Being Healed Versus Being Cured: A Thyroid Patient's Perspective from Mary Shomon, your Guide to Thyroid Disease

For more than five years, I've been on a journey - a mission to be cured of my thyroid problem. By cure, I really mean, returning to the way I used to feel. Feeling well. And I know that almost everyone who visits this site is also on the same journey along with me. But there's a question we really need to ask and don't: what if we can't be cured?

I have realized that I need to refocus my own efforts, and instead of simply trying to be cured, I should also focus on being healed.

And they are really two very separate things.

Being healed means:

• Accepting myself as I am
• Refusing to live in the past
• Learning how to value myself for what's really important
• And, above all, finding within the cloud of disease the positive effects that thyroid disease has had on my life.

For more information and on how to focus on healing, read this in-depth essay, Being Healed Versus Being Cured: A Thyroid Patient's Perspective and my article, I'm Tired, I'm Frustrated, and I GIVE UP! What To Do When You've Reached the End of Your Rope?

Mary Shomon, About.com's Thyroid Guide since 1997, is a nationally-known patient advocate and best-selling author of 10 books on health, including "The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age," "The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss," "Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know," "Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism," "Living Well With Autoimmune Disease," and "Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia." Click here for more information on Mary Shomon.