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"The question is not how to survive, but how to thrive with passion, compassion, humor and style." ~ Maya Angelou

December 14, 2014

Mental Health

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Chronic illness is BIG—really big—and as such, can wreak some serious havoc on your mental health. A good attitude certainly isn’t going to cure you, but it’ll help you stay engaged with your life and treatment, and make everything a lot easier. So, as you work on physical health problems, be sure to take some time to tend to your feelings as well.

If you’re sick enough to have sought out this guide, please start by looking into your options for counseling. A lot of people assume that counseling is for people with diagnosed mental conditions, but that’s not true—it can be helpful to anyone who needs to think something over or process something that’s going on in their life. Setting up regular appointments with a counselor (at least for a bit) can be very helpful; it forces you to “check in” with yourself at regular intervals, and gives you a space where you can focus on problem-solving of a more personal and internal nature. [Read more…]

Article by Leah Holstein / Emotional Coping, Holistic Medicine, Treatments / counseling

December 14, 2014

Friends, Family, & Reactions from Others

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Friends and family are super important in your adventures with chronic illness—good relationships can sustain you through hard times, while poor ones can make everything a little bit harder. Many spoonies say that when they first got sick, they learned exactly who their real friends were very quickly. That being said, even the best of friends and the most well-meaning of family members will need a little help in order to best help you.

One of the most important things, you’ll find, is the ability to clearly state what you need. This can be hard (especially if you’ve never needed to negotiate in your relationships), but it’s absolutely worth the trouble. Being able to discuss your needs requires two steps: [Read more…]

Article by Leah Holstein / Emotional Coping, Everyday Life

October 29, 2014

How I Cope: Gratitude

Look, being sick? All the time? It sucks.

You know that. I know that.

So how do we combat the darkness of doom and despair?

Well, I have many coping mechanisms which I’ll get into in future posts.

Spoiler alert: They involve a lot of fluffy animals.

barkley drake

D’awwwww.

But my main coping skill?

Gratitude. [Read more…]

Article by Leah Holstein / Emotional Coping / family, friends, gratitude

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None of the opinions or experiences expressed on this site is professional medical advice tailored to your own situation. Please consult a medical professional before making any changes to your health management plan.

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