How to Cope With Chronic Illn... Health Article

No one asks for it, yet it's tough to avoid. Eventually, you may cross paths with chronic illness.

Unlike the flu that you can treat and resolve, chronic diseases are unpredictable and ever-present. But they're also manageable, with the right medical attention, a healthy attitude and smart lifestyle choices. When you cope with your illness, you take charge of your life, changing it in ways you never thought possible.

As you struggle with the obstacles, difficult decisions and uncertainty of your illness, be sure to:

• Express yourself. "Anger, fear and depression are normal emotions," says Sandra Haber, Ph.D., a psychologist in private practice in New York City. Feel them. Then let them loose in the pages of a journal and with people you trust.

• Seek support. Ask your doctor about a support group for your illness. "You'll see that you're not alone," Dr. Haber says. You'll also learn from those who cope effectively.

• Stay connected. Find and nurture relationships with responsive, loving family and friends. Talk openly with them about your illness and consider their suggestions.

• Ask for help. People like to give. When you let them, you give in return. Be specific about your needs, whether it's an open ear, baby-sitting or financial help. 

• Remain active. Exercise within your limits. Gym workouts, walking and yoga also can act to ease depression. Continue to do things that interest you.

• Commune with yourself. Seek solace in nature or a bubble bath. Meditate, or go to your place of worship. Explore your creativity with music, art or writing.

• Emphasize achievements. Take pride in what you accomplish today. Respect your limitations, and measure progress against your own capabilities, not those of others.

• Keep perspective. When symptoms flare up, remember "this too shall pass." Embrace the view that you are more than just your body, more than just your illness.

• Be here now. Deal with the problems you face today, not those of yesterday or tomorrow. 

• Conquer yourself. See yourself as a victor, not a victim, and your illness as a challenge, not a defeat. Enlist your strengths and positive attitude to overcome obstacles.

• Prioritize. Decide what's important to you and act on it. Pace yourself during the day, choosing activities based on need and desire, not obligation. The dishes can wait.

View your illness as an opportunity to deal head-on with your life. Says Dr. Haber, "When you're forced to face your own mortality, you often experience many benefits" -- like the simple joy in appreciating every day you have. "You can also gain a better sense of who you are," she says, because you draw on aspects of yourself unknown to you before. With the lifestyle changes you must make, you become more health-conscious. Finally, chronic illness can weigh a lot, and it takes strength to carry it. Revel in the mental muscle power you can muster.

But don't wait for a doctor's diagnosis before you treat your life as if it's the only one you've got. Applying the coping strategies for chronic illness can enrich anyone's time on Earth. When you take care of your life, no matter what your health, your life takes care of you.

Get the best care

Be an active part of your medical treatment. Here are some tips from Dr. Haber and other experts:

• Choose carefully. Find medical experts you can talk to easily, without feeling rushed. 

• Don't delay. As soon as you're diagnosed, research and act on tests, medications and procedures.

• Become an expert. Read books, search the Internet and talk to others to learn all you can about your illness.

• Ask questions. Maintain an ongoing, prioritized list and take it with you to medical appointments.

• Team up. Partner with medical practitioners on treatment and goal setting, and follow the plan.

• Get a second opinion. Do so at the illness's initial phases and crucial turning points, then every couple of years, from someone in a different place.

• Keep track. Document your symptoms, and log all interactions and procedures with medical staff. 

• Be assertive. Speak up if your questions are left unanswered or you're not getting the treatment you need.