My head is in the clouds right now. I took a heavy sleeping aid about half an hour ago, and wooh, that stuff hits fast and hard.

The sleeping aid has become necessary some nights. I dont know how to sleep when my phone keeps buzzing, buzzing, buzzing. I pick the buzzing thing up, and its a mom saying her son is dying and she needs my support. Its a stranger asking for advice because all transplant centers have rejected him. Its a person stuck in the hospital, unable to sleep and feeling suicidal.

I read your column about addiction and

I follow your blog, and what you say about anxiety hits me

Youre such an inspiration. Can I ask your advice?

You up? Something bad happened

How do I sleep? Turn the phone off, sure, but then there are people out in this broken world with no one to speak with. Its all on my shoulders; Im the only one with the experiences that will help them, plus the heart willing to share those lessons.

Ah, did I forget to mention how easy it is to lie to myself in the middle of the night?

I have a messiahs complex rooted ironically in self-loathing. Lung transplantation gifts one not only with new life, but the burden of survivors guilt. When I laid awake all night during transplant recovery due to my pain, not others I strategized ways to give back to the world. Transplant gave me 3,000 life debt points and I have to pay back each and every point, and then some.

Once recovered, I launched myself into helping. I gave away vast sums of money, volunteered days to serve the homeless, mentored high schoolers, wrote self-help blogs and this column, gave car rides to all who asked no matter the circumstance or distance, spoke at events, etc. Little drips of dopamine to make me feel like a good person.

Alas, nothing has driven away the guilt of surviving when people Ive deemed far better than me pass away without their second chance at life.

Im a type 2 on the Enneagram, so I have really loved to help and thats no secret. Its always, Go ask Brad, he loves to help. I find gratitude when my bank account runs low, Ive met incredible people who are homeless, the high schoolers I mentor are my hearts joy, writing is my passion, the best talks are during car rides, and speaking isnt so scary now. But despite the joys found in caring for others, Ive neglected to care for myself and thats a big problem.

How do I help people effectively when I am exhausted? How do I help people empathetically when Ive become nearly desensitized to death and suffering by facing it daily? How do I help people lovingly when I get pangs of people-fearing anxiety each time I see a Facebook message preview? How do I help people appropriately when boundaries are so easily made murky by guilt-tripping? Its all falling apart.

I grew up admiring a CF blogger. I respected how he seemed to care for all who reached out to him. Despite his advanced lung disease, he made helping seem effortless. Years ago, though, he posted a message saying he was giving up his blog. It was all too much. He needed to focus on himself and his family. I didnt understand how someone could thrive in helping others, but then drop it all, seemingly out of the blue.

Didnt understand.

As a person with a crippled immune system, I must practice self-care for energy and health. As a person surrounded by death, I need the space to process and grieve. Right now, I dont afford myself those things. In my work with youth, do you know what lesson I teach most frequently to anxiety-stricken high schoolers? To rest and care for themselves. Ha.

I am making progress. Im distancing myself from Facebook and rarely checking messages. Ive unfollowed loads of CF and transplant accounts on Instagram (sorry) so my mind can think of matters beyond my disease. I said no to helping people four times this month so far that might seem insignificant but its not. Its not. Oddly, the world continued its rotation upon hesitantly uttering the words, Sorry, but I cant

Im realizing that while loving others is beautiful when done in healthy ways, a trick to kicking back at survivors guilt is to love myself, too. Im more than a servant. I am a person of skill and passion and love and, and, and. I am a person who did and does deserve a second chance at life. So did the other people, but I cant hold myself responsible for the Fates who acted against others.

Wow. Did I just help myself?

Man, this sleeping aid is strong. Time to sleep.

***

Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.

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Not Helping Is a Form of Self-care - Cystic Fibrosis News Today