Teens with Lyme--Finding the light in the tunnel

[Guest guest]

Teenagers with Lyme disease are often advised by the adults in their

lives to focus on the " light at the end of the tunnel, " while going from

doctor to doctor, trying to keep up with school, working to maintain

friendships, and undergoing treatment.

However, to a teenager mired in the muck of an all-encompassing chronic

illness, the promise of a better life at some distant point in the

future can seem impossibly remote. Meanwhile, as their teen days,

months, and even years slip away, the concept of a light at the end of

the tunnel offers little hope or comfort.

That's why family therapist Kathleen Steele, LCSW, encourages teens to

bring and create " Light IN the Tunnel, " finding ways to live life

richly and with meaning, even amidst the difficult circumstances of

dealing with Lyme disease.

That is the theme of the upcoming workshop for teens with Lyme that

Steele will offer in conjunction with CALDA's GETTING HEALTHY AGAIN IN

2010 <http://lymedisease.org/activism/lyme_events.html> conference.

The workshop will offer teens the chance to meet others in their age

group who are dealing with similar challenges. They'll share coping

strategies and learn from each other how to bring happiness and

satisfaction into their lives, despite having a chronic illness.

Kathleen Steele not only has years of experience as a therapist helping

teens and families in crisis, she has personal experience with Lyme

disease. In 2001, her two children became quite ill with what was

eventually diagnosed as Lyme and coinfections. But the diagnosis didn't

come until 2004. So, she knows first-hand the frustrations and

uncertainties of dealing with a medical system that doesn't recognize

Lyme disease, as well as the thorny family issues that can arise with

chronic illness.

The teen workshop will be limited to 20 participants, so early

registration is recommended.

The main session of GETTING HEALTHY AGAIN IN 2010 will feature four

Lyme specialists, speaking about different aspects of Lyme treatment:

Dr. Dave Martz, MD; Dr. Green, MD; Dr. Ray Stricker, MD; and

Dr. Deborah Metzger, MD.

The conference will be held April 24, 1-4:30 pm, at the Dougherty

Station Community Center, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA.

(San Ramon is east of San Francisco Bay.) Admission donation is $40 for

adults/$20 for teens. For registration information, go here:

http://lymedisease.org/activism/lyme_events.html

<http://lymedisease.org/activism/lyme_events.html>