How to distract yourself from your illness?
As bad as work can be when you’re ill - and it can be tough - having nothing to do can be worse, oh yes it can! You have more time to think about everything that’s not as it was and perhaps worse, time to focus on your pain or discomfort. Ok, I understand I have to be careful here. When you are in agonising pain, it’s a bit rich to say work is a good distraction. All I’m saying is a distraction can be useful although the severity of the symptoms at the time may dictate what kind of distraction is appropriate…. Work may be a possibility… or perhaps getting engrossed in a really good documentary on tv or finding someone who really makes you laugh on YouTube… speaking of which, have you seen my youtube page (www.youtube.com/bjorn1974)??? Shameless plug, I know, but my videos do average a 4.5 star rating (all 38 of them). Ain’t bad for an ole cripple like me, eh??
If you’re in real pain and discomfort, more/new medication may be called for or a call to the doctor or someone else who can help. But even in cases of significant discomfort/pain, a little distraction can help. I remember when I was recovering after coming off a ventilator. I was still having blood transfusions, was bed ridden and incredibly weak, medicated up to the max and feeling hideous. I was also incredibly bored - not a good combination with pain. My sister brought me a walkman with a radio and headphones during the brief visiting hours on the post intensive care unit. Such a small thing but what a difference. I was able to distract myself… even in a really bleak place, the situation was made far more bearable…. So yes, DISTRACTION CAN WORK!
Seeing me on YouTube has often been the prompt for that classic healthy man’s comment: “but you don’t seem ill…” But no, I must stop or I’ll never get up for the new day that is tomorrow… More on that little pet peeve later!
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