"Life is too short. I can't control everything in my life. Trying to is exhausting!!" - member of MyEpilepsyTeam

When first faced with an epilepsy diagnosis, a common fear is a lack of control over our health. How could our bodies betray us? How do we grab the reins back and fix the situation? Living with a chronic disease forces us to recognize what we can and cannot control.

Members on MyEpilepsyTeam have various strategies for letting go of control and fear, including:
1) using guided imagery to visualize letting go
2) opening up and trusting others
3) organizing or cleaning the house
4) reaching out for support from other members onMyEpilepsyTeam

Here are recent conversations from members on MyEpilepsyTeam:

• "I am learning, however, to let go of those mistakes and learn from them instead of continually beating myself up over it. That’s one that is still a working process because I am still struggling with letting go of two mistakes I feel I made this week."

• "All of us are human. Stress is human nature, but the big picture is living stress-free. Sometimes it's not what you stress about in life but how much of it are you willing to let go of."

• "Well, my daughter is on the plane and away for the next 5 weeks. As a parent I cannot control her seizures, I cannot be there every time to hold her hand, pat her back and try and make it all okay. I have to let go, let her be brave, live life and not retreat from challenges or having fun."

Have you had moments of letting go just when you needed it most? What helps you 'let go' of things out of your control? Share in the comments below or directly on MyEpilepsyTeam.com.