← Return to Help navigating the mental and emotional toll of long COVID

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@smdawson540

We are no longer who we were. I have accepted my new normal as much as I can. I have had to work really hard to not think about who I was before but figure out who I am now. I kept thinking I would be that person again one day, but realistically I am not. I have so many non-curable things from LC. I have found some low energy hobbies. I have started a family history and am gathering pictures, articles, etc. I love this, who knew? I am making annual memory books for my grandson. I love making them and he loves looking through them. I am thrilled if I can make it through a work week laying on the sofa while working to conserve energy and control pain and swelling. I am taking life one day at a time. I find it easier to manage one day at the time. This has been a very long, painful, messy road with many people not understanding or believing I was sick. I found doctors locally and at my LC clinic who know. It took a while but what a life changer that has been. I still have bad days, sadly there will always be bad days. But I have set my bar so low for happy things such as the fact I woke up this morning. I made coffee, it tasted good and I was able to drink it. I will have one meal today, as food has become my enemy on so many levels; smell, taste, having energy to figure out what I can eat and make it, and then the fun GI issues. But I am doing it. I am looking at anything I can accomplish as a victory. I love Christmas and used to have a great social life and go shopping etc, now my house is full of decorations I love in every room. And I can find anything and everything online to window shop and buy.
I can't take antidepressants due to medication I am now taking. At first I was able to take low dose anti-depressants. It is okay to take these. If we were miracle workers we would all be healed and healthy. Your mental state is just as important as your physical. Do/find what works for you. Take care of you. We are all worthwhile and have value in being among the living. Don't lose sight of that. I wish you and all of us the best year we can have in 2024. I wish us things that make us happy, big or small. I wish us as much mitigation as we can find for our health issues, mental and physical.

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Replies to "We are no longer who we were. I have accepted my new normal as much as..."

You’re so right, I need to start looking/finding happiness in the small things. I can’t jog my 2+ miles anymore, for now maybe trying to walk around my neighborhood for a little while. I Love being in nature, sit in the park and feel happy and grateful to be able to do so.
This community has been so helpful, so many people (even doctors) didn’t understand or even believe I was experiencing what I am. I felt so isolated and alone I thank all of you! ❤️