This article is written by Miranda Davis.
Studies show a chronic illness affects patients and their partners. Apart from relationship dynamics, chronic illness changes the participants’ personalities. This is especially true if a chronic illness occurred midway into the relationship.
Even if your partner was already battling a chronic illness when you met, seeing the love of your life in pain is heartbreaking. Here’s how chronic illness affects relationships.
When you’re living with chronic illness, you’re probably no stranger to social isolation. Lasting health problems often force us to limit our work and social life, and spend a lot of time at home instead.
But this year is different, even for us. Inviting people over may be restricted, or a risk you’re not willing to take. And going outside can be even more challenging than before.
So what can you do to get through this period of social isolation? Obviously, a lot depends on your living situation, if you have housemates and your health condition. But here are some ideas to get cozy at home this Fall and Winter.
It’s the problem I keep running into as a high-functioning spoonie time and time again: dealing with unexpected events.
From a flat tire or a malfunctioning computer to sick kids and a migraine that puts you to bed – all those things you don’t see coming mess up my careful energy management every time.
For as long as I can remember, writing down my thoughts, hopes, dreams and plans has instantly made me feel better. So to me, it’s no surprise that journaling has so many benefits for your emotional and physical wellbeing.
Trusting your deepest feelings to paper helps to reduce stress, which plays a major role in your overall health. Research shows that emotionally expressing yourself through journaling can strengthen your immunity and reduces symptoms in asthma and arthritis patients. And of course, traditional journaling is also a great tool for self-reflection and personal development, and to rewrite your personal story after traumatic events.
But a diary-style of writing isn’t the only way to keep a journal. Gratitude journaling has gained a lot of popularity over the years, and it’s not hard to see why. Study after study shows that writing down 3 positive things that happened that day is one of the most effective ways to feel happier.
Writing by hand also signals to your brain that ‘this is worth remembering’, which is why so many people use a journal to define their (health) goals and visions. If you write and read your dreams, plans and to-dos every day, you’ll be much more likely to actually achieve them.
No matter if you’re looking to boost your health, happiness or self-growth, grab yourself a journal – I recommend the beautiful & inspiring collection from Emily McDowell – and start jotting down your thoughts with these 40 journal prompts!
“Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed.” – Bob Riley
Tough times can put you to the test. It’s during these moments that you need to dig deep down and tap into your inner strength to pull through.
Your inner strength is a source of endurance that helps you overcome whatever life throws at you. Even under the best circumstances, we’ve all had to find the courage to stand up for ourselves, try something scary and to keep going against the odds.
But when you’ve been struggling with chronic illness, relationship troubles or financial problems for a long long time, some days you may feel like there’s no strength left inside.
If that’s you, don’t loose heart. You can make yourself strong again, even it’s hard right now.
Lay the foundation for inner strength by taking good care of yourself, physically and emotionally. It’s not easy to feel determined and fierce when you’re dehydrated, sleep deprived and surrounded by toxic friends.
Then, focus on the desired outcome instead of obstacles on your way. Having a goal and plan will motivate you and push your worries aside. And don’t forget the bigger picture. Take a step back from your current situation and think about your values, core beliefs and purpose. Let your ‘why’ fuel you.
Also look back on your previous experiences. How have you handled challenges in the past? What can you learn from that? Remind yourself of all the times that you made it through tough times. You could also create a coping box with comforting items, mementos or motivational quotes that lift your spirit when you’ve run out of inner strength.
Finally, cultivate an empowering mindset. The way you talk to yourself matters much more than you might think. So give your inner dialogue an upgrade with positive affirmations or these inner strength quotes, and unleash the power within you!