See Your Physician Regularly
First of all, if you have a chronic illness, it is important that you are proactive about managing your health. That means you should see your primary care physician on a regular basis. He or she will be able to help you through any issues you’re having, prescribe better medications when they are available, and ensure that you have the right level of support at every stage of your life.Give Up the Blame Game
A lot of people who suffer from chronic illness blame themselves, or sometimes even others, for the state of their health. This is pretty understandable, but it is almost certainly not true and it’s definitely not healthy.Giving up the blame game and accepting that sometimes these things happen and neither you or anyone else is to blame will do wonders for your mental health. When you aren’t beating yourself up all the time, you won’t feel so angry, which means you’ll feel more relaxed and this can only be a good thing.
If you struggle to give up blame, try seeing a therapist, giving meditation a go, or talking to a trusted friend or family member who can help you through.
Remember You are Not Your Illness
It’s common for individuals with a chronic illness to think of themselves always in terms of that illness, but you are a human being and you are so much more than your condition; you are not just your pain. Think about who you are - are you a movie lover, a big reader, someone who volunteers Chances are you are many things, and it pays to focus on all aspects of your life, good and bad if you want to live well with a chronic illness.Accept Your Limitations
Although it’s good to push yourself and try new things that you might not think yourself capable of, it’s also important to accept your limitations. There are always going to be some things that you simply cannot do due to your illness. Instead of railing against this, let it go and focus on doing more of the stuff that you can do, and which makes you happy. This is the way to live a fulfilling life.Connect with Others
Connecting with other people who have the same or similar illnesses as you is a great way to get some support and understanding. You will all be in the same boat, and you will all know better than anyone else what it feels like to be living with a chronic condition, and that can be incredibly powerful. If there are no support groups in your area, thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to start one, and you should really think about that because the wisdom, support and sheer joy of connecting with others is almost certain to enrich your life in ways you can only imagine.You can live well with chronic illness, so give the above a try!
