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…]