I can be a bit of a workaholic. Add to that that my brain works under entrepreneur guidelines and that can be really bad. If you don't know what I mean by that last bit, there's a joke that says something like "entrepreneurs are the only people who will work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40". … [Read more...]
What Chronic Illness Has Taught Me
It's hard to think of anything positive about chronic illness. It causes pain and shame, and can take our lives away. But, as I look back on the last decade since chronic pain became part of my life, I can see positives as well as negatives. Yes, I lost a few years of my life, yes I had a lot of … [Read more...]
16 ways I boost my self-confidence despite chronic illness
I struggle with self-confidence. I think I always have but I think that chronic illness has made that struggle worse. It's hard to be confident in myself when I look around and see what others are accomplishing. I know I shouldn't gauge my accomplishments on what are others are doing and I … [Read more...]
Do You Have Compassion For Yourself?
We expect others to give compassion. We expect them to have it towards others as well as themselves. We give compassion to others without thinking, but do you have compassion for yourself? I've written and thought a lot lately about compassion. How doctors lack it, how people need to be more … [Read more...]
When You Feel Weak and Broken
There were times even before I was chronically ill when I felt weak and broken, when anxiety overtook me and controlled me. I felt weak that I couldn't control the anxiety. When chronic illness became part of my life there was a period of about two years where I felt completely broken and worthless. … [Read more...]
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Say “Yes”
Saying yes is easy, and some of us say it way too often. Whether or not you live with chronic illness, it's important to learn how to say no. Often we say yes without even thinking about it, we don't think about the opportunity costs of saying yes and how saying yes to one thing always … [Read more...]
Getting Past the Sadness and Isolation of Chronic Pain
Getting Past the Sadness and Isolation of Chronic Pain guest post by Sarah Anne Shockley All of us living with chronic pain are aware of how difficult it is on a physical level. Very aware, most of the time. But what we sometimes don’t acknowledge is the immense toll living … [Read more...]
The Importance of Loving Yourself Despite Chronic Illness
*This article was originally posted on Prohealth When you live with chronic illness your self-esteem takes a beating. You are no longer able to do many of the things you used to do, you are forced to rely on others for help with often simple things, you may no longer be able to work, and you … [Read more...]
10 Ways to be Happier Despite Chronic Illness
10 Ways to be Happy Despite Chronic Illness Stress creates anxiety, anxiety increases pain, pain increases stress. Stress, anxiety, and pain decrease happiness. It’s the circle we live in when we live with chronic illness, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s so easy for me to get caught in that … [Read more...]
When Chronic Pain Causes Shame, Practice Self-Compassion
I recently ran across the blog So Angie Writes and I was deeply touched by her writings. When she offered to write a guest post I jumped at the chance. Angie shares some important words of wisdom on practicing self-compassion when chronic pain causes shame. --- My illnesses … [Read more...]
