Day 9: The journey from denial to acceptance

The first step towards change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

I have been aware of my condition since 2019 when I got my endometriosis diagnosis. But until recently, I had been in denial. But like they say, denial is the worst kind of lie because it is a lie you tell yourself. As humans, we tend to go into denial almost every time we are put in a difficult situation because it acts as a shock absorber for our souls. But we fail to remember that the protection is temporary and that we need to learn to cope with reality at some point. Denial is a very dangerous drug because in the long term it makes you a bitter, miserable person who is at odds with themselves and envies others who get to lead a different life. And that is why the journey from denial to acceptance is an important one.

The path to acceptance is not easy. Like every other process, it takes time. It takes patience. It takes everything you have got. But it is still a path worth traveling. When diagnosed with a chronic life-altering condition, we tend to believe that we should fix ourselves. We think that maybe all we need is another tactic, another five-step plan when in reality what we really need is to let go of the idea that we need to be fixed. Acceptance has the power to heal what time cannot. It doesn't mean that we learn to agree with or appreciate what has happened to us. Instead, it means that we are mature enough to understand that regardless of what has happened, there are bigger forces in play. It also means that we know that we are okay and that we will continue to be so.

Our ability to accept our situation is also important to people around us because sometimes due to the situation we are in, we might act or react differently than most people might. But since we are in denial, we tend to not share our story with our close ones. We hesitate to open up to them due to our fear of being judged, being pitied, or being shamed. This only makes it harder for them to understand us. On the other hand, if we were to accept our situation, we are more likely to share certain things about our condition with our close ones since we realize that this is not something we brought upon ourselves. When we tell people about our condition, we are helping them help us. We are giving them a chance to be an ally and support us through a difficult phase in our life. All it takes is a little courage, vulnerability, and trust. What we might get in return is a shoulder to lean on to. And deep in our hearts, we know that we could all use a little love and encouragement!

#EndoTheStigma 



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