SEX AND OTHER DISTRACTIONS

(A VERY sexy lady with RLS, no?)

I honestly hope I do NOT offend anyone with this animated picture. There is probably nothing more important to any self-healing, than to have a great sense of humor about your affliction. Besides, if you're going to wriggle around in bed with RLS, there's nothing that says you can't look and feel sexy when you wriggle. :) PLEASE laugh at this!!!

I'm serious about sex, though, as a therapy/distraction to an RLS episode. I was successfully dealing with my RLS for a couple of months...best I've done in my whole life, when all of the sudden, one night, I got a VERY BAD attack of the crawlies.
I was trying to watch tv. Then I tried lighting my candle and reading the paper. It was all too late. The cramps had come on quickly and very strongly. I asked my hubby to massage my legs...but he took a while to come do it...and while I was lying there TRYING to be still, it just got worse.
I was already EXHAUSTED! And that's probably part of why I had the attack. I JUST wanted to sleep, but I couldn't stay still. There's NO doubt in my mind that I was into a full panic. My husband said, "Let's take you to bed." So, that's where we went. Once in bed, I tried an action thriller on TV. No luck.
Finally, in desperation he said, "How about sex?" VERY sarcastically, I responded with, "Why the heck not? Let's try it. Lord knows, I've tried everything else." Well, lo and behold, I got involved in sex and forgot the legs. When we were done, I was SURE the RLS would come back...but it didn't. Go figure. :)



I've also distracted myself with something as seemingly silly as slowly enjoying a sucker, while watching a movie. It's just another way of "yelling louder" or concentrating on something else. We were watching a good video one night, but I could NOT sit still...legs were really needing to move, driving me nuts. So, I got a sucker and really worked it over, while trying to watch the movie. Next thing I knew, the sucker was gone, the movie was over, and I'd been sitting there watching it. Might not always work..but then, it might explain why I always have to have popcorn at a movie, even if I'm already full. It's a distraction, no?



ANY distraction is a potential RLS therapy. Some people get involved in crafts, painting, housecleaning, piano playing and most of all. . .the computer. I read aloud when we are driving (although I prefer to just BE the driver. I've only had one or two twinges of RLS when actually driving a car). Some people take hand work, like knitting, when they go to a movie or sit in church. The distraction has to be mind consuming. Once you find something that works for you, it should work for a long time.

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