Keep Occupied

When your mind, body and emotions are exhausted the amygdala is still firing and stress hormones still stimulating so the mind races agitatedly and watches each second pass.  To free yourself from this catch22 situation you need a crutch to rest your mind on.  And that crutch is to keep occupied and to do what you choose calmly and peacefully.  This is not about 'doing' but 'being'.  The choice of what you do will enable the mind to be distracted from your symptoms and accepting and floating in what occupys it now.  Your attention is focussed and all thoughts are repalced so that the amygdala can rest. 

The question is 'what to occupy yourself with'?  I started painting my flat (it took months) - very slowly and without any pressures.  Other clients have reconditioned old cars, started quilting, started gardening and building model toys.  All of these activities were done in relaxed way, breathing calmly and without pressure.  It is not easy not to rush, to set a deadline or to judge what you're doing. 

Be aware that normal activities, like cleaning for example, may still be things that trigger anxiety and the amygdala will overwork when you think about having to clean.  So avoid being occupied by just 'anything', like wth work you used to do as activities you were doing when your amygdala started overworking will still hold strong negative thoughts. 

If you are still in bed or lying on the sofa and can't believe this is possible - ask youself "are you any better for having been in this state for the last x months"?   You are going to start a creative activity and pace yourself.  You cannot damage your body and indeed your muscles will regain they ability to function normally.  Muscles that have not been used for some time will always complain when first used again.  Their aching is only their peevish protest, not a measure of damage done by their re-use.  In fact, in spite of such aching they will regain their normal strength much quicker when used than when laid aside to rest.  The tiredness of CFS is real and will still require restorative practices (breathing, meditaiton etc) and some rest, but only a certain amount.  Balance and pacing.

The body will recover as the mind finds peace and the mind is more likely to find peace when occupied that when brooding.  An hour spent in bed with the amygdala overworking as your thoughts race will exhaust you more than some light work.  Your body is ready to obey any reasonable demand, however exhausted you may think youself, provided you are interested in what you are doing and not in watching your body work for fear you may 'overdo it'. 

It is okay to overdo it slightly in the beginning.  It is not unusual tobe in a quandary trying to estimate how much work to attempt so as not to overtire.  Don't take on obviously too strenuous things yet it is better to work and risk overtiring yourself than to do nothing for frear of it.  If you do overtire, don't lose confidence and regret what you did.  Accept the fatigue calmly, rest and work again, two steps forward to each step back.

Leave the dishes make artificial flowers or breed dogs.  You need to be interested in it so your mind, body and soul can rest and be soothed.  When you are symptom free you can get back to the dishes and cleaning and career work.  Right now the body needs distraction so it can heal.