When you first find out that you have a life-changing illness, such as breast cancer or lupus, it can affect you badly. Everyone has a different coping mechanism, but most people are shocked at the initial realization.
Once this shock wears off, you will have to find a way to adjust to the new daily life routine that sometimes comes with chronic illnesses. An excellent way to deal with the disease is to appreciate the good days.
Spend Time with Friends and Family
Conditions like psoriatic arthritis and multiple sclerosis can leave you exhausted on most days. Likewise, if you are getting chemotherapy for breast cancer, that can also make you extremely tired. You may also feel unlike yourself.
When you have a good day, though, make sure to spend time with people you love. Make plans with friends and family. Go watch a movie starring your favorite actor. Spend a day at the beach. Do anything that makes you happy and feels good.
Journal
When you are having a bad day, it's hard to think of things you're grateful for. On a good day, make sure to write your thoughts and feelings. Write how you felt that day. If you spent time with people you adore or doing things you love, record how it made you feel.
Often, chronic illnesses make people feel anxious and can also result in heightened stress and depression. A study found that journaling reduced mental distress in the participants, though. It also increased the study subjects' wellbeing.
The researchers also found journaling to be associated with lower symptoms of anxiety and depression after one month. The participants also had greater resilience in the following months.
Reach Out
No matter how supportive or loving your family and friends are, they won't be able to fully understand the impact of a disease on you. Other people with the same condition will be more relatable for you.
Reach out to self-help and support groups. Talking to them will encourage you and also introduce you to new research news.
Sleep
Conditions like PsA, multiple sclerosis (MS), and migraines can take a toll on your sleep frequency and duration. Experts say that poor sleep is correlated to poor cognitive ability during the day. As a result, people with MS and similar conditions have trouble coping.
If you don't feel like doing anything else, catch up on your sleep on a good day. You will wake up feeling more refreshed.
