Best Tips for Coping with Chronic Illness or Pain
For those of us who have chronic illness, chronic pain or an autoimmune condition, life can simply be an exhausting and isolating experience.
From the day-to-day grind that you’re just trying to get through, to the expectations of others that are far beyond what you can handle, to your own feelings of guilt when you are not living up to your own expectations…..the list goes on and on.
How do you explain that you’re not too busy, that you want to spend time BUT you just don’t have the energy and or you’re so drained that you have to rest from just doing the normal day-to-day stuff?
The clients I work with who have chronic health conditions know how much I emphasize honouring what their body needs, what their mind needs, and what their soul needs. I teach the importance of living within your Window of Tolerance and I help them set boundaries that they can live with.
Boundaries is not a “bad” word and does not refer to what we need the other person to do or not do, as is commonly believed. Boundaries are all about ourselves and our own needs - what is it that you need to be happy, healthy and be at peace?
“Boundaries give us the space to do the work of loving ourselves. They might be, actually, the first and fundamental expression of self-love. They also give us the space to love and witness others as they are, even those that have hurt us.” by Premptis Hill.
When we give ourselves permission to take care of ourselves, without feeling shame or guilt, we relieve ourselves of our lot of our emotional and mental suffering.
Living with a chronic health condition, chronic pain or an autoimmune condition leads to many complexities and challenges that most people can’t understand.
The reality is that you are operating with reduced capacity and when you feel guilt or shame it can lead to even more feelings of loneliness, sadness and grief, which can result in anxiety and depression.
Your health condition does not mean that you are doomed! I know this because I have more than one chronic health condition and I have spent years learning how to cope and I work with many people who struggle with their health.
Building up your resilience, having a safe space to address your issues openly and having a strong support system are some of the factors that can shift your experience from suffering or just surviving, to feeling like yourself again and thriving.
I understand what you are going through and bring compassion, non-judgment and a safe space for all of my clients.
I encourage you to reach out to start the journey towards peace, joy and finally feeling like yourself again.
Click the button below to book a free discovery call with me to see how I can help you or email me at lynne@lynneprotain.com.
