Have You Heard of a Recovery Graph?

My doctor drew this graph for me. I thought you might relate. Recovery from any kind of stress or trauma is really the same. Once free from abuse, we think it will be easy, but that’s not usually the case.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made and we have a great capacity for healing and restoration within us. There are some things though, like child sexual abuse, trafficking, and rape that are core violations. They are very traumatic. Even if the events were not apparently violent and maybe left no obvious, external scarring, the deep impact is very real.

As I noticed the up and down with relative consistency at the left side of the graph, I can’t help but recognize that it is the same across the board for what ever we need recovery from. There are abuse cycles that are up-&-down. There are loads of illnesses that are chronic in nature that are the same. We might even get progressively worse without intervention.

Intervention or treatment is always very individual because there is no one else on earth like you. You are special. You are unique. Even if family members have the same affliction, they may not respond to the same therapies. Of course there are certain things that will be good for anyone and everyone.

These things are good for a person recovering from some injury or illness or trauma or addiction. They are good for the super successful business owner or the stay-at-home mom. They are good for life.

• Rest. Rest isn’t just sleep. Although sleeping at least 7 hours per day is very important. Sometimes, we just need to rest.
• Eat good food. Some of us eat food-like products that may or may not be good at all. Eat food that doesn’t have ingredients.
• Think positively. Too many of us rehearse the bad parts of life. Be intentional about thinking about wonderful things.
• Worship. Our Creator is worthy of adoration. Watch a waterfall. Look at the ocean. Sit by a field or on a mountain and just notice how beautiful it all is. Imagine how much more beautiful is must be in heaven, where sin has not wrecked it.
• Love. If you are all alone in the world, love yourself. Love a pet. Love in tangible ways. Do what’s best for the person you’re loving. Do they need a hug? Can you bring them dinner? If it’s you, would it be best for you to go for a walk or take a nap or listen to music?
• Learn. Our lives are one long chain of continuing development. We all have the capacity to learn new things. Try all kinds of stuff. We have access to just about anything we want to learn online, with all kinds of social media. Read books on something new to you. Learn to dance or paint, really anything, just challenge yourself.
• Speak up. Say life affirming things about yourself, your circumstances, the people around you and your hopes for the future. This is by far the hardest thing to do, when you’re really hurting, but it is super healing and helpful.

No matter what your treatment is, these things should be added to the prescription. I’m not sure how I got so lucky to have Lyme as well as, such a tumultuous childhood. I do know that God can use everything we go through, if we turn to Him.

Do you have things that you do to improve your wellness?