Am I Dreaming or is This Real?

I have non-medically controlled epilepsy, so I have perhaps two seizures a week. This past week it seemed like suddenly everything was much worse. I had a significant cognitive decline and wasn't sure if what I was experiencing was real or if it was a bad dream. It has been terrible. My seizures went from two a week to having five in the past few days. I felt like I had stepped back in time to when a neurologist over-prescribed a medication from 20 mg. to 200 mg.

This has been a truly "difficult day." Thankfully, I have been through a Mayo Clinic program designed to help you cope with a chronic medical condition. I have been reminded of three things. First, take life one day at a time, which might even be living one hour or one minute at a time. If I focus on baby step success, I am successful.

I might just have to do nothing more than show up. Nothing less. Second, focus on tiny victories. Like taking those baby steps, I need to focus on my routine even if that means everything is abbreviated. So instead of doing 20 minutes of stretching, maybe I just do 5 minutes of stretching. Like the first point, small victories are important as I stick to my routine. Third, I must not catastrophize life. Things will improve. Pain is a part of life, but suffering is a choice. All of you are superheroes, which is why you have the challenges you do. Mere mortals couldn't handle it.

Each of you is very special, and you are an inspiration to those around you.