Best Way to Manage Chronic Illness

Turning Mountains Back into Molehills

When you run into problems that seem impossible to solve, try breaking them down into smaller, more manage­able components. Focus on what you need to do now to make some progress, even a little bit. Identify one small step and set a time before the end of the day for complet­ing that step.

For example: Following a low-cholesterol diet can be very challenging. The dietician might make it sound easy, but there are lots of steps involved in a big change like that: learning what foods to buy, changing cooking habits, taking time to avoid convenient (but greasy) food. Making those changes for every meal of every day is too much to do all at once. So you might start with just one meal a week. Choose a day that you have some extra time and energy to try something different. Try to think of it as an experiment. Your goal is to learn what works for you rather than to do everything right the first time.

Staying Physically Active

When medical problems limit your physical capabilities, you may have to give up some of your usual forms of recre­ation. Even if you are physically limited, however, keep yourself going. Physical activity is safe and beneficial for almost everybody, and it’s one of the best natural antide­pressants.

For example: Your doctor may have been nagging you for months to start some kind of exercise program. By now, thinking about exercise just makes you feel guilty rather than motivated. When you feel completely stuck, it’s time to lower your goals. Planning to jog 4 times a week sounds fantastic, but it’s probably not realistic. Try to set a goal so low that you can guarantee success—like walking for 5 minutes. Make the goal a specific one so that you can give yourself credit when you finish. As you accomplish small­er goals, you can gradually work up to setting and achiev­ing goals that are more ambitious. If possible, try to find a friend or family member who’ll be your partner.

Making Time for Enjoyment

Medical problems can prevent you from doing things you used to enjoy, like hobbies, socializing and recreation. Missing out on these pleasures can definitely affect your mood. Finding other rewarding things to do as substitutes can make a big difference. You may need to be a little cre­ative about this.

Think about the activities you’ve found most rewarding in the past. If you can’t do those things now, try to think of others that might bring you the same kind of satisfaction. The key to getting started on a new activity is to be specif­ic. Choose what you want to do and make a plan for when you’ll start. If possible, include a friend or family member in your plan. Start with a few small things—like listening to music you used to enjoy, or brief get-togethers with friends.

Understanding Your Medications

You can never be too well informed about the medicines you’re taking, and keeping track of several different ones can be overwhelming.

Learning more about the medicines you’re taking and coming up with a sensible schedule for taking them can increase your sense of control over your life. It’s especially important to know which ones you should take on a regu­lar schedule and which you can take according to how you feel. Many people find that using a plastic case with small compartments for each day of the week helps them keep track. Such cases are available at most pharmacies.

Finding Support

Becoming an expert manager of your own health and health care takes time. You’ll need both lots of knowledge and lots of confidence. You might as well take advantage of what other people have learned along the way. There are probably support groups in your area for people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease. Ask your doctor or try the telephone book or internet.

You also may need to ask for more help from family or friends. That’s not easy for anyone, and it’s especially hard if you’re feeling depressed and down on yourself. You may want to start slowly and build up your confidence. Experi­ment with a few small requests. You’ll probably be sur­prised at how much most people appreciate the opportunity to help out.