Coping with MG When You’re Not Religious

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a unique disease by nature, but it is also a unique perceived experience due to many factors, such as social circumstances, living situations, mental health, financial limitations, and so on. Consequentially, it is often lonely, daunting, and full of uncertainties.

As someone living with MG, I am often seeking advice to help cope with the uncertainty of the condition. I think of advice as something offered with the intention to provide some comfort, whether suggesting a deeper meaning to life, a connection to something bigger than ourselves, a sense of belonging. It may be a reminder that we are not alone, or that there are realms or other life purposes beyond our physical reality and ordeals.

Yet, I've found that advice that is not religious can be hard to come by.

Religion is all around us

For many people, religion is the backbone of hope and purpose in life. I am one of those who grew up in a Christian household but separated from religion in high school. It is nothing I hide, so those close to me are well aware.

However, numerous times since my religious departure, I have gotten recommendations for books or received books as gifts that I am told are not religious or not about God. Yet they mention "God" on every page or couple of pages. Has anyone else had this happen to them? It can be disheartening, annoying, and isolating. This highlighted to me how those who are religious are often so in tune with their religion. They may not pick up on minor hints or subtleties of religion mentioned or depicted throughout their life.

Considering spirituality

Knowing we live in a highly religious world, I asked myself where I can uncover similar advice that gives me reassurance, ambition, support, and hope that people typically seek from religion - especially when navigating MG. My solution? Spirituality.

Have you ever considered how spirituality differs from religion? In short, religion is a united group of followers who live according to scripture. Spirituality, on the other hand, involves the feeling or belief that there is something greater than ourselves.

Spirituality can also involve exploring realms of this universe, interconnectedness with all living things and nature, something more than our physical reality, and listening to where your intuition tells you to find meaning and connection.

Navigating the isolating world of MG

Religion is an organized practice, while spirituality is an individual practice and journey. And you can most certainly live by your means and employ both in your life!

For me, the individuality exploration aspect of spirituality is perfect for living with MG because the disease journey is typically a pretty individual and unique experience as well. The skills I have gained and the mentality shifts I have adopted in my spiritual journey have been applicable on many occasions and have given me peace while navigating the often isolated world of MG.

Sources that have helped guide my practice

Although not many sources exist out in the open for nonreligious advice, I have discovered several that have provided me with comfort, support, and hope since my MG diagnosis. Here is a list of various sources that have helped guide my spiritual practice.

Books

Unfortunately, when searching for books, Amazon struggles to create a separation of religious and spiritual. But they're there! Indigenous knowledge books have common themes that I find fascinating, including community, spirituality, connection with nature, and the cosmos.

Mental health can also be a great starting point for any spiritual journey because I think mindfulness is everything! You can apply mindfulness in every aspect of life. Mindfulness goes hand in hand with spirituality because it entails focusing awareness on the present and our individual experiences. If you are not a book person, try listening to audiobooks or podcasts.

Guided meditations

No, meditation is not the same as spirituality or mindfulness, but meditation can be an excellent practice to employ them. Guided meditations, which you can find all across the web, apps, and social media, are a great starting point to get your mind to dig deeper. I find they can help me think about things more significant to life as a whole, rather than just thoughts of my physical reality, stress, to-do list, etc.

Art

My favorite way to start tapping into spirituality or inner-self is physical or conceptual art, such as writing songs or painting as a form of emotional expression. Just grab some art supplies and a canvas of any sort and create with no plan or thought of your final piece; just let it come naturally and in the moment.

You may need to dig deeper for advice

If you are not religious like me, there are still sources of hope and comfort out there! And I encourage you to explore different outlets, possibly beginning with spirituality.

Continually working on getting to know myself and deepening that relationship and my own experience in this universe, and focusing on being present in the current moment, has done wonders for living a peaceful and meaningful life with myasthenia gravis and establishing confidence with my existence.