For yet others, like myself, acceptance is an issue that will continuously arise as we struggle to make peace with it. Partial acceptance may be achieved as we gain understanding, knowledge, and support, only to back-slide when in the grips of a flare or the pit of despair.
Accepting the diagnosis of a chronic illness has been compared to the Kübler-Ross five-stage model (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) of what a dying person goes through upon being told they have a terminal illness. (Fibromyalgia may not be terminal, but it sure can be life-challenging and life-changing.) It is important to be aware of these stages, know they are part of a very normal process, that not everyone will go through in exactly the same way, in order to deal with them effectively.
Some concrete methods for dealing with the feelings and responses that may occur through the various stages include:
- Arming yourself with knowledge - empowering yourself through research and gathering information.
- Acknowledging your losses - grieve them if you must - then move on.
- Shifting your focus of thinking to how you can over-come problems by seeing them as challenges and potentials rather than limits.
My hope is that you will relate to this article in a way that will allow you to make your own peace with acceptance. No matter what your perspective on life - even if you are still struggling (which most of us are) - you can take control of your own well-being.
If you find yourself stuck in the depression stage and the pit of despair I strongly urge you to visit Coping with Depression, offered by Suite U, instructed by John McManamy. John's depression topic can be found here.
If you are having difficulty accepting the unacceptable then Nurturing the Self: A Guide to Tapping Your Inner Being, a Suite U course, may provide you with the tools you need. Carolan says that "Students will learn how to change their perceptions on patterns that are negative, and to have more harmony and balance inside themselves."
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