Listen, I have my ups and downs. I do my best to share authentically about the experience of ALS as I go through life with it, determined to be powerful in the face of it. I have my whiny posts and my gross observations and my embarrassing moments that I am committed to sharing with you. But be clear about 1 thing: I am not depressed or supressed by this condition. I understand the pull of depression and the conversations about depression are so prevalent they scare me! It’s as if the world has now agreed that if they cant see themselves not being depressed by a circumstance then if you have that circumstance you MUST BE depressed. NOT ACCURATE.

In January 2009 I went on a low dose anti-depressant on the advice of my doctor as a treatment for the symptom of Emotional Lability around the same time she told me I definitly had a NeuroMotor Disease with a fairly short life expectancy… That drug made me feel like I belonged in bed and was hopeless. I didn’t want to have to fight myself to get out of bed in the morning! So I threw it away 3 weeks later. I dont think anti depressants are that effective. I think they are a last resort AFTER you follow the recommendations of someone like DR David Amen, in his books: Magnificent Mind or Making a Good Brain Great. I’m a fan of treatment through food and herbs 1ST, then go do the hard core pharmaceuticals. I am not a doctor that’s just my opinion.

My point is don’t let the conversational environment out there make your choice for you! Make your own damn choice!!

I am clear that being an Empowered Patient is important to me and it means being in control of my care and looking for answers that may not be seen by others, and choosing a treatment AFTER careful consideration ~ which I don’t always feel I’ve had the opportunity to do given the onesided advice I’ve had from Physicians. If you or someone close to you has a chronic condition ~ and chances are they do as it’s estimated 50% of the American population has some type of chronic illness…( Can you say what the hell’s up with our food supply? Is it in the water?) THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO~ is create a purpose for living. Have a conversation about what’s possible in life and for life regardless of any “condition” and circumstance. Once you have a purpose add a bit of Faith and Will and you’ve got the basics for being an Empowered patient.

As a patient once you make up your mind to stay engaged with life…(give yourself a ring!) you must rally your inner circle around your banner of living.
Get your family and friends aligned around your purpose ~ even if it’s to find a purpose!~ have them get on board with the empowered living train and OFF the doom and gloom ride. They don’t get to be morose or depressed or screwed up in the head around you…your space is now sacred. A No Poopy People Zone.

Treat your body as sacred give it the best you can to empower it’s healing…eat consciously and with the intention of healing with every bite. Even when it’s icecream! I hope you add living well and in a healthy sustainable manner. For example – I’m a lot pickier about my food now. I go organic when I can because I know my body is already compromised. I may have been able to handle fertilizers and additives before but I am not now willing to “HANDLE” anything that shouldn’t be in my food. NO FAKE FOOD. I eat meat alot less bacause organic grass fed is expensive, but so what? I eat nothing with preservatives or that may have hormones and antibiotics added if I can help it. I eat real food. made with real butter or real sugar not High fructose for your mama cornsyrup. I try to eat as cleanly as I can, and because I can’t chew many veggies I add a green powder to my protien shakes. (Perfect Food from A Garden of Life)

Set your home up as a sacred healing space. Get some life and light around you. Full spectrum Light bulbs are a must, Plants that flower, art etc…If possible have it cleaned for you 1/wk. You have enough to do. And have it cleaned with non toxic detergents and cleaners…for the same reason you are not eating crap anymore…we just don’t know about all the adverse effects on the body of chemicals and when you are healing you don’t need to fight 1 more darn thing.

Once you have handled the conversatonal diet around you and your physical environment and your food supply create opportunities to focus on health healing and living. Minimize your exposure to negative thoughts especially through TV and News coverage, but I find more impactful the COMMERCIALS. The commercials would have me believe everything is a threat and everything is a danger and no one can get an erection anymore and the Cymbalta commercial makes me sick. Seriously. I am not buying what they are selling. I can no longer afford to have my mental space polluted with this crap.

It empowers me to fill my home with beauty and things that make me love life. As an Empowered Patient I take care to get my people enrolled into my intentions for my self and my life, and I manage my mental space to stay as empowered as possible ~ Knowing there will be challenges, pain and not so fun times. It is in those times when my habits really pay off and give me ease. My work is a healthy distraction, because I have a purpose to fulfill. My home is a structure of luxury and beauty for me and my relationships boost me up and remind me why I’m here.