Our topic for July is rest. As patients, we manage Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections 24/7, and our progress toward healing takes time. Battling physical, emotional, and mental symptoms over months or years is tiring. Naturally, we need rest periods to replenish our energy and strength.

Rest can take many forms, and our supporters play a critical role in helping us get the rest we need. Using the ideas below, we invite you to reflect on how you can help the Lyme patient in your life by prioritizing rest.

Talk About Rest – As patients, we recommend asking us how we choose to rest and how often we need to rest. There are many ways to rest beyond just getting a good night’s sleep (which can be challenging with Lyme). Giving us space to communicate our preferred forms of rest will help you understand new ways to support us when we need a break.
Support Energy Management – Managing Lyme and other tick-borne infections helps us (requires us!) to develop skills to manage our energy levels. We devote energy to our priority needs and activities and try to avoid overextending ourselves. This skill of energy management is a superpower that we develop through the experience of chronic illness. If you’re familiar with what happens when someone with a chronic illness patient overdoes it, you know how important it is to avoid that. We recommend that our supporters learn about it by asking us questions and help facilitate it by becoming champions of the methods and moments of our necessary rest. We view this as an opportunity for you to help us in an invaluable way.
Avoid Stigmatizing Rest – Rest is critical to people in our community. People with Lyme disease need the opportunity to take breaks just as folks with other medical conditions need necessary things. It’s essential to avoid stigmatizing this. If someone or something is stigmatized, they are unfairly regarded by many people as being bad or having something to be ashamed of. [1] You can instead be a strong advocate for the person in your life who needs rest. You can encourage them to take breaks, create space physically and emotionally for them to rest, and remind others that taking rest is both okay and necessary.
Get Support – As supporters, you are also managing your energy levels and need time to rest and recharge. We understand that you also face challenges. We want to support you. To connect with a community of caregivers to be there for you, Generation Lyme offers Meet-Ups for Supporters, where you can meet people going through similar experiences and receive support.

Thank you for reflecting on rest and creating space for the rest we need. To RSVP to a Meet-Up, tap the button below!

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