Daily writing prompt

What’s a chapter of your life you’d title "The Hard Years" — and what got you through it?

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The Perfect Storm of Crisis

I remember those years vividly because the crisis in Venezuela was intensifying daily. It was incredibly hard to buy food, and there were days when we did not have any protein to eat. We were better than many, though. Many people had nothing to eat. Nevertheless, the physical toll was severe. I lost about 4 kilos, eventually dropping to 47 kg with a BMI under 18.

To make matters worse, I contracted Zika. The virus left me with severe neurological and muscular complications. Every time I contracted my muscles, I experienced intense pain, and the pain was accompanied by awful vertigo when I dared to move. All of this was happening while I was trying to finish my Biology thesis (the second thesis I was attempting to complete). Unsurprisingly, I felt like the worst failure walking this wonderful planet.

The “Too Late” Illusion

During that time, I felt there was no point in getting my Biology degree because my brain kept telling me it was “too late.”

Too late for what? Looking back now, I have no idea. I can only guess my overwhelmed, nervous system believed it was too late to get a degree in a country broken by a dictatorship. Shame is a massive productivity killer, and my inner critic was working overtime. It took me years to untangle that guilt and recover from the emotional burnout.

Healing and the Scientific Lens

Today, my perspective has completely shifted. I now see my Biology degree as one of the best things I have ever studied. The careful, analytical approach I learned during those grueling years is something I carry with me to this day, and it has been entirely life-changing.

My health has recovered beautifully. The neurological complications from Zika have mostly faded away. While I still get a bit dizzy after long travels, it is highly manageable and a vast improvement from where I started. Besides, whenever I get sick, I tend to think, oh, this is nothing compared to that time I got Zika (does this make me stoic?).

Besides, I now weigh a healthy 60 kilos (with a BMI of 21!) and, most importantly, I learned to love myself, which is never an easy feat.

The Support System

I honestly think that things can and do get better. If you are in your own challenging chapter, please remember that you do not have to endure it alone.

Leverage every resource you have available to build a system of support:

• Your inner circle: Lean on your family and your closest friends for a supportive, judgment-free zone.
• Professional help: Trust your doctors and take any medications you might need to support your biology.
• Your unique strengths: Tap into your inner resilience, your creativity, and the tools that bring you comfort.

Life is a wonderful experiment, after all, and sometimes, we can find the silver lining.