Has your disease made you a better person?

There ya go - see 'trajectory' above

 

Andalusia Andalusia Andalusia

 

I don't need empathy. I need a great diagnostician and no arrogance. When I am sick, I don't have energy to cater to the dr's issues. That's what the dr's coworkers should do.

 

No, i am who i am, sick or not. i think we just deal with it differently.

 

BEFORE: I was a work-a-holic, feeling forced to work because my husband is a realtor and times are tough (and I had the health insurance), didn't make much time for family because I was busy working, not taking care of myself (skipping lunch because I was too busy to eat, getting 4-5 hours of sleep so I could head into work early), allowing my bosses to stress me out more than I've ever been at any job................................until 4/26/11 and my life changed when I was visited by THE BEAST.

NOW I take care of myself - eat right, go to the gym, go for walks with my husband, make more time for my husband, kids (all adults now) and grand kids, and I sleep (have no choice - boy this MM makes me tired!).

I can't say its made me a BETTER person but it has certainly helped me to assess life and how I should best spend my time. Which is good for me and my family.
And I quit that stressful job.

Life is too short.
Go live it.

 

In a word: No. This "disease" per se does not define me one way or another.
I did find the topic of empathy to be somewhat compelling. In my opinion we are hardwired for traits/characteristics which further our survival. I believe that empathy, though subjective, is still based on what one objectively interprets, believes, or judges to be another's feelings. As such I do not believe that empathy can be tested or sustained in a situation when ones own survival is at risk.

 

It's sort of hard to improve on perfection.

 

Let me count the ways...

 

I find the subject of empathy compelling as well. Not just how it manifests itself but why and why not.

 

If you think becoming a parent is profound, (I think it is) wait until you become a grandparent. That puts things to a whole different level.

My disease is for sure not a blessing . It doesn't define me. It has changed me but not for better or worse, just different. I was always a strong person, mentally so that has helped me with this crap, but it was always there.

I have been accused several times of being too empathic long before I ever got sick.

I guess I'm weird. Tough as nails most of the time but too empathic to suit some people. Hmmmmm.

 

I can live with many health issues and still have a life with friends and family who are empathetic towards me and will help me in any way they can. Even if they don't truly understand just what I go through, they trust that I am going through it. I used to be able to do it all myself - now that I need help with some things - there's so much love and help out there for me that I never recognized before. I'm grateful to have learned what I do have in my present life. I don't ask for much - I'd hate to overstay my welcome, so to speak.

 

I have always felt that I would not be the person I am today if I had not had Meniere's disease my entire life. This is my norm and I have never known anything different. I feel that I am more accepting and appreciative of what I have than others. Also, though at times my world seems horrible, I know that I am lucky to have the good days and there are people out there who have it much worse than I. At least after an attack I know I will have some good time to go out and enjoy life..be normal. There are other conditions out there that would never give you such relief.

 

"Re: Has your disease made you a better person?"

No, it's made me a cranky bastard.

 

Life has made me a better person. It's been one factor in my life experience. I'd just as soon not had it.

 

Trust you to tell it like it is!

 

I'd say it's made me a better person, and a bit wiser to boot. I certainly have a lot more sympathy for people with chronic conditions, plus I'm a bit more philosophical about my own life and place in the Universe, etc.

A much tougher question would be - was it worth having Meniere's to learn that? haha, that one i've got no idea about.

 

[quote author=Alex
A much tougher question would be - was it worth having Meniere's to learn that? haha, that one i've got no idea about.
[/quote] That's an excellent question, my answer....with age comes wisdom no one needs to have meniere's to learn this, they just need time.

 

Fantastic, Alex

 

I'm about the same although there was a period of time when I was living in Mission Viejo,a friend of my wife whenever she would see me and we would talk she always used to laugh at me because I couldn't understand what she was saying.That annoyed me terribly.
P.S.I'm single sided deaf and have sensorineural hearing loss.

 

Hmmmm. I think Zen and Judo made me a better person and the skills I learned there made MM easier to take.