Fall is not the time for slip-n-slide water games or for sledding down the hills in the snow.  At least we hope not. However, I’m here to tell you that both of these statements are true AND that I have personally slid into the month of November.  How can that be?

It’s a phenomenon called the October Slide and persons who deal with chronic illness may have heard the term before. It’s the time of year when symptoms may flare.  When autoimmune diseases are known to go hay-wire. A beautiful season to behold, autumn truly is lovely for its colors, cooler temperatures, and of course, the pumpkin spice galore!  However, the effects of these season changes can easily turn an everyday-kind of-day into a gotta-stay-at home-and-recover-kind of-day.  And that’s no fun.

So what are the factors that contribute to the slide?  Well, first of all, we can note that if we’re sliding in October, the presumption is we were at the top of the slide prior to that.  I can testify! Summer can oftentimes be the best-feeling season we experience out of the entire year.  I praise God for that!  I’m learning to thank Him for the harder, too.  Like . . .

Barometric changes.  Good ole’ Betsy Barometer’s readings.  They go up and down in the fall and when they, literally, fall faster than the leaves can keep up with, you know it’s going to potentially be a rough day. Even the weather guys are announcing this type of warning:  joint pain, aches, and migraines might affect some of you this week as the cold front moves in, they say. Check your smart phone for barometric changes so that you can prepare your mind for the challenge and stay indoors when those changes occur.

Cooler temperatures.  Many people like the cooler temps, but with them comes the challenge for our bodies to stay warm. For me, with POTS and SFN, the damaged nerves cause my blood vessels to work poorly, making it difficult to retain heat when my body is cold. Conditions like Raynaud’s syndrome experience the same effects.  Furthermore, it just takes more energy to try to stay warm and keep our blood flowing.  Which means we may be more fatigued than normal. Wearing layered clothing is a great way to be prepared.

Allergens are high.  When we have allergies, our immune system goes into overdrive in response to exposure to that food, chemical, mold, insect or other thing that triggers us.  Key phrase?  Immune system. Next key phrase?  Overdrive.  If you have a chronic or autoimmune illness, your body is going to exasperate the histamine response and cause even more inflammation upon exposure. The antidote? Know what your allergies (and sensitivities alike) are and do your best to avoid them.

Changes in daily life.  “I like it when it gets dark at 4:45PM before I get home from work.” Said no one ever! Summertime daylight and longer hours outside keep our bodies moving more each day. With all of the above factors, it’s easy to see why most of us move less in the fall.  Also, the Vitamin D exposure lessens, which decreases the benefits it gives our immune system. Routines change as the seasons do the same, which means we have to be intentional about pushing the reset button and making new, healthy daily efforts.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully it gives an adequate answer (most of us will settle with half-answers, huh?) to those of you readers who are perhaps, in addition to your normal brain fog, have been so totally blanked out as to why your body is acting the way it is. The reason?  Maybe you are sliding down the slide.  Talk to your physician.  Physicians, I should say.  Research more practical remedies to help get you down the incline. Do what you can, taking one day at a time. Give your every hour to your ever-so-faithful Maker.

Unlike those big yellow ones at the park when we were kids, these October/fall slides are no fun. The beauty we see outside our windows is just as real as the pain we feel inside our temporary temples. Most of us aren’t hearing ourselves say, “Wheee!” as it all unfolds. We can, however, find peace in the “Who” who has each of us in His sights.  He hasn’t turned his head to watch something else on the playground.  He has His hands upon me, and you, as we’re slowly coming down the slope and with His great love, He puts His hands right there at the end to catch us.

I don’t know about you, but it’s a good thing He does because there’s probably a mud puddle at the end of that ride. And God literally knows that this girl doesn’t do mud. 😊