Aging with Cerebral Palsy

Being a full-time writer has already impacted my health, and I just started a few days ago! There are so many projects on my plate, I have been having chest pain, anxiety, anger outbursts, Crohn’s attacks, and extreme irritability at distractions. I keep a bullet journal recording how I rate in different areas of each day (faith, reading, writing, self-care, etc.) and the numbers are declining.

Aging with Cerebral Palsy is challenging because while the brain damage remains the same, the rest of the body declines faster than individuals without Cerebral Palsy. As quoted in 8 Factors that Affect Life Span in Cerebral Palsy - 

Those with physical impairment can also experience premature aging. Inactivity and lack of exercise can weaken the body and decrease immunity and cognitive function. Some children with Cerebral Palsy will use more energy to move than a child without Cerebral Palsy. The result is excessive wear on internal organs, including the heart.

Cerebral Palsy led to numerous secondary condititions forcing me to shut down my counseling practice. I literally have not had time commitments for 10 years! It's overwhelming. I question my ability to write full time. Cerebral Palsy never goes away. And I am constantly fending off PTSD, Agoraphobia, Major Clinical Depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, Crohn’s Disease, Endometriosis, Drug Addiction or Excoriation.

 I still have bad times that no one knows about. This is so frustrating since Cerebral Palsy didn’t limit me until my middle 30’s. Lately, I have been having chest pain, so much so that I drafted an article about Cerebral Palsy and Costochondritis, wondering if people with Cerebral Palsy are at a higher rate for heart attacks. The night I started the draft, a friend with Cerebral Palsy died from a heart attack.  You can read more about Costochondritis in The Medical Dictionary.com.

You can have a normal childhood with Cerebral Palsy.., yet adulthood becomes more challenging,