Athena Brownson

And it's really difficult at that time to a moment and understand that although these are the most challenging times of my life, and it's been seven and a half years where I don't remember what it is like to not be in constant pain, I have Waking up in the morning is, it feels like the most difficult task I've ever done.

And it's really difficult at that time to a moment and understand that although these are the most challenging times of my life, and it's been seven and a half years where I don't remember what it is like to not be in constant pain, I have Waking up in the morning is, it feels like the most difficult task I've ever done.

Every little thing that I do is so taxing on my body and exhausting on my body and painful. I spend a huge amount of time in hospitals. Like I said, I get sick. all of my plasma taken out once a month which is a huge transfusion it's really hard not to get stuck in the mud when you're dealing with something that is so challenging and so constant and chronic pain and chronic fatigue and

Every little thing that I do is so taxing on my body and exhausting on my body and painful. I spend a huge amount of time in hospitals. Like I said, I get sick. all of my plasma taken out once a month which is a huge transfusion it's really hard not to get stuck in the mud when you're dealing with something that is so challenging and so constant and chronic pain and chronic fatigue and

All of the symptoms that come with Lyme disease are enough to make anyone want to stay in bed and not do anything. And I truly... A lot of people do, and there's no right or wrong way of approaching life and its challenges, and that includes disease. Everyone has their own way to get through things, but what I personally have learned and what I hope to share with others is...

All of the symptoms that come with Lyme disease are enough to make anyone want to stay in bed and not do anything. And I truly... A lot of people do, and there's no right or wrong way of approaching life and its challenges, and that includes disease. Everyone has their own way to get through things, but what I personally have learned and what I hope to share with others is...

We have to really dig deep and understand that when you look back in life, nothing, you don't learn your greatest lessons. You don't grow when everything's going to plan. We make the biggest strides. We have the biggest periods of growth when we're going through difficulties and we figure out how we're going to get through them. And we don't allow ourselves to gets stuck in the mud, so to speak.

We have to really dig deep and understand that when you look back in life, nothing, you don't learn your greatest lessons. You don't grow when everything's going to plan. We make the biggest strides. We have the biggest periods of growth when we're going through difficulties and we figure out how we're going to get through them. And we don't allow ourselves to gets stuck in the mud, so to speak.

And I believe that there is a time and a place for mourning or being very upset and depressed and sad and angry that your life has... really been completely changed by a disease that is is some it's not something that every once in a while you don't feel good it's 24 hours a day seven days a week and it you can't escape it so within that how do we pivot our mentality

And I believe that there is a time and a place for mourning or being very upset and depressed and sad and angry that your life has... really been completely changed by a disease that is is some it's not something that every once in a while you don't feel good it's 24 hours a day seven days a week and it you can't escape it so within that how do we pivot our mentality

How do we create our tool pit of things that we know are going to get us through every day, even when we don't want to? There's never a day that I want to get out of bed. I feel horrible, absolutely horrible. But I know that if I put on some of my favorite music or podcast,

How do we create our tool pit of things that we know are going to get us through every day, even when we don't want to? There's never a day that I want to get out of bed. I feel horrible, absolutely horrible. But I know that if I put on some of my favorite music or podcast,

and just blast it and grab one of my, make myself a great cup of coffee, that those are things that are just gonna get my day started. And every little, I always try and find little hacks for how I can get through each part of my day. I really do believe that having something that you're passionate about

and just blast it and grab one of my, make myself a great cup of coffee, that those are things that are just gonna get my day started. And every little, I always try and find little hacks for how I can get through each part of my day. I really do believe that having something that you're passionate about

that can take your mind off of what you're going through a little bit and keep your eyes motivated looking forward. That's the key because it's so easy to just get stuck in the mud, give up and I believe that when your mentality is in that place of wanting to give up and just stay in bed or maybe stop looking for different solutions, different doctors, different treatments.

that can take your mind off of what you're going through a little bit and keep your eyes motivated looking forward. That's the key because it's so easy to just get stuck in the mud, give up and I believe that when your mentality is in that place of wanting to give up and just stay in bed or maybe stop looking for different solutions, different doctors, different treatments.

There's such a wide variety of treatments all over the world that you have to be your own biggest advocate. I believe that a huge component of that is mental. So understanding how you can pivot your mentality from this disease is taking over, ruining my life, to... How can I use this to become a better, stronger, grittier version of myself? How can I use this to be the best version of me?

There's such a wide variety of treatments all over the world that you have to be your own biggest advocate. I believe that a huge component of that is mental. So understanding how you can pivot your mentality from this disease is taking over, ruining my life, to... How can I use this to become a better, stronger, grittier version of myself? How can I use this to be the best version of me?

And how am I going to do that? And it's usually by the people that you're surrounding yourself with and the coaches that are in your life or your family members or whoever it may be. But you have to find those anchors that keep you grounded to really push forward and not give up because you have to be your own biggest advocate.

And how am I going to do that? And it's usually by the people that you're surrounding yourself with and the coaches that are in your life or your family members or whoever it may be. But you have to find those anchors that keep you grounded to really push forward and not give up because you have to be your own biggest advocate.