The Challenge of Living a Balanced Life with Dystonia

The past few weeks have been brutal.  Since I blew my knee out last month while marathon training, I've been living a very sedentary lifestyle.  Slowly, I have been building up my energy level and boosting my mood by trying to take short walks around the block during the workday, but I end up in a limp by the time I get back to the office.  It's been a tough past few weeks, and even when I have my knee scoped and my IT band elongated, I am going to be in for a long recovery.

I do not think there is a withdrawal that is much worse from the high one gets from exercise.  Whether it's a "runner's high" or an endorphin rush from some other physical activity, going from a rigorous training program to doing absolutely nothing is not the greatest feeling.  I am on edge and not able to think as clearly as I normally can.

If you have any type of disorder that causes fatigue, I cannot emphasize enough how much exercise can help one naturally battle fatigue that stems from the stress of daily living.  Exercise combined with living a balanced lifestyle is just so conducive to feeling healthy, even if you're not a generally healthy person.  I've tried numerous vitamins/supplements, extra sleep, avoiding alcohol and drinking water.  None of this seems to help.

I think it all boils down to one thing:

Living a balanced life - with or without exercise.

HA.  I can talk the talk, but can I walk the walk?  It's been years since I've felt I've had a good handle on life.  Of course, I have gone though a number of drastic life and lifestyle changes - including brain surgery, marriage, weight gain, injury, medication changes, plus working full time in front of a computer screen.  Having a desk job for several years now has been psychologically stressful, but it's a job that is conducive to my well-being as a dystonia sufferer.

Okay, so the first step is identifying some stressors:

1. Work
2. Family 
3. Friends
4. Housework
5. Managing Finances
6. Doctor's appointments

Now, we identify WHY are the above stressing me?

1. Work - who likes work?  It's 8+ hours of a day where I could be doing something fun/relaxing.
2. Family - Having a big family is great, but good lord.  We're being pulled in all sorts of directions.
3. Friends - This is where I just feel guilty.  With the family thing and work, I can't fit in time for friends.
4. Housework - res ipsa loquitor.  (Google it.)
5. Managing Finances - Slacking on this one.  With a shoddy economy, I have very few investments.  Banking/mattress stuffing is safe.  In a couple of weeks, I will be losing a substantial amount of money per paycheck due to the sequester.  Yes, I've been furloughed. 
6. Doctor's appointments - Time and money.  Lately, there hasn't been much good news for me on this end either... so that sort of speaks for itself. Oh yes, and of course, sedative medications.

Finally -- what can I do?

• If you're not fighting a disability, the above won't seem like anything out of the ordinary.  But if you have a neurological disorder, such stressors can seem overwhelming and potentially catastrophic.  I need to organize and prioritize everything above.  What can give?  What's a priority? What am I blowing out of proportion?  I need to answer all of these questions and I need a game plan.  I need a life with balance in it.  It's up to me to figure this all out, and over the course of the next few weeks I will have to do this.  The answers aren't going to be black and white, and it's not going to be easy, but it has to be done.