Heart Ache - Heart Break. Mairead Ashcroft 11/3/16

Today I have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease - LAD (left anterior descending artery). This artery has been nicknamed, "The Widow Maker". I am feeling a little worried and the diagnosis has come as a shock. I am 51 years old, I don't smoke, I don't drink alcohol, tea, coffee or soft drink, I don't take any elicit drugs and I walk about 6 kms, 4-5 days per week. So why me???

I have experienced long term stress for most of my life due to childhood abuse and much more intensely during the last 5 years while trying to have Brother Bernard Hartman extradited to Australia, arrested and jailed for sexually abusing me when I was a young child.

"Coronary heart disease is also much more common in individuals subjected to chronic stress and recent research has focused on how to identify and prevent this growing problem" (The American Institute of Stress)
http://www.lifescript.com/health/ask_the_doctor/articles/ask_the_doctor_stressing_out_your_heart.aspx

The past 12 months have been exceedingly difficult to handle. For those of you who follow this blog you will know what I mean. My heart has been emotionally torn, stomped on, ripped and crushed. I practice mindfulness and have found it a great calming tool during some horrendous experiences and I feel that it was mindfulness, listening to my body, paying attention, that raised awareness of my heart problem before symptoms became over powering or lethal. I intend to continue to use mindfulness to help me get through this next life hurdle. I love, am loved and know that I will conquer yet another blip with the help of my husband and kids, my specialists, mindfulness practice and science. I don't believe in miracles, karma, prayers and incantations but I do believe that a positive attitude can make facing the tough times just a little easier. I believe that positive energy breeds positive energy so please, if you have some to spare send it my way.

Live your Bliss

Mairead