It can be hard not to be hard on ourselves when we’re chronically ill and we feel pain and fatigue all the time. It’s far easier to wish we were still able to do things as we used to do and to have ample energy. But this is no longer our reality. We have to accept where we are instead of fighting it all the time.
But this is so hard to do, especially if we were just diagnosed with our chronic condition(s) and/or if we’re young at heart. We may feel that we just should keep going and we want to keep pushing past our limits. But perhaps this is precisely what we shouldn’t be doing. Instead, we should practice self-acceptance.
Here are a few ways to be more accepting of where we are and what we need to do in order to take care of ourselves.
- Take 5 minutes to intentionally breathe. Go to a quiet spot, sit down and take a few deep breaths. This can calm feelings of stress and overwhelm.
- Look in the mirror and compliment yourself instead of criticizing yourself. Complement your eyes, smiles, or wrinkles before you even have your daily coffee. This is a form of self-talk that can be done anywhere.
- Nourish yourself with wholesome food and drink. Avoid alcohol as it has detrimental effects on your immune system and negatively impacts your inflammatory response.
- Take a calm walk outside, if possible. It can ground you and center you like nothing else. And you can get your body moving.
- Listen to music. Music is one of the most relaxing tools we have ever created. Music that you like can be stress reducing and promotes introspection, self-love and an appreciation for life.
- Listen to your body. Many of us ignore the signs from our body. However, our body really does keep the score and we should honor it.
- Practice self-care. Instead of pushing past our pains, we should practice self-care instead. This can help us feel better and more capable of carrying on.
Be sure to pause a few times a day and do things that make you feel good. You may want to try:
- Self-massage.
- A quick centering meditation.
- A moment of gratitude.
- A moment of self-appreciation with affirmations.
By taking these steps, you’ll be practicing self-care and self-love.
Living With Chronic Illness 