When did your journey with Lyme begin?
My Journey with Lyme began in September 2012. I was two weeks into my senior year of college in Boston. I woke up one morning feeling dizzy, confused, and exhausted. I just knew what I was feeling wasn’t me and I didn’t know how to escape it. My dad picked me up from school and took me to my doctor’s office. She tested me for Lyme Disease and luckily it came back positive. I never heard of Lyme Disease and remember my friend telling me her dad had it a few times so never thought it would turn into a two year battle.
Was there a turning point in your journey?
I would say the turning point of my journey was when I was sitting in Dr. Raxlen’s office and knew I was finally in good hands. After going to five different doctors and them all telling me I was fine, Dr. Raxlen made me feel like I wasn’t crazy anymore. Before him I was getting to the point where I thought am I making this up? Finding the right doctor who believes in you is a key aspect in healing.
What are some of your favorite tools for healing?
When my body was going through all the detox I really had to care for my body. Listen to what my body needed. If my body was telling me I’m tired, then I didn’t push it. The first year I was sick I pushed it, acted like I didn’t have Lyme Disease and ended up in a downhill spiral. Through being sick I’ve become very in tune with my inner needs and I don’t ignore them anymore.
What’s one thing you wish others knew about living with Lyme Disease?
After my treatment everyone would say “so are you better now, are you healed”? As many people with Lyme Disease know it doesn’t just end when treatment is over. It’s hard explaining to people that your always gonna have some of your Lyme Disease symptoms. I’m about 98% better, but there are some days when I feel tired, but I just take it easy and the next day I’m able to bounce back. It’s hard for people to understand how one day you are fine and the next day you need to rest. But I realized I have to do what’s best for me.
What’s one thing you wish you could tell individuals who have just been diagnosed?
When I was first diagnosed with Lyme Disease I kept looking for the answer of when is this gonna be over? When is the exact date I’ll be healed? The problem is there is no clear answers. Everyone is different and treatment is challenging. I wish I could tell my old self that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I would say Lyme Disease has changed my life for the better. I take care of my body in ways I wouldn’t have before. I make sure I’m eating the right foods, getting rest and exercising. I’m now that healthy-nut of a person who’s walking around with grilled chicken in my bag.
What’s been your biggest obstacle in your healing journey?
One of my big symptoms when I was very sick was anxiety. When I first started detoxing from the infusion treatments my anxiety took over. I was scared of things I’ve been doing my whole life, taking the subway and being in cabs. It got so bad that I couldn’t even leave my house. But eventually I got over that and although I still sometimes struggle with the subway, I get on it every single day. I think the biggest obstacle I faced was taking control of my anxiety. It took over my life.
Do you have a spiritual practice? How does that help?
When I was going through my treatment I did a lot of meditating and writing. When you’re someone who constantly worries like me and stuck in bed all day, there was only one thing for my mind to do: Worry! I kept thinking about every possible thing that could go wrong. Mediating really calmed me done. When I was sick I had a lot of anger. Writing was a great way for me to express my feelings.
What are your hopes and dreams for your future?
I’ve always loved comedy and it’s always been an outlet for me. Even when I was sick I was determined to somehow make what I was going through funny. Since getting better I’ve been able to follow my dreams of doing comedy. I love making comedy videos, and now I’m focusing on stand up comedy. When I was sick I missed performing and now I’m doing it and couldn’t be happier.
What are some of the things you have learned as part of this experience?
I was always a very impatient person. Always wanted everything to get done as quickly as possible. With Lyme Disease it’s really about time. It takes time for the body heal. It doesn’t change over night. I was just thinking how this time last year I was at my sister’s wedding struggling to stand by her as her maid of honor and now I’m running around the city doing stand up comedy. Going through my own sickness has made me a very compassionate person towards others. When people tell me their sick I can understand what their going through on a much deeper level then before I got Lyme Disease.
Tori Piskin | Sorry, Having a Lyme Day
Tori’s Youtube Channel: http://bit.ly/1PUNqyp
