistreated as a mentally ill person.
When people have unknown body pain, they tend to blame their mental problems. However, I found that's not always the case. Very often, physical problems can be the true causes of our mental unwellness. CFS is such an illness that has been misunderstood as "mental problem" for long time. As a sufferer myself, I like to share with others about my struggling and fighting experience with this fierce invisible disease. --- This is the journal of my physical wellness.
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
"Chronic Fatigue Symdrone"
Monday, February 15, 2021
Caffeine and sleep
Finally, my body seemed tired of caffeine. About one month ago, I stopped craving coffee, drinking tea instead, and several days ago, I stopped craving tea, drinking water instead (how boring it is!). So for several days, my body has been caffeine-free, totally. What's the consequence? I slept well, naturally. I felt sleepiness in the nights and went into sleep about a half-hour after lying down. This had never been the case during my entire adult life.
Never before I was able to cut off caffeine so completely. I drank either coffee or tea. Though I learned that caffeine was not good for sleep ages ago, my direct experience never proved that theory to me. This time is different, my body rejects caffeine. Something changed inside my body. And what it is and what was the cause, I still do not know.
Life is full of mysteries.