Wendi M. Lindenmuth's Blog

I have always loved writing letters.
When I was little, I always left letters for my mom to read under her pillow. It was my way of expressing how I was feeling.

I needed a way to express how I was feeling about my body living with chronic Lyme disease and other autoimmune issues. I was tired of fighting and not loving my body and needed a different approach to communicate with it.

My new book, Love Letters for Your Body,
is a unique and powerful way to promote emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical healing.

It was a reminder to encourage a more profound connection within myself, fostering self-awareness, acceptance, and gratitude, especially since I didn’t particularly like my body because it didn’t work properly.

I shifted my perspective, focused on what my body still did, and remembered everything each body part did daily to keep me alive.

I have cultivated a deeper appreciation and love for my body beyond physicality. Focusing on what my body can do instead of what it no longer does has made all the difference.

I can't wait for you all to hear this episode! There is so much depth and hope and healing woven into this story; let me know what you think!

In 2015, Wendi's life drastically changed when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease and other life-threatening infections. Each chapter of her new book, "Dear Lyme Disease," takes you from theory to practice so you can start learning alternative healing tools and engaging in experiential exercises to start implementing a new way of thinking, living, finding your "new normal" and HOPE.

Key Takeaways:

* "I discovered how strong I was when my body was at it's weakest."

* No one teaches you how to live within a weak and broken body.

* I went from going on a 100-mile bike ride to having to crawl to the bathroom. (16:00)

* We live in a Go-Go-Go society; no one teaches how to live in slow motion.

* "I am not an authority on treating, diagnosing, and any other chronic disease and illness. I am, however, an authority on living with chronic pain and the symptoms of this disease and my other related diagnoses."

* Michael J Fox "This message is so simple and yet gets forgotten. The people living with the conditions are the experts."

* Writing this letter to Lyme disease allowed me to let go of so much anger.

* I knew I needed to forgive (Lyme) to heal.

* My brain feels like it was reprogrammed. (38:00)

* Do you think the anger comes from the illness or the grief? BOTH

* How close to divorce are we?

* "You should consider getting a counselor. Your marriage now has a 3rd party in it (illness). -Sarah

* Learning to live simply allows me to live.

* "You are the superhero in your own healing journey."

* What does worthiness have to do with healing your body? EVERYTHING…(50:00)

Link: https://lymevoice.com/ep105-dear-lyme-disease-transforming…/

Have you ever written yourself a love letter?

Writing helps you heal and to make sense of things.

When you find it difficult to use your voice or to share how you feel, writing allows you a safe space to explore your thoughts and emotions—a place to release your fears and find your hopes and dreams again.

Writing can help change your outlook by allowing you the space to let go of the negative thoughts and emotions. It allows you time to process them and to accept that life may not have gone according to plan, but with a new perspective, you can craft alternate endings, perspectives, and opportunities.

Take some time this week to write yourself a love letter.

First, find a quiet spot where you will not be distracted. You can use a notebook, journal, or electronic device. If you like, you can play music in the background to help you too. Just allow your thoughts and feelings about yourself to flow out and do not hold back. This is for your eyes only.

Here is my letter:

Dearest Wendi,

I want you to know how brave you are. I know things have not been that easy for you in the past 5 years. Your whole life was turned upside down and you have had to try to put it right side up again for a long time now.

I know this has been a long road for you with so many different challenges being thrown your way without any warning, but I need you to know how much I admire your strength and courage. You are so much stronger than you thought you were.

You have become my own personal hero.
I know that you have felt lost many times and have tried to make sense of everything that has happened. I know you do not have all the answers and maybe never will, but you have learned to continue to move forward by learning as much as you can and never giving up.

I realize that the path you are on now isn’t what you had planned for your future, but somehow you have been able to relearn and prioritize what is most important in your life and focus on that. I am so proud of you for always looking at the positive side of things when it is so easy to focus on what you can no longer do or be.

You have had to change so much about your life that it no longer reflects who you once were, but that is ok. You have transformed into someone new and beautiful. You have learned it is ok to do things at your own pace and to slow things down. You have learned it is ok to set healthy boundaries for yourself and stick to them.

Your ability to continue to show up every day and learn and grow amazes me. Through your eyes, I have been able to view beauty where I could have seen nothing by ugliness and darkness.

I admire your courage to cry when you need to, to rest when you are tired, and to say no when you do not have the strength.

Thank you for never forgetting how significant you are, that you are so incredibly worthy, smart, strong, and enough.
Thank you for being relentless in finding new tools and resources to help yourself and to help others.

You are my hero and I love you.

Love, Me

https://drive.google.com/…/10_i4Wc9slEgXOkcux08jz81QA…/view…

When I got Lyme disease, all my future goals were no longer realistic, and I had put a hold on creating any new ones for a while. As my health started to improve, I began to feel more inspired and motivated to think of future possibilities.

Having goals has always been important in my life and doing so has helped me have something new to aim for. It gave me a purpose. When you are ready to start creating new goals, start with one at a time so it does not feel overwhelming. Make it a goal that you can accomplish.

Exercise 1:

Try these steps out for yourself:

First, define what your goals are. After a chronic illness diagnosis, it is common for people to experience a crisis of identity. Suddenly, they do not know how they fit in their world anymore.

One of the greatest things to help you move forward into fulfillment is to set goals for what you want out of your life. Are they the same or different than before?

Make a list of the goals you want to accomplish, so you have something to reflect on when you are trying to decide how to spend your time.

Next, make a detailed list of tasks associated with accomplishing those goals. One of the most powerful energies in the universe is the energy of momentum. Lists like this help you gain momentum with every checkbox you get to tick off as you complete it. Make sure you list the steps out clearly and celebrate every time you accomplish a step.

Separate what you can outsource and what you want to do yourself. One of the most beneficial things you can do as someone with a chronic illness is to stop trying to do it all. Even people without chronic illnesses struggle to do it all, so it is time to start being more intentional with your actions.

What are the things that you do not enjoy doing or that would be easier to hand to someone else? This might be getting someone else to do the dishes, clean the bathrooms, cook the meals, take care of the lawn, or any number of chores or tasks.

If you’re not sure if something can be outsourced, but you know you definitely don’t want to do it, put it on the outsourcing list and get help figuring out if it’s something that you can have someone else take off your plate.

Another helpful tool I found to use is called SMART Goals. A SMART Goal is a carefully planned, clear, and trackable objective. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/smart-goal/

Using the SMART Goal framework helped me set boundaries and define the steps I needed to take, the resources necessary to get there, and the milestones that indicated the progress I was making. You are more likely to achieve your goal efficiently and effectively with SMART Goals.

An example of using SMART Goals with your physical health:

Goal 1: I want to work out every day

*Specific: I will work out every morning at 6:00 am to lose x lbs.

*Measurable: I will work out every day for one month for 30 minutes

*Attainable: I will work out for 30 minutes each day and keep track of each work out on my app/schedule

*Rewarding: Working out every day allows me to have more energy for the whole day

*Time-bound: My workouts/weight will be completed and tracked for one month

Exercise 2:

Try creating your own SMART goals this week. Choose just one goal that you feel is attainable and not overwhelming. Move on to a new goal going forward each week.

Your Physical Health:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

Your intellectual health:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

Your emotional health:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

Your spiritual health:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

Your relationships:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

Parenting:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

Your financial life/Money:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

Your work/life purpose:

*Specific:

*Measurable:

*Attainable:

*Rewarding:

*Time-bound:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the US every year. That’s 1.5 times the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer, and six times the number of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS each year in the US.

When I was diagnosed with #chroniclymedisesase in 2015, my entire life was rerouted on a scary and uncertain path.
I had a choice to live a life with #chronicpain #chronicfatigue and #limitations and believe there was no future or I could start looking at my life differently and create a new relationship with my body, mind, emotions and spirit.

I invite you to read more about my story and #alternativehealing tools in my new book, Dear Lyme disease. It is $.99 on Amazon (ebook) this week or get the paperback.

25% of profits from my book go to Lyme Disease Organization for #LYMEAWARENESSMONTH

https://www.amazon.com/…/dp/B087CFFDYW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0…

Remember, every day we wake up is an
opportunity to make our day the best day
possible.

We are all at different phases in our
healing journey, so just start where you are; don’t
compare with anyone else. Try not to get too
overwhelmed about tomorrow or the next day. All
we have is today, right now. So, believe in yourself
that you do have some control over your life, even
if it doesn’t feel like it. Believe in yourself that you
will get better.

I believe in you.

Some days may feel triumphant and some days
may feel like epic failures but keep on going and
do your best. That is all we can do. Show up and
focus on your smallest victories of what you
accomplished each day, not what you didn’t. Be
gentle, kind and compassionate with yourself. It is
your time now to focus on your self-care and take
care of you.

You cannot be your best or of service
to anyone else until you can be of service to
yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0lA...

GOOD VIBRATIONS!

Emotional Aspects of Lyme Disease and Chronic Pain

When I first became ill with Lyme disease and other life threatening diseases, I experienced many of the of stages of grief from losing the life I once knew, denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I did not experience the stages in a specific order or experience all of them, but I did spend a long period of time mourning the person I used to be and all that I used to do. I discovered that these emotions are very common for people with chronic illness and pain who are struggling to find their identity again.

If you are dealing with the different stages of grief from your chronic illness and pain, know that you are not alone, and I encourage you to seek the support that you need and to be patient and kind to yourself. I am here for you too! You are very important and your feelings matter.

When I first felt the symptoms of Lyme disease, I was in complete denial. I kept trying to do the simplest tasks I had been able to do before, and that only left me overwhelmed with my pain, limitations and emotions. My life no longer made sense. A part of me went numb so I could handle knowing that the life I once knew was behind me and I had no idea what my future held. As I tried to make it through each day, I could get a better handle on my life and slowly start accepting my new reality and healing. 

I also felt very angry. How dare Lyme disease take everything away from me and make me feel helpless and lost! I wasn’t only angry at Lyme disease; I was angry at my friends and family who were still getting on with their lives. I was also angry at my healthcare providers for not knowing all the answers. And I was angry at myself. How had I gone for so long without knowing I had Lyme disease? What could have I done differently to have prevented getting a tick bite? Why hadn’t I listened to my body when I first started feeling sick and not continued to push myself? Somehow I used my anger to help give me strength and not give up.

There were often times that I felt very sad and an emptiness in my life where once a vibrant, purposeful life was. I found myself withdrawing more and more from life, wondering, what was the point of having this disease and what is my purpose now? Although feeling sad was uncomfortable, I knew I had to be patient, that it was part of my healing process.

Being able to accept my new reality of living with Lyme disease was not easy. There are days I still don’t want to accept it, but I now have the tools to help me. Accepting my pain and disease, don’t mean I am alright with it, but that I acknowledge the facts and that I am open to having a different relationship with it. I had a choice to make to let go of my past and create a new one by relearning simple tasks and redefining who I was going to be.  Mostly, I wanted to feel happy again and start enjoying my life. It was slow but I began living my life again.

One of the odd emotional symptoms of Lyme disease that I experienced was depersonalization. Meaning I didn’t really feel much or have any specific emotions about anything. Something that would ordinarily trigger a deep emotional response, made me feel nothing and have no reaction. I went from one extreme to the other, and am thankful to be able to feel all my emotions once again.

You were given emotions to feel and connect to yourself and the reality around you. Learning to face your emotions will help you understand that emotions are neither good nor bad; they are neutral. It is time to unlearn what we were taught.  The process of facing your emotions one by one instead of ignoring them will help you begin paying attention to them and hearing the messages they have to share. Most importantly, when you learn to accept and love each of your emotions, it allows your body, mind and soul to heal. It will be easier to acknowledge the ones that make you feel safe, but I encourage you to get a little uncomfortable and face the emotions that you have been hiding from.  

Here is an exercise that you can do:

Imagine each of your emotions showing up as a bubble in front of you. Observe how each bubble is making you feel without any judgment as it floats in front of you. You can choose to hold each emotion bubble in your hands as well. Ask each emotion if has any messages for you at this time.

Be patient and quiet your mind. When you are ready, look at the emotion, send it love and gratitude for all that it has taught you, then imagine each emotion floating off and away from you. As it drifts further away it is releasing you from any attachments and memories, allowing you to create new healthy ones.

Set a time when you can be in a quiet environment without any interruptions. Listen to the messages your body is trying to tell you and write them down 

Buy my book, Dear Lyme Disease and support Lyme Awareness Month for the month of May. 25% of my book sales will go to the Lyme Disease Organization.

 

Recently I was interviewed about my new book, Dear Lyme Disease and what inspired me to write it.

The truth is, I never planned on writing a book. In 2015, my life drastically changed when I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and other life-threatening infections. Not only was I diagnosed with Lyme Disease, I had other tick co-infections, my thyroid had stopped working and caused severe atrophy to my muscles, I got a staph infection and MRSA from my shingles that was on my face, and ended up with Meningitis.

I went from being a competitive athlete, enjoying the flexibility and freedom of my life to being bedridden and unable to function, as my physical and mental body could no longer think, move or function properly.

People would comment how brave I was when they heard my story and I should consider writing a book about my journey. I certainly didn’t feel brave, I was literally just trying to survive and make it to the next day. Over the next few years as I began healing and feeling better, I would hear others say the same thing and slowly the idea of writing a book took hold.

Looking back on my experience, I felt very alone. Although my family and friends were supportive and tried to understand the new me and my limitations, no one else really understands unless they experience it themselves. I was thankful for the progress I had made and the help I received from my health care providers, but I often felt dis-empowered. Between appointments and not feeling well, I would find myself waiting in limbo relying on the next test, the next supplement or medicine. There had to be something that I could personally do to start healing myself.

I was not one just to sit around and do nothing, so I began researching alternative healing tools that I could try at home. I was my own clinical trial, practicing different healing modalities from chakras, meditation, prayers, breathing, listening to sound frequencies, using essential oils and crystals, energy healing, mindset and more.

From my own healing journey I realized I a wealth of information and tools to share with others in the same situation. I look back and wish that I had some sort of survival guide to refer to for support and hope when I needed it most. So, finally last year, I decided to write about my story and share my message so that others could have their own survival/ healing guide to help them in their healing journey.

It is my intention that my book reminds you that it is ok to let go of the life you thought you would have had and start living the life in front of you. If you are struggling with Lyme Disease, chronic illness and pain, you can learn new tools to create a new relationship with your body, mind and soul and learn to love yourself and to optimize your life despite your limitations.

You are not alone. I believe in you.

Wendi

Purchase Dear Lyme Disease on Amazon

Purchase on Barnes and Noble

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Are you looking for different ways to help you with your stress and anxiety?

Recently I asked one of my Facebook groups what they have been doing to help with their stress and anxiety. Below is a list of different ideas that you can try if you are also experiencing additional stress and anxiousness in your life right now. I hope it helps!

Going out in nature

Using essential oils

Limiting media and news

Using high vibe practices

Epsom salt baths with apple cider vinegar and lavender essential oil

Creating with lots of color

Getting outside for a walk

Playing and petting pets

EFT tapping

Acknowledging we do not have control over the situation but we do have control over how we react to it

Letting go and trusting

Saging

Meditation

Working in the garden and/or re-potting plants

Long walks in the wilderness with my dog

Listening to higher frequency music/Solfeggio tones on youtube

Changing your attitude

Changing a negative thought into a positive one

Listening to calming music

Getting exercise and fresh air

Dancing

Journaling

Being creative; painting, drawing, singing, dancing

Taking a drive and listening to loud music and singing

Taking it easy and not pushing myself

Being kind and gentle to myself

Praying

Organizing the house

Starting a new project

Getting some sun

Yoga

Tai chi

Focus on mindfulness

Focus on breathing slowly and deeply

Sending the the energies of peace calm serenity grace ease love joy faith compassion forgiveness to the world

Eating healthy

Spending quality time with family and your kids

Talking to your friends and family on-line and on the phone