Navigating High Anxiety: Chronic Illness and the Forgotten Task Syndrome

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Navigating High Anxiety: Chronic Illness and the Forgotten Task Syndrome

When you've dedicated your entire adult life to being hard-working and dynamic, loved being busy and an active person, and then, without warning, you're faced with the reality of living with chronic illness. The realisation hits like a sudden blow: your lifestyle, your capabilities – all limited by the onset of a chronic illness; now confined by the emergence of a chronic disease. This profound transition brings with it frequent episodes where you feel a void or a sense of being lost.

The Shift

This sudden traumatic transformation at first seemed to disillusion me initially but my body and mind remind me constantly - this is life now with a chronic illness. Understanding that chronic illness becomes a daily reflection, as I navigate through the chronic illness symptoms that shape my new reality.

The Anxiety

When a chronic illness disrupts your life, it can hurl you into intense anxiety and stress. There are moments when I'm gripped by an unsettling sensation of high anxiety, almost mirroring that feeling of something missing, or a 'forgotten' task that remains elusive, highlighting the distressing chronic illness symptoms.

But here's the truth – nothing is missing; nothing has been forgotten.

My New Reality

The reality is, in that moment I’ve not forgotten anything, nothing is missing and I’ve got nothing that needs doing. The only thing I have to remember is the need to concentrate on managing the pain that day, but also concentrate on managing the loneliness that day, and concentrate on managing my expectations of myself.

But this is not your everyday forgetfulness feeling but an incessant nagging feeling that I’ve overlooked something crucial - even when everything seems in order. It's comparable to leaving your house, locking the door but persistently feeling like you left the iron on. For us who are contending with chronic illnesses, this form of anxiety becomes a constant companion.

Chronic illnesses carry along a trail of uncertainty and fear that make navigating through unknown territories pretty challenging. And living with these feelings? Even harder! It brings about grief – for losing control over your body functions or mourning the loss of your previous lifestyle.

I remind myself that it's important for me to recognise these feelings but also permit myself to grieve without guilt! And, that my worth isn't defined solely by how much work I do or how active I am. Chronic illness may have changed the way I live my life, but it doesn't change who I am - a person of inherent value and worth.

Final thought

Finally, another effective coping strategy for managing the anxiety that often accompanies chronic illness is to maintain a positive outlook. Although it might seem challenging amid the ongoing battles with a chronic condition, fostering a sense of optimism is crucial for building resilience and enhancing overall well-being. I'm committed to celebrating even the smallest victories and practising gratitude for all the good that I have, despite the difficulties. Additionally, I prioritise self-care routines that support both physical and mental health, which are essential for stress management and developing robust coping strategies.

About me

I am a married mother of four children, in my mid 40's. I run a small business and enjoy writing, which is why I blog. My blog focuses on my experiences of living with chronic illnesses and disabilities such as ME/CFS, spinal stenosis, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia.