How has Lyme Disease affected your life? What inspires you?
May is Lyme awareness month and I wanted to share a beautiful image – a small selection of butterflies representing stories from Lyme Disease sufferers (butterflies from stories shared here!) I wanted to pay tribute to each and everyone of them and send love, light and hope for their healing journey. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
In the last 18 months, since I received a positive diagnosis for Lyme, I have learned so much about this debilitating disease, which is caused by the borrelia virus carried by ticks. I have been studying Nutritional Therapy at the College of Naturopathic Medicine and decided to take a year out before my final year to research more about Lyme and complex chronic illnesses which so often go hand in hand. Although diagnosed with ME at age 19 my real healing journey began about a decade ago, however I was relieved to finally get to the root of what had probably triggered my chronic fatigue, gut symptoms and autoimmunity for all these years.
During this last year I have met so many amazing people who suffer with Lyme and related illnesses and I have been blown away by their strength and determination, and how despite their symptoms they keep going everyday in pursuit of their health. For without health we have nothing. Lyme is a poorly understood disease and finding answers is not easy, getting treatment even harder, as it’s so often very costly and still largely not understood or recognized by the healthcare profession so many people are not as fortunate as me.
During this current time of isolation we find ourselves in, there is much that can be learnt from people suffering with Lyme or any chronic illness. These are people who have had to adapt to living in isolation, who understand grief as the life they knew was lost, live in fear of what the future holds, often lose jobs and each day must learn to take utmost responsibility to support their health. All of which many of us are now facing.
My gratitude goes out to everyone who has helped me on my journey to recovery… the naturopaths, the healers, the therapists and other Lyme sufferers I have learnt so much from each and every one of you. I now wish to shine my light in helping others on their healing journey.
For more information about Lyme Disease visit lymediseaseuk.com