According to the study by RAND Corporation, approximately 60 percent of Americans live with at least one chronic illness, and 42 percent live with more than one.
People with diabetes, cardiovascular problems, COPD, and other chronic problems struggle daily with anxiety, pain, ongoing treatments, and sometimes loss of bodily functions.
If you are one of these people, you know how every new day seems like a challenge and how simply getting out of bed is a draining chore. However, you need to get out of bed, do physical activity, and eat the prescribed diet by the doctor.
You need to understand that chronic illness is not the end of life. Every day is an opportunity to live well and find meaning in the small things in life.
Here we bring some ways in which you can live with a chronic condition and enjoy life to your fullest potential. Without further ado, let us get straight to the topic.
Get Psychological and Emotional Support
People with chronic illnesses often suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress. For instance, people with cancer, like mesothelioma, often need emotional support.
It is always recommended to rely on others and share your fears and shortcomings. Don’t bottle your emotions. Talk to your friends and family, and let them know how you feel. Talk to your doctor and join support groups to manage your mental health better. If need be, talk to a counselor or a psychiatrist.
In addition, you should try to find out more about the condition and its physical and psychological consequences to ensure you are on the right track to recovery.
Your Doctor’s Plan Will Help You
Following your doctor’s advice is significant. If you have a chronic illness, it becomes more important to follow through on all your appointments and periodic tests.
You need to ensure that you take all your prescription drugs on time.
Your body is working hard to keep you going. If you don’t want it to collapse, treat it well.
Avoid using non-prescription drugs and alcohol, read about your condition from web resources and medical journals, have an open mind towards treatment, and be vocal about your condition and health with your healthcare provider.
It is essential to tell your care provider the true picture of what you feel so that they can come up with a better solution to your problem. Never shy away from asking your doctor questions, and try your best to convey your true feeling to them.
It will help you to take care of your chronic illness in a more professional way.
A Healthy Investment Is Significant
Almost all chronic conditions affect your lifestyle more than you can imagine. You must make significant changes to your routine and embrace them to better cope with your illness.
For example, you will have to stop smoking and eating fatty foods after being diagnosed with a heart condition.
Moreover, you’ll have to start exercising and adopting a healthier diet. These steps are equally important to taking your medication on time and seeing all your appointments.
When you make such changes in your lifestyle, you are likely to cope with your condition better. You are investing your time, money, and other resources for your growth, and you will see that it will pay off.
The better your lifestyle is, the better you can live with a chronic illness.
Always Stay Hydrated
You need to ensure that you drink an ample amount of water and stay hydrated. Water is an excellent solvent and is essential for many medicines to work properly. It aids in maintaining blood sugar levels and fluid retention in the body.
Moreover, water tends to wash out toxins within your body and help with homeostasis. You should start now if you don’t drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. You’ll observe significant positive changes within yourself. However, if you have fluid intake restrictions, follow your doctor’s order diligently.
Focus On Your Daily Goals
As we have already discussed above, every day can feel like a chore, and you might be unable to find the energy to get out of bed. You might feel overwhelmed and depressed, and it’s completely normal.
You need to sit back and try to find the energy to change your detrimental habits and motivate yourself to be better. You need to set goals, like a 40-min jog five times a week, and meet them.
Try setting goals that have a deeper meaning for you, which will keep you motivated to work hard to achieve them. You can also adopt the habit of reading a book; it will enrich your mind with knowledge and help you feel refreshed, helping you deal with your chronic illness.
Maintain A Healthy Sleep Cycle
This cannot be emphasized enough. Your sleep should be your priority. It is your body’s way of recharging and healing.
As you grow older, your sleep requirement slowly increases, and if you are suffering from a chronic condition, you might also have an increased sleep cycle. It is fine if you don’t compromise your health by over-sleeping and staying in.
Lack of sleep and rest can cause depression, anxiety, insomnia, memory problems, and even dizziness.
Try making a sleep schedule and follow it diligently. If you struggle with maintaining a sleep schedule, you should talk to your healthcare provider about it and avoid caffeine and other stimulants later in the day.
Bottom Line
While a chronic illness can affect you to a great extent, it does not dictate your life. You need to learn to manage it so that it does not affect your overall lifestyle.
There are lessons to learn in everything life throws at you; a chronic illness is also a curve ball. You’ll see how it helps you become more tolerant, empathetic, and even appreciative of the little things in life, and in a way, that’s what life is all about.
Follow the tips mentioned above to live your life comfortably with a chronic illness.