Coping With Chronic Illness

Hey guys!

I know it's been a while, I'm sorry. I thought that I would touch on a subject that I, as well as many others, face on a daily basis, Chronic Illnesses. (Which is why I haven't been so active lately.) Long story short, they suck. Somedays you feel great, and then the next it's like you got hit by a bus. Unfortunately, for some, it is more of the latter.

That being said, there are definitely ways to cope and deal with your chronic illnesses. I wanted to take the time to touch on 10 things that I do that I thought might be helpful to share.

PC: Matt Peters

1: REST (Plenty of it!)

I can't stress this one enough, which is why it is number one. When you suffer from chronic illnesses, no matter what it may be, it can be a toll on you physically, and especially mentally. To be able to function you're going to need a lot of rest. I work a full time job and try to do other things after work, but most of the time, you can find me curled up in a ball on the couch after work. (Not trying to sound depressing, but that's just how it is for some people.) Sometimes I get upset with myself that all I want to do is lay down and watch old movies or Bob's Burgers, but I know I need to do it to function. If your body is telling you to rest or take a nap, DO IT. You're probably not going to feel any better if you push yourself, and (trust me) you will probably feel even worse the next day if you do.

2: Support Network

Surrounding yourself with friends and family that will support you (and maybe even help take care of you) is vital. If it weren't for my boyfriend, my few friends, and my family, I don't know what kind of condition I would be in. Being someone who struggles with chronic pain, migraines, and seizures, I have had multiple people offer to and drive me places. This seems really meaningless, but to me it means the world. Find people that will buy you and deliver you your favorite fries to your house because you had to cancel dinner plans for the millionth time. Finding people that support you and take care of you is not only good for if you have a health related issue and you need assistance, it helps your mental health. They can see what you're going through, and will always be there for you.

3: Medications/ Essential Oils/ Natural Alternatives

I'm not trying to be one of those people that say natural remedies and essential oils solve everything, BUT if you're tired of pumping ibuprofen, Tylenol, or other pain medications into your system, it's worth a shot. With my chronic pain that I experience (mostly from my arthritis), I take so much pain medication in a day that it has started to hurt my stomach. My hands and my hips/back are definitely the worst. I found that Young Living's Deep Relief roller ball gives me immediate relief while my medicine is still trying to kick in. One application of Deep Relief, in my case, can work on my hands for around 2 hours. Diffusing oils has also helped improve my anxiety and help the pain of my migraines on multiple occasions.

Something that I think that is very important, that everyone should do, is take vitamins. Make sure that you are giving your body what it needs. If you experience fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, muscle cramping, you might be deficient of a vitamin. I would recommend taking a daily vitamin to start off with, and if you notice any of those symptoms, definitely talk to your doctor. It's always good to double check!

4: Plan Out Your Days

Something that I have learned as the years go on, is that I need to start planning out my day based on what times of the day I feel the best. I normally feel my best in the morning/early afternoon, so if I have errands I know I need to run, I do them during that time. Not only planning out my daily activities helps, but being proactive and planning out my meals for the week helps as well. (I have not tried meal prepping, so I'm not the best person to ask about that.) I try to make up my own recipes that make things easier to cook, especially for dinners. The faster I can cook something, the less I am going to get frustrated with myself not being able to get a large meal finished.

5: Easy to Eat Foods

Unfortunately, there have been times when I have not been able to eat solid food for weeks at a time. In case this ever happens again, I always keep easy to eat foods on hand. I always have ensure shakes and applesauce in my fridge, and chicken broth in my cabinet. There have been times that I have had to eat baby food, so I try to keep some of that on hand as well. (I promise it really isn't that bad!) I have a gluten intolerance, but other easy to eat foods for upset stomachs are crackers and bread. Having this food on hand makes it easier on you and won't put so much stress on you to try to cook if you are already not feeling well.

6: Planners/ Logs/ Calendars

Something that I keep in my purse at all times is my planner, which has my log in it as well. My planner is not only a way for me to keep track of my various doctor appointments, but I use it to log some of my symptoms to see if there is a pattern. I mainly do this with my migraines and seizures. Logging your symptoms not only helps you find patters, but it can help your doctor find things that may not be so apparent when you talk about your issues with them.

Just like a planner, it's really helpful to have a calendar to write down your doctor appointments. I have one at home, and one on my desk at work. This helps me remember for myself, as well as when I have to rearrange my schedule for work.

7: Alarms

This one may seem really simple, but having alarms set to remind you to do little things is very helpful. I have an alarm set for me to take my medications, and without that I would completely forget them. Setting alarms throughout the day to remind you to do small tasks can help you plan out your day (like we talked about before). Setting times for you to do specific things, especially during the times of day that you feel the best, will help you accomplish a lot more.

8: Doctor Appointment File Folders

If you are someone like me that sees different specialists, you might find it helpful to keep all of your documentation in separate file folders. I like to do this because I can take just one folder with me to my doctor appointment. I normally keep test results, cd scans, paperwork, pamphlets, and the doctor office information in my folders. It is also good to keep a copy of your list of allergies, medications, and immediate family history. That way you won't have to try to memorize it. (Or blankly stare at your mom/dad while the doctor is talking and hope they know what you're missing.)

9: Being Happy/ Minimizing Stress

Suffering from a chronic illness can sometimes make you feel really stressed out, and sometimes depressed. It can be really discouraging when you struggle with not feeling well all the time. It is important that you do things that make you happy. Whether that's reading a book, watching your favorite show, or painting, it's good to keep yourself busy. Doing things that make you happy will lessen your depression, clear your mind, and will help you be more positive. Find an outlet. (I'm pretty sure I sound like broken record with that one.)

Don't forget to try to minimize your stress as much as possible. Being in chronic pain, or not ever feeling the best, can stress you out. Some days you don't know what is going to happen, or if you will even be able to make it through the day. Being in stressful environments will not help these feelings. If you're in a stressful environment, take a few minutes to step aside and breathe, or put your head down. Making yourself stresse out is going to end up making you feel worse.

10: "Treat Yo Self"

Treating yourself is important. You need to remember that everyday you work hard to make it through. So go get ice cream, go shopping, hangout with your friends, go buy that $5 delicious coffee. (I'm looking at you Stoked.) Even if treating yourself is binge watching your favorite show. Do it. Taking care of yourself, and spoiling yourself, isn't always a bad thing.

Dealing with chronic illnesses is hard, but there are things that you can do to better cope with them. I hope that these 10 tips help you! If you have any questions, or need someone to talk to you can find my contact information on the home screen.

Love,

Camille