THEREFORE....MY THEORY

THEORY - If creating a mental and physical void (trying to stay still and/or relax) makes the RLS worse, and creating mental and physical activity makes it better, then we need to fight RLS by activating our brain and distracting ourselves with movements.



  ANXIETY and PANIC CONTROL
I've come to see an RLS episode as a symptom of subconscious thoughts...usually thoughts about things I have to do, but can't really get moving on. If I have a ton of things going on, but can make progress....I'm fine. But when I know there are things coming up, or more to do than I can possibly get done, or something to do but I don't have control or the ability to do it, or I've just finished some projects and don't know what I'm going to do next...THAT is when I'm plagued by the RLS.

When watching a movie or television show, I'm often only half concentrating on it, when the RLS kicks in. I realize I'm anxious to get it over with or to find out the ending. The same is true of a slow card game. I have to get up and do dishes or stay active, when the other player is going too slowly. If it's an exciting movie, the RLS doesn't kick in, because the movie is going fast enough to keep my attention and doesn't allow me time to become anxious about the outcome.

I'd never given much thought to it in the past, but it's proving true, over and over. When the RLS kicks in, I'm usually wondering or worrying about something that's coming up. I'm beginning to wonder if this also explains why it gets worse in midlife, when we are wondering what to do with our empty nest, retirement, rest of our life, etc. Even though I have plenty of things to do, I know I'm struggling with how I will handle the unknown or the many changes in life.



  ELECTRICAL IMPULSES
I believe that when the body knows it can carry out the directions from the brain, it remains relaxed. It can even wait patiently for morning, when it's time to go to work. But when the brain is sending directions, and the body isn't sure what or how it will deal with those directions, the body becomes anxious.

HELP!!! I HAVE A TYPE 'B' BODY WITH A TYPE 'A' BRAIN!!!
In an RLS episode, I believe the brain is sending out electrical impulses that make the legs want to move. BUT, they aren't productive impulses, in that, we don't really want to go anywhere...or we CAN'T go anywhere, for one reason or another. Hopefully, someday, I will find a way to stop sending those inopportune impulses. Until then, I need a way to drown them out.



  OVERPOWER the IMPULSES
I noticed that we all deal with RLS by getting up and moving, or by concentrating hard on something else. So, I started using this "solution" aggressively, rather than as an escape mechanism. If moving or thinking hard about something works as an escape, let's use it as a therapy. If I concentrate HARD on something else, it's as if it overshadows the useless impulses to my legs...and, although I'm still aware of them...they don't prevent my reading or my sleep anymore. Think of it as "drowning out the useless impulses". It really works for me.

At first, it didn't always work, because before I could find something to think about, my panic set in, and I was up and walking around in a fit. But, I found some things to think about, that DO work, and now, just the beginning of the thoughts will do it. I've gotten to where I go to bed, feel the RLS starting, get MAD at it...and say, "DAMN IT!!!! If you're gonna shout at my body with useless stuff, then I can shout louder...here goes!" And with that, I concentrate REALLLY hard on something else. It's as if I turn my back on the RLS and ignore it 'til it goes away. Try to picture two children on the playground. One is yelling in the other's ear, just to be obnoxious. So, the other one puts his fingers in his ears and screams louder, until he can't hear the first child. Sounds crazy, but it works. And, it's different than just trying to ignore the cramping sensation by creating a void in your mind....or hoping that next wave of cramping won't happen. Think of it. If someone is yakking at you and you turn your back to them...you'll still hear them. If you stick your fingers in your ears...you'll still hear them. But if you scream louder than they are...and blast some music...you won't hear them.

This is MUCH different than the way I dealt with my RLS for 40 years. I used to try to "not think of it". Or I'd try to stay still. Yea, right. That's like trying not to cough when you have that dry tickle in your throat and don't want to wake your partner. It doesn't work. You HAVE to take an aggressive approach!!


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