My partner and I signed a lease for a townhome right up the street from where I currently live and we could not be more excited! Moving is stressful, but even more so for someone with myasthenia gravis (MG). The heavy lifting, the sheer exhaustion, being uprooted from the unfamiliar…all of these things can impact myasthenia.
Big life changes, even when they are positive, are daunting. Taking care of your mind, body, and spirit amidst these life changes is a critical component to ensuring the change is smooth sailing. Below are a few tips I have found helpful as I continue to move over the course of these next couple of weeks as someone living with MG.
Maintain your health. This may seem obvious, but it is easy to get away from taking care of your mental and physical health during big life changes. I don’t like change. I’m not a spontaneous person, mainly because I know how it could impact my MG. Stress plays a big role in the severity of MG, and I have noticed my eye drooping significantly more due to all the stress that is involved. I am meditating twice a day and taking my medicine diligently because I know that without my strength, the moving will not get done!
Organize your belongings in stages. There’s no time like moving to get organized. Junk is one of MG’s worst enemies and throwing out/donating things that aren’t essential can be a great way to declutter your space and your mind. When I have too much stuff around my place, I find that I get really overwhelmed, most likely because I know the strength and energy it takes to straighten my place back up. Less is more for those living with MG so take this opportunity to find a system that works for you.
Visualize your new space. Homes and MG can be tricky, especially when they aren’t built with ability or lack thereof in mind. If you are moving into a place with unique features that may impact your MG, research ways to make adaptations. For example, my new place has two floors. I know there will be days when I am too exhausted to go up the stairs, thus, I am in the process of making an “essentials” bag to keep downstairs if the time ever comes that I need to just stay on the ground level. Additionally, there are a lot of cabinets in the kitchen that are difficult to reach. I have trouble lifting my arms from time to time so any kitchen basics that I need are strategically placed in the lower cabinets.
Enjoy the new chapter. I know for me, I get caught up in the stress, the anxiety, the fear, the weakness, the adjustments...Change can be scary but when you find yourself frazzled or fatigued, remember that positive life changes are the birth of new and wonderful beginnings!
The following blog post was written by Meridith O'Connor, St. Louis Program Coordinator for the Myasthenia Gravis Association.
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