ISSUE #22 cont'd -- Information about

LIVING WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS cont’d

This is from an article I really like written by psychologist Deborah Kors on the stages we go through when and the strategies we can use when we have developed or been diagnosed with a chronic illness. Although she refers mostly to a physical illness it is totally applicable to a mental illness as well. If you want to read the complete article go to

www.denisboyd.com/pdf/Winter%202009.pdf

July 4 I summarized the four stages. Yesterday, July 5, I summarized four strategies Kors suggests that can help us move through those four stages. Today I will summarize four more.

#5  YOU WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH SOME GRIEVING.  This is an essential phase to go through. You have lost some things, your former self and possibly other people in your life and gone through some changes. You need to allow yourself the feelings of sadness and anger that will probably come up and journaling them is a very important part of the process.

#6  WRITE A NARRATIVE ABOUT YOUR “JOURNEY”.  If you can do this, it will help you develop new insights about yourself, others and life. Through it you can discover the things that are really important and meaningful to you in life. You may also be surprised to find that some qualities are still with you such as empathy for others, creativity, maybe a sense of humour and other qualities you like.

#7  FIND NEW INTERESTS & HOBBIES. Find ones that match your new life and the limitations your illness may impose on you. You might like reading, writing, doing art of some kind, playing music or going to concerts, or simply having meaningful conversations with other people.

#8 YOU MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS ... such as the unfairness of why this illness has happened to you. Connecting or reconnecting  with a religious and/or spiritual belief system may help you enormously with this. By looking more closely at these issues you may discover a greater sense of meaning and purpose in your life because of what you have been through.

Next time I will give the last two strategies that Kors suggests. I hope you find these helpful.