Comparisons Are Thieves of Joy

Cushing’s disease is terrible for so many reasons. If you’ve seen my posts before (thank you!), you’ll have read what I’m saying next: This disease is taxing on your mental and physical health. Cushing’s is so horrible that people without the disease cannot even begin to comprehend its toll.

Many with Cushing’s seek support from others who are going through similar trials, to ask for help and advice and to not feel so alone through it all. This is all great and dandy until we start dealing with comparisons.

Don’t start looking at others with Cushing’s and comparing your situation to theirs. Don’t look at others who have had treatment and start basing your progress results on how they have progressed. As confident as I seem, I’m most definitely guilty of doing this. None of us are immune. We are only human.

I’ve had quite a few people message me on my Instagram to ask questions solely based on comparisons. These individuals are so gutted because they keep comparing their situation to that of others. They put themselves down so badly, thinking they are beyond help. It is so upsetting to see. Although they’re down, I do my best to bring them to reality without watering anything down. So far, honesty has been the best policy. I’m happy that I can help others without lying about situations.

So, here’s the deal, you guys.

We all deal with the same issues with Cushing’s, but its (negative) progression on our bodies, our tumor sizes, our treatment plans, how long we stay on medication after surgery, how quickly we lose weight, and more is unique between cases. There are many different factors.

Age is a MAJOR contributor to recovery. The older you are, the more difficult it is to recover, plus it takes longer. As we age, our cells don’t regenerate as quickly as they once did. So, if you’re an older individual, please don’t beat yourself up! Your body is working hard to keep you alive, and it isn’t fair to compare your recovery to someone who is much younger.

Another major factor is how long the tumor that causes Cushing’s has been in the body and how much damage all the cortisol and out-of-whack hormones have caused. The longer the disease is present in the body, the more damage, thus the lengthier and more difficult recovery is.

There are many more factors, but those are two of the most common aspects that affect recovery. There is another thing I want to express, especially when it comes to social media. People lie. They lie about how amazing their recovery is going and how “amazing” and “uplifted” they feel. I’m not saying everyone does. There are a few rare individuals who have the tumor removed, and it’s like nothing happened to them. But for a majority of us, yes, we feel better post-surgery, but we also feel horrible for a long time after and a lot of us actually never fully recover. Some of us will deal with chronic issues the rest of our lives. Sad, but true.

What do I have to say about that?

I say do the best you can. Do the best you can to learn your “new” body. Do your best to find tips and tricks to maneuver through your chronic issues. Just do your best for you and only you.

Let me know in the comments what you’ve done to better your life throughout all the changes you’re going through!

Until next week,

Catarina

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Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s disease.