Written By: Terry Wahls
As I became progressively more disabled, I thought often of
Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist who was imprisoned during World War II and wrote
a book about his experiences. He described how even in the midst of the horrors
of the prison camps, he observed people making remarkable choices that
exemplified their love for family and friends. Frankl wrote that between every
event in our lives and our response to it is a space, and in that space we make
a choice. These choices exemplify our character.
Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist who was imprisoned during World War II and wrote
a book about his experiences. He described how even in the midst of the horrors
of the prison camps, he observed people making remarkable choices that
exemplified their love for family and friends. Frankl wrote that between every
event in our lives and our response to it is a space, and in that space we make
a choice. These choices exemplify our character.
Anyone who faces severe challenges knows that the ability to
bend with life’s pressures but not break is the hallmark of resilience. For six
years, I experienced steady decline in function. Every year, I lost something.
First it was jogging, then hiking, then walking around the block. Finally even
sitting in a regular chair became too difficult.
bend with life’s pressures but not break is the hallmark of resilience. For six
years, I experienced steady decline in function. Every year, I lost something.
First it was jogging, then hiking, then walking around the block. Finally even
sitting in a regular chair became too difficult.
I switched to a zero-gravity chair that reclined so far my
knees were higher than my nose. I used a tilt-recline wheelchair because of the
severe fatigue and difficulty sitting.
knees were higher than my nose. I used a tilt-recline wheelchair because of the
severe fatigue and difficulty sitting.
As the main breadwinner for our family with two small children, I needed to
continue working. And I needed to parent and some how be a role model for my
children.
From the beginning of my decline, I reflected often on Viktor
Frankl’s observations. I had choices in
how I responded to the way my life was unfolding. I thought deeply about what
my ultimate purpose in life was. I realized that the most important thing for
me was to see my kids become successful adults. Eventually, I realized that
there were some gifts in my progressive decline. I came to understand that how
I chose to respond would model for my kids either how to be resilient in the face
of adversity or how to crumble when faced with challenges.
Frankl’s observations. I had choices in
how I responded to the way my life was unfolding. I thought deeply about what
my ultimate purpose in life was. I realized that the most important thing for
me was to see my kids become successful adults. Eventually, I realized that
there were some gifts in my progressive decline. I came to understand that how
I chose to respond would model for my kids either how to be resilient in the face
of adversity or how to crumble when faced with challenges.
I had expected to take my children on wilderness adventures,
where I would teach them resilience and fortitude as we climbed mountain peaks
and kayaked wild rivers—but that was not to be. Instead, I found another way to
teach them about resolve and strength. I knew they were watching me, absorbing
my choices. They saw that life is not fair, and at times extraordinarily
difficult. But I still got up every day and went to work. Fortunately, the University
of Iowa and the VA Hospital in Iowa City redesigned my job multiple times to
help me continue working. We taught our kids to do laundry and help with
running the household at a very early age. And my kids knew that every day I
got up and did my exercise routine, to help slow my decline. As the disability
worsened, I reminded myself that my kids were always watching. They would see
if I stayed strong and positive, and they would see if I became discouraged and
gave up. I worked to take care of myself the best I could, to keep doing my
exercises and going to work, and to spend meaningful time with my family.
where I would teach them resilience and fortitude as we climbed mountain peaks
and kayaked wild rivers—but that was not to be. Instead, I found another way to
teach them about resolve and strength. I knew they were watching me, absorbing
my choices. They saw that life is not fair, and at times extraordinarily
difficult. But I still got up every day and went to work. Fortunately, the University
of Iowa and the VA Hospital in Iowa City redesigned my job multiple times to
help me continue working. We taught our kids to do laundry and help with
running the household at a very early age. And my kids knew that every day I
got up and did my exercise routine, to help slow my decline. As the disability
worsened, I reminded myself that my kids were always watching. They would see
if I stayed strong and positive, and they would see if I became discouraged and
gave up. I worked to take care of myself the best I could, to keep doing my
exercises and going to work, and to spend meaningful time with my family.
Our evening ritual was to read books together. I had read
Teaching Your Children Values when my daughter was born. The premise was that
you should talk about a particular value every day, the same value for a month,
and then move on to the next value. I liked the idea, and so we talked about
values each night, taking examples first from the children’s books, and then as
the kids became older, from our lives and our children’s lives. Those
conversations helped me realize that I was still having a big impact on their
lives and their values acquisition. That gave me purpose that was higher than
myself.
Teaching Your Children Values when my daughter was born. The premise was that
you should talk about a particular value every day, the same value for a month,
and then move on to the next value. I liked the idea, and so we talked about
values each night, taking examples first from the children’s books, and then as
the kids became older, from our lives and our children’s lives. Those
conversations helped me realize that I was still having a big impact on their
lives and their values acquisition. That gave me purpose that was higher than
myself.
In my clinics, I take care of people with traumatic brain
injury, severe mental health issues, and complex chronic health issues, often
with multiple autoimmune disorders. I challenge them to consider deeply what is
important to them, to find a purpose for their lives, right now, which will
help them immensely. For me, it was my family and seeing my children become
successful adults. But everyone is unique.
For some, it might be friends, a pet, or spiritual and religious
beliefs. I find that those who take the time to clarify their higher purpose
and mission in life end up with a much more positive outlook and a more
satisfying life, whatever their physical capabilities are.
injury, severe mental health issues, and complex chronic health issues, often
with multiple autoimmune disorders. I challenge them to consider deeply what is
important to them, to find a purpose for their lives, right now, which will
help them immensely. For me, it was my family and seeing my children become
successful adults. But everyone is unique.
For some, it might be friends, a pet, or spiritual and religious
beliefs. I find that those who take the time to clarify their higher purpose
and mission in life end up with a much more positive outlook and a more
satisfying life, whatever their physical capabilities are.
Our internal self-talk is also important. Negative self-talk
can be very harmful. I often said aloud, “Everything is going to turn out OK.” I
said those words even when I was afraid of the future. I said them to my staff
at work, to my colleagues, to my family and to myself. I discovered that saying
those words made me feel more and more optimistic, until finally I truly
believed things would turn out OK. I became calmer, more confident, and more
relaxed with my kids. The more we say positive affirmations out loud and hear
our voices speak the words confidently, the more successful we will be at
internalizing them. It might be work, it might feel like acting at first,
saying words before you fully believe them, but that is part of choosing our
response to life’s challenges. It is how I stayed resilient in the face of
steady decline.
can be very harmful. I often said aloud, “Everything is going to turn out OK.” I
said those words even when I was afraid of the future. I said them to my staff
at work, to my colleagues, to my family and to myself. I discovered that saying
those words made me feel more and more optimistic, until finally I truly
believed things would turn out OK. I became calmer, more confident, and more
relaxed with my kids. The more we say positive affirmations out loud and hear
our voices speak the words confidently, the more successful we will be at
internalizing them. It might be work, it might feel like acting at first,
saying words before you fully believe them, but that is part of choosing our
response to life’s challenges. It is how I stayed resilient in the face of
steady decline.
I have since been blessed with a stunning recovery of
function. Thanks to diet and lifestyle changes, I stopped declining in 2007,
and then began to grow steadily stronger. In fact, I can now jog one and a half
miles. I am the principal investigator for several clinical trials testing the
effect of diet and lifestyle as a treatment modality for multiple sclerosis. I am
also the author of The
Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional
Medicine. And yes, our two children have grown up to be successful adults.
My son graduated from college and is an intern in Washington D.C. and my
daughter is an honors student at the University of Iowa studying Art and Art
History.
function. Thanks to diet and lifestyle changes, I stopped declining in 2007,
and then began to grow steadily stronger. In fact, I can now jog one and a half
miles. I am the principal investigator for several clinical trials testing the
effect of diet and lifestyle as a treatment modality for multiple sclerosis. I am
also the author of The
Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional
Medicine. And yes, our two children have grown up to be successful adults.
My son graduated from college and is an intern in Washington D.C. and my
daughter is an honors student at the University of Iowa studying Art and Art
History.
Dr. Terry Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of
Iowa where she teaches internal medicine residents, sees patients in a
traumatic brain injury clinic, and conducts clinical trials. She is also a
patient with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which confined her to a
tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. Dr. Wahls restored her health using
diet and lifestyle changes and now pedals her bike to work each day. She is the
author of The Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo
Principles and Functional Medicine and teaches the public and
medical community about the healing power of intensive nutrition. You can find
more information about her work at her website www.terrywahls.com and by following her
on twitter @TerryWahls and on Facebook at Terry
Wahls MD.
Disclaimer: ‘MS Views and News’ (MSVN), does not endorse any products or services found on this blog. It is up to you to seek advice from your healthcare provider. The intent of this blog is to provide information on various medical conditions, medications, treatments, and procedures for your personal knowledge and to keep you informed of current health-related issues. It is not intended to be complete or exhaustive, nor is it a substitute for the advice of your physician. Should you or your family members have any specific medical problem, seek medical care promptly.
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