Being diagnosed with a long-term health condition is scary and once the shock of diagnosis wears off the effects of stress creep in. Living with a chronic condition isn’t easy, but it’s also not impossible if you know how to cope with your condition. A chronic health condition adds new stressors to daily activities. You may find yourself coping with pain or discomfort that require you to practice chronic care management and self-care.
It’s important to accept and adjust to new physical limitations and find ways to cope with feelings of frustration, isolation, or anger. You will likely find yourself managing increased financial pressures, which can be a major source of stress. There are several steps you can take to maximize your quality of life and cope with the challenges of living with an ongoing condition.
What are the effects of a chronic condition?
All chronic health conditions have condition-specific systems. You may deal with additional symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and mood disorders. Chronic health conditions from an injury or a chronic disease may alter your physical appearance and your self-image. Many people who suffer disfigurement due to chronic conditions experience depression and anxiety and prefer to be alone and withdrawn.
Morning stiffness decreased mobility and strength, and other physical limitations due to chronic illness can impact your ability to work. Being forced to change your work habits or environment could impact your ability to earn enough and avoid financial strain. Home activities often take longer to get through when coping with a chronic illness. You may need help with certain tasks, which can cause you to feel a loss of control or uncertainty about the future. The important thing to remember is that you are never alone when dealing with chronic illness. It’s a normal part of the process to feel mixed emotions but it’s important to get in control of your stress.
Understanding Your Condition
The best way to live with a chronic health condition is to learn everything you can about your condition and treatment options. Educate yourself about your condition and talk to your doctor about the specific questions you have. The internet is full of useful medical information and community forums, some more reliable than others. The same care plan may not be right for everyone suffering from your specific condition, which is why you need to be in tune with and listen to your body. Notice what alleviates your symptoms and what aggravates them, and notate your symptoms in a journal. Recording trends in your symptoms can help you better manage them and help you better understand how your condition affects you.
Becoming a Self-Manager
You have to become a self-manager in many ways. You are responsible for taking charge of your health and taking the steps to gain a sense of control over your chronic condition and improve your quality of life. Follow the comprehensive care plan put together by your care team such as taking medications as prescribed and attending healthcare appointments. You need to focus on managing your self-care to avoid making daily choices that affect your condition. Eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise can boost your mood, improve mobility, and ease the severity of your symptoms. Taking charge of managing your attitude, emotions, and relationships is a smart way to avoid stress.
It’s natural to experience a range of emotions when coping with a newly diagnosed chronic illness. Stress, grief, rage, anger, fear, depression, and anxiety are all strong emotions that can be lessened with the right coping techniques. Try several different stress and pain management techniques until you find something that works and incorporate it into your daily routine. Exercise, yoga, breathing techniques, meditation, journaling, and cooking are all effective ways to help you reduce stress.
Another important thing to manage is your relationships. Living with a chronic condition may leave you with limited time and energy to socialize. It’s best to maintain relationships with those who understand the daily challenges of living with a chronic condition. You need to be smart about how and with whom you spend your time if you hope to live your best life. Maintaining relationships that are more stressful than supportive isn’t healthy or helpful for your chronic condition.
The best way to practice chronic care management (CCM) is through education, self-empowerment, and advocacy. HMC HealthWorks, Inc. takes a patient-centric approach to the most common chronic conditions through their Health Management Education program, including diabetes, coronary artery disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, back pain, high cholesterol, heart failure, and high blood pressure.
Their nurses and coaches are experienced in chronic care management (CCM) and work to provide patients with the support and motivation they need to improve their health and well-being. The right CCM program offers customized solutions, patient engagement, innovative technologies, and lower healthcare costs.
Eliminating Financial Stress
Being the victim of a motor vehicle accident that results in personal injury is a traumatic experience. Being diagnosed with a chronic condition as a result of someone else’s negligence makes matters worse. Not only are you facing unexpected medical bills following an auto accident, but you have the added financial stress of paying for ongoing medical care.
You should contact a personal injury law firm and arrange a consultation with a personal injury attorney. From handling insurance companies to filing a personal injury lawsuit, having the expertise of an experienced attorney will help you navigate a difficult time.
When you need a personal in jury lawyer in Chicago, WIN Injury Network is your advocate following a personal injury or workplace accident. Their network of professionals will work to get you the maximum compensation for medical care, lost wages, workers’ compensation, and punitive damages. Their personal injury lawyers can handle truck accidents, car accidents, product liability, workplace accidents, negligence, medical malpractice, personal injury, and wrongful death cases. The best results happen when you work with an attorney who guides you every step of the way.
Practice Meditation
Practicing meditation as part of your chronic care management program is an effective way to promote your health and well-being. Studies have shown that meditation helps decrease inflammation, boost the immune system, and reduce pain. When your pain is eased, you experience better sleep, which in turn helps you maintain better emotional control, focus, and resilience. There are several different ways to meditate, from simple breathing exercises to progressive muscle relaxation techniques.
Living with a chronic condition often means sleep problems such as insomnia that interfere with your quality of sleep. Natural remedies are an effective way to achieve restful sleep that leaves your body energized the next day and your mind clear. Discover restful sleep with an Ayurvedic oil for sleep infused with herbs, essential oils, and hemp CBD from The Root of It All.
The all-natural CBD and Ayurvedic oil companies blend the power of CBD to amplify the therapeutic effects of Ayurveda essential oils to create herbal remedies that promote a mind-body balance. One full dropper of their tincture just 15 minutes before bedtime will ease you into a sound sleep and deep rest. Getting a good quality of sleep each night is an essential part of your chronic care management. The more rested your mind and body are, the more strength and energy you have to get through the day.
Living with a chronic condition isn’t easy but it’s not impossible. The best way to cope with a chronic condition as the result of an injury is to learn about your specific condition and practice chronic care management.
