Living With Dystonia

Hi guys,

I just want to Start by saying a huge thank you for the positive response that I have had for my first blog post. Every comment means a lot to me and I am just so pleased I can be a positive portal  for those also going through their own personal struggles in life. Hopefully you can also find the strength  and motivation to face your challenges head on from reading my blog posts. I am here to try and motivate, inspire and encourage a mind set that will hopefully stimulate you to find the best of you and use it to its ultimate advantage. After all life is what we make it.

This then brings me to my next blog subject “living with Dystonia” I haven’t really taken the time to explain how I cope with living with Dystonia on a day to  day  basis . I am very much  of the  mind set that you are in the drivers seat, you manifest your life through your thoughts and actions, so I guess the relevance to the point I am trying to make, is that I decided a long  time  ago that I was going  to be in the drivers seat and not a passenger to my own life. I had been dealt this hand and I was going to play this the best of my advantage.

In the early days of  having Dystonia I really struggled to cope and what I am  now going to  tell you, not many people know. Being 23 years of age, at my ultimate peak in life, to then so suddenly having to deal with the huge punch in the face that is Dystonia, it often became very overwhelming. I struggled a great deal. Unfortunately some of my coping mechanisms weren’t the best. I took a dangerous path that could have easily  become very destructive if I had not pulled myself together. I found myself in this a very dark hole and i had nobody to turn to. I was very alone, having no real family network that I could rely on, as Unfortunately my relationship with my farther in recent years has been a difficult one, after losing my mother when I was just 15 years of age. I did not feel I could approach him for a shoulder to lean on. He has supported the best way he knew how but not in the way that I needed so much at the start.

Feeling so alone at this time, I turned to the things that for a moment numbed the emotional pain I was feeling but also gave me a boost of confidence. I don’t think I really need to spell out what I am relating to in this paragraph….. I spent a good year being quite destructive to my emotional and physical  wellbeing and it took a lot of strength and a good hard talking to my self to realise that this is not the path I wanted to take nor that I had imagined for myself. It was time to make a change and face some demons head on. It was at this time accepted “Dystonia”. This was the moment I changed for the better.

Immersing myself into my new lifestyle, keeping in shape has been a great beacon for me. Not only has it kept me in physical shape but most importantly it has kept those dreaded demons at bay.  I must admit I am  slightly obsessive at times  but I would also say and you will hopefully agree, its not a bad obsession to have. On a very serious note my lifestyle and the way I have designed it, is my lifeline.

img_4197

Don’t get me wrong not everyday is plain sailing and still have many days of doubt but what I will say is having the opportunity  to express myself to you guys is absolutely amazing, I no longer feel alone in my journey with Dystonia.

Here of some of the things that give me strength and keep me moving forward. I am so very lucky to be surrounded by the overwhelming love and support of the ones who care for me the most, without them I would be lost. Sometimes its the simplest things in life that make things clear to me and make me realise how lucky I am to be breathing, healthy and alive. Yes I have Dystonia  but so what, Dystonia doesn’t control me, it does not define me and most importantly it does not dictate to me.

So with that said, I look forward to sharing my journey with you all. I hope to give a positive insight into my lifestyle and my coping mechanisms. You can look forward to snippets of my training routines, diet and also what I do with my downtime.

To finish off for the evening I would like to leave you with this quote “surrender to what is. Let get of what was and have faith in what will be”

Any comments or questions are very welcomed. #health

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25 comments

  1. Completely agree here buddy…

    Your an absolute gem. You’re network now is better than ever before and you built that yourself.

    You have an incredible wife by your side too and I know you know and let her know.

    Keep pushing broamance

    Hirdy x

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I felt that I was alone with my severe restless legs. No cure for it but had medical massages and medication.

    Like

  3. I admire you. You are truly an inspiration! Thank you for doing this blog. I’ve signed up so I can follow what’s going on in your world. 🙃 💓

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Love the blog, James. Looking forward to hearing snippets of your exercise and eating regimen. Glad you have chosen a good path and have good support. Can’t imagine losing a mother so young. What you’ve achieved, so far, is wonderful. Keep up the good work!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Inspirational as always my friend!

    Keep blogging, then gather your post to create your own autobiography book.

    That is my advice to you as an author 😉. You have a story to tell!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Liked the honesty. You are not alone in trying the wrong ways to cope with Dystonia. Glad you found something more positive that works so well for you. Loved the quote.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. James, your picture doing triceps pull downs is astonishing. Could you please be more specific about exactly what type of dystonia you have and how your posturing manifests itself, for I see not a hint of dystonia in your picture? I have generalized dystonia, and work out very intensely for a 65 year old, but my dystonia is definitely a huge hindrance, major frustration, and causes me many missed days. Love to hear from you, James.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Philip.
      Nice to meet you.
      Why is it astonishing ?
      Like I’ve always said since having Dystonia nice years ago. I’m very lucky with it only affecting my hands and mouth.
      As you know everyone’s Dystonia is different.

      Like

      1. Wow, James, thank you so much for your incredibly swift response. So true about dystonia. If you have met “one” person with dystonia, you have met “one” person with dystonia. No two of us are alike. You are astonishing because you have achieved a remarkable level of fitness for anyone, physical challenged, or not. James, would there be any way we could message on Facebook, I have many questions I would like to ask you? I also have dystonia in my hands and mouth, but also in many other parts of my body, as well. Thank you, James.

        Like

Leave a comment