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Tips for Coping With Chronic Illness
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by Erica Dutton, RN, MS, CS
Erica Dutton is Director of Wellspring Counseling, (313) 677-3056.
She gave a talk in July to a group dealing with chronic illness. She
dealt with fibromyoplasia herself for years, so much of her advice
comes from first-hand experience. Our thanks go to Ron De Cicco for
obtaining this information.
* Developing a strong support system is crucial for thriving with a
chronic illness. Seek out people who bring sunshine into your
life.
* Seek out positive people. Eliminate whiners, complainers, nay
sayers, victims in life. They emit toxic energy.
* Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, unless your physician says
otherwise. That's water, not pop, soda, coffee, tea, etc. These
all have diuretics in them and drain water out of your body.
* Chronic illness can be isolating and lonely at times. Try to
spend time with people regularly. Call a friend. Invite someone
over to visit. Go to church or a support group or both. Go to a
bookstore. Strike up a conversation with someone reading books
you're interested in.
* Don't expect your family to provide all the emotional support you
need. Find other people outside the family who can provide
support.
* Find something to enjoy every day: the sun rising, the color of
the grass (or weeds), the flowers in your yard, the birds outside
your window. There are millions of things to appreciate if you
look.
* You are not your illness. Don't let it consume you so you talk
about nothing else but how you feel. Make yourself stay in touch
with the world in some fashion.
* Sometimes when you feel bad, it helps to look and act like you
feel good. Get dressed, put a smile on your face. You'll find
that your mood improves.
* As long as you are alive, you can change and adapt and cope.
Don't give up.
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