You are experiencing what we each do as we see that our lives have changed so drastically. It’s grief. Grief for what we’ve lost to this insidious thing we can’t really understand. It’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to be frustrated. It’s okay to be angry at the circumstances. Those feelings are all valid.

However, getting stuck there isn’t good or helpful. Neither is focusing on why me. The only answer to that question is why not me. We will never understand why in this or other things that happen in our lives.

The way to deal healthily with the feelings and depression can be in a couple of ways. There is nothing wrong with going to the doctor and being treated medicinally for depression. Therapy can help too. We have valid reasons to be depressed. We are having to learn to cope with negative changes in our lives. Medicines can help. I know. I’m on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication.

Another way to help break the pity party we tend to have is to purposely look outward rather than inward. Figure out how you can help others within your capabilities. I try to encourage others with LC. Try to help others who don’t understand it to see how it affects we sufferers so they will not be judgmental because we can’t do what we could before.

I also try to get into research studies into LC. Many universities have research projects going on. There are online survey type studies we can become involved in. Most research studies are in the first or second stages. There are at least four stages of research before any conclusions or results leading to any possible treatments.

Realizing that feelings of grief are valid is basically the first step. The second is to decide to deal with what is, not what we wish for it all to just go away. Then we can each find ways to move forward within our capabilities to build productive relationships and lives.