Managing your chronic illness is a full-time job. At home, you may need to spend countless hours focused on your health. But putting your health first is much harder when you have to work a professional job. Working with a chronic illness can be downright hard. This is especially true when you’re expected to perform…
As you grow up, it’s natural to think about your parents taking care of you when you got sick. But what happens when your parents are the ones with an illness? Although most people expect their parents to be the first ones to experience health decline in the natural order of life, most people don’t…
The relationship between you and your doctor is one of the most important relationships you will have in your life. But sometimes those relationships are unsupportive and make you feel worse over time. As someone with a chronic illness, your relationship with your doctor is critical to your health and well-being. An unhealthy relationship will…
Motherhood is a beautiful and challenging experience, but navigating life as the mother of a chronically ill child is a unique experience that not all mothers can understand. The road can be stressful, lonely and exhausting. Here are some ways to help you navigate life as a mother of a chronically ill child. Confide in…
As a therapist for chronically ill clients, I know all-too-well the stress of returning to school. The anticipated return to school can be overwhelming for chronically ill children and teens, but it can also cause a lot of grief for the parents and loved ones, too. From appointments to meetings and documentation, there are many things…
There are many decisions that you have to make while living with a chronic condition. Managing your current conditional along with all of the decisions you face each day can deplete your mental energy. Too many decisions at once can become overwhelming, leaving you feeling worn out and less confident. This is a sign you…
Do you ever feel like you’re stuck thinking about life before your chronic illness was diagnosed? Like no matter how hard you try, your mind drifts back to easier times before your chronic illness was diagnosed? This is a sign that you’re experiencing Chronic Illness Grief. Below are the symptoms of grief, along with insights…
The average person living with a chronic illness feels disappointed with themself when their body makes things harder. While we can’t control for your chronic illness, you can learn how to show yourself a level of “mindful self-compassion” that can help to make the hard times, easier to bear. Self-compassion is the “process of turning…
6 Ways You Learn to Accept Living with a Chronic Condition Positive psychologists describe acceptance as embracing “all of your attributes, both positive or negative.” Coming to a place of acceptance is a major part of moving forward and finding meaning in your life. But what does that look like when living with a chronic…
How to Stay Present as You Grieve Your Chronic Illness Most people believe that grief occurs mainly with the loss of a loved one or a job. But facing your grief can be even harder when your health is declining or you’ve received a health diagnosis. Here are three ways it’s hard to stay present…