She was known to wag her finger and tell us, “Mind yourself,” if we weren’t following her interpretation of the social norms for children. Thus, when I first heard the phrase used as a pleasant way of saying goodbye here in Ireland, I thought that perhaps I’d somehow offended. I know better now. “Mind yourself” is, I suppose, akin to the “take care” or “be good” that you might hear in America. It’s familiar, it’s convivial, it is personal and well-meaning. It also implies care and concern for the person being wished well on their way.
We Have More Than Enough Reasons to ‘Take Care’
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and as I’ve, frankly, been having a bit of an issue during this pandemic lockdown, “mind yourself” seems fitting advice to take onboard myself. As if the emotional ups and downs of multiple sclerosis (MS) weren’t enough (and, oh, they’re well beyond enough!), we’re all trying to cope with the added stresses of the current crisis. With fears and anxiety layered with political stresses and a nonstop news cycle, it can be a crushing weight of despair on top of our delicately balanced sanity. I’ve had to limit my information intake as if I’m on a COVID-19 news diet — shying away from an all-too-easy overindulgence. I completely avoid any news or social media after 7 p.m., because I’ve had trouble sleeping (and have intense dreams) if I’m riled by reports before bed. On top of everything else, my jurisdiction has required those most vulnerable to COVID-19 complications (people over 70 or with underlying health conditions) to “cocoon” without leaving home for the past eight weeks. I have only just recently been allowed to leave the confines of my own garden. That’s helped a lot! RELATED: Share Your Tips for Staying Emotionally Healthy on Tippi
Minding Our Mental Well-Being Is an Ongoing Task
But well beyond “in these times,” coping with MS and our mental well-being can be a constant endeavor. It can seem we’ve just completed one lap around the stages of grieving when the next ability is taken by the disease. We feel pressure (from within or without) to engage and perform beyond what we can. We struggle with finances, relationship, family, and the healthcare system. It took me a good few years to understand that I was having difficulties coping with MS. Once I did, I got professional help in the person of a rehabilitation therapist (psychological, not physical), and that has made all the difference. Not that I don’t have those difficulties any longer. It’s more that I feel more prepared with tools to deal with the dark days when they come calling … and they do still call. Like a piece of intricate machinery, however, I do require the occasional tune-up. It’s all part of how I’ve incorporated “mind yourself” into my daily life with multiple sclerosis. And of late, it seems that my “self” has needed a bit more minding. Wishing you and your family the best of health. Cheers, Trevis
