Embracing Change: Surrendering to the Seasons of Myasthenia Gravis

Grief is easy to fall victim to when faced with the realities of living with myasthenia gravis (MG). Yet, I've discovered a transformative perspective throughout the pain and uncertainty. Just as the Earth experiences the shifting seasons, each bringing its own trials and triumphs, our bodies also navigate cycles of change and renewal.

Living with MG, we may encounter these seasonal shifts multiple times in a single year, each demanding our attention and care to maintain stability despite constant change.

Seasons of change

As I navigate MG's unpredictable nature, I have to constantly reanalyze the effect on my life and daily activities and the required response. Understanding the seasons of MG and the specific demands they bring is essential for coping and maintaining a sense of normalcy.

Spring: Renewal and hope

In spring, Earth comes to life, much like I felt after I started to notice gradual improvement from my treatments and thymectomy, the first sense of hope I felt after my diagnosis.

Reflecting on the Earth's renewal during spring, I happily invite energy and positive emotions as they come in waves. I like to use spring as the time to try new hobbies, explore interests, or find ways to counteract the isolation I feel a lot. Connecting with friends, loved ones, and the MG community helps me develop a more positive outlook and encourages me to focus on the potential for growth and healing.

Summer: Allow the rainy season to nourish

I associate summer with enjoyable weather and opportunities for fun. However, just as summer weather can change unexpectedly during the rainy season, I experience ups and downs in my symptoms and energy levels. I often encounter sudden storms, like summer, that create disorder in my life.

The rainy season is essential to the Earth, cleansing away debris and offering a renewal for nature to reset. Rain reflects the importance of processing and releasing negative built-up emotions. I do not fight the difficult moments of living with MG, remaining confident that a calmer period will follow.

Autumn: Time for reflection and winding down

As autumn comes, everything around changes. The gradual fading of daylight mirrors my increasing fatigue and energy. The falling leaves are a sign it's time to abandon what isn't positively serving me. This season is about stepping back to reevaluate my limits and what my body truly needs, allowing space for growth.

Like nature always accepts its time to prepare for winter, I have learned to embrace the neverending changes throughout MG and life.

Winter: Resting, recharging, and accepting

Winter brings its own set of difficulties that remind me of those I've experienced with MG, such as when I was recovering from my thymectomy surgery. There are days when the symptoms feel like too much to handle. Winter is a call to be gentle with myself, allowing for rest without guilt and embodying a slower pace.

I remind myself that this slow, sometimes long, exhausting period is unavoidable. Just as the seasons without fail repeat in the same order, moving forward in our healing journey can only happen after allowing our body to rest and recharge, our spring after winter.

Navigating the cycles and changes of MG

Living with MG has taught me the importance of embracing change and the different seasons essential for achieving happiness and fulfillment. Recognizing the significance of renewal, growth, rest, and resetting makes it easier to face the complexities of MG with patience and resilience.