My goal is to live fearlessly but I’m traveling backwards on this one.
I’ve been battling pretty severe hypertension issues this year, volatile and very worrisome. I’ve been to the hospital seven times now, admitted three, a myriad of tests complete and thankfully finding noting life-threatening. Stroke and heart attack threatening episodes – yes! Without going thru details of these episodes, I’m consistently told to come to the ER at my hospital when they occur.
I’m letting my blood pressure terrorize me. I determine to feel joy in my life but instead, feel fear, dread and anxiety. How many times can my brain and heart remain undamaged – at the very least – with these assaults on them? I’m now back in my place of wondering when it will happen again. I had four months in the early part of the year when my blood pressure was unpredictable and uncontrolled. When I checked my blood pressure – as told to do before I take my medication – one time it was too low to take my med, and a few days later, it’s 218/112 again!
OK. If this is a lesson – as I believe it is, I’m open and ready to learn. I’ve discovered life-changing messages during these months. With the last revelation - No words can never express…but thank you! I felt so changed that I had expected never ever to have hypertensive issues again. That was peace and bliss!
I had no events until four days ago when I was right back to the old numbers. I had some new symptoms with the elevation and was encouraged by my paramedic grandson to make yet another trip to the ER. And so I did. I chose not to have the suggested (by my grandson and offered by the ER doctor) CT scan of my head. The doctor, a long time and very well respected man – although yes, just a man – told my husband and I several times that from his exam and other tests, that he was 99.9% sure that he’d find nothing on CT. I was comfortable with waiting – and still am. I was given some signs to watch for and report immediately should they appear.
My anxiety is back. Full force. I’m angry and trying very hard to accept what is happening again and decide that today will be full of joy rather than fear and anxiety. I have many, many things to be joyful about. One is that I’m healthy. Uh…. and why am I feeling this angst and fear?
I walk 10,000 steps almost every day – per Dr. Oz. While I’m working on my physical health with each step, I’m listening to Eckhart Tolle’s, The New Earth, and Practicing the Now – for my emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. How many times have I listened…..and each time hearing something different, learning something new. His books have changed my life.
But there is that nagging, energy-tapping fear! When I get in touch and “feel” and “hear” what I’m telling myself, it’s about the fear of dying. I love life and want to live it out loud, want to “slide” into my death, without pain and on my feet. Yes, I believe that’s possible. I am dismayed that I’m letting fear swallow up my days – whining about fear of dying.
I used to be in denial about my death. I’ve always known that along with everyone else who lives, I’ll die. I’ve nonchalantly said those words. Adding that I didn’t like the thought of it, would probably be hanging on with fingertips, wanting to do or say “just one more thing”, but that I “just didn’t want to be in pain or fear”. Ha! Right! But it was off in the future then. Except for very rare times, it was not in my thoughts. I was very sure that there was something that I could eat, a vitamin that I could take, a thought that I could think…..whatever. “Something” would be there by the time that I needed it. It just was not a reality to me. I call it denial but it was more of something that would happen someday in the distant future. So distant as to not bother myself with thoughts of it. I loved that place. I so want it back….
Well now I’m in my 70′s, exceptionally healthy except that I have severe insomnia and am told it is probably the culprit. Studies are showing how it is related to hypertension. That is only part of my issue. Maybe this lesson is about death, another lesson about acceptance. I’ve discovered that my terror is death. I want to stay here. I don’t want to leave. I have family and friends that I love and can’t bear the thought of leaving. But even more than that, I’m finding, is the fear of the unknown. Aaaarrrrghh!
I have a deep faith in God, I have a theory of death that is personal and acceptable to me. In theory. If I truly believed it with my whole being, I suppose I’d have no fear. But obviously I’m not there yet. I’m working on it. Acceptance. Trust. I know I need to let go and live my life. I feel that I’m wasting my precious days with this fear. I’m miserable with anxiety and fear. Today. Tomorrow will be better. I’m going to use Scarlet’s line. I’ll think about it tomorrow.
to be continued….
