Nurturing Yourself: A Guide to Self-Care with Chronic Illness

Posted by Carole A.

Adapting self-care techniques is a great way to manage your chronic condition by promoting overall well-being and improving health outcomes.

woman doing yoga

"Self-care" is a popular term that is used to describe essentially taking care of ones health, in hopes to achieve a healthier and more balanced life. Some self-care activities include treating yourself to a massage, establishing a skin care routine, and going to the gym. Although there is nothing wrong with these activities when it comes to taking care of yourself, what does self-care mean if you have Chronic Illness?

Chronic illness can lead to a range of physical, mental, and social challenges that can significantly impact a person's well-being. These challenged can include pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and changes in physical appearance. Taken in this context, self-care involves proactive approaches to managing these challenges through behaviors that promote stability.

The following are my top self-care recommendations

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

• Activities like meditation, relaxation and other mindfulness techniques can help reduce stress and establish good habits.

• Practicing self-compassion and accepting your feelings without judgment is essential in learning how to manage our emotions. Holding your feelings back is not only unhealthy but it can establish and reinforce negative thought patterns. Some methods include journaling and practicing gratitude.

  
  

Social Health

• Establishing a support circle, whether through support groups, or a network of family and friends, is a great way to stay connected to others and feel less isolated. It is important to make sure it is a group of people you can trust and share your experiences with.

• Engaging in hobbies is a good way to boost your mood and reduce stress and provide a sense of identity. They can provide an opportunity to learn to adapt to the challenges of chronic illness.

Healthy Lifestyle

• Maintaining a healthy diet, maintaining good hygiene, and getting quality sleep are all essential practices when it comes to physical health, nut especially for those who have chronic illness.

• Following a diet & exercise plan helps in maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding excess alcohol and tobacco, as these can lead to the exacerbation of symptoms.

  
  

Setting Achievable Goals:

• Living with chronic illness often leads to a sense of lack of control. Setting small achievable goals allows us to maintain a sense of control in your life.

• Along with setting achievable goals, it is important to acknowledge your achievements. This ties into practicing self-compassion.

Seek Professional Health

• In some cases, it is necessary to seek professional help. This can range from Therapy, to medication. This is something that needs to be tailored to your specific needs. Seeking professional health is a proactive step in managing your chronic illness.