Living With Chronic Disease

Living With Chronic Disease

Living with a long-term (chronic) condition can be physically and emotionally challenging. It is important for you to have an active role in your treatment and your physical and emotional self-care. If you are living with a chronic disease, it is important that you learn ways to manage it.

How to manage lifestyle changes

Managing stress

Stress is a fact of life and it is often a part of living with a chronic disease. Having a chronic disease increases your chances of also developing depression. Dealing with depression is more serious than dealing with stress. To help manage your stress levels and prevent depression:

  • Become aware of what causes your stress to start (your stress triggers).
  • Practice identifying how your stress affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
  • Identify the best methods to deal with the current stress.
    • If you cannot directly resolve your stress, try to accept it and move on.
    • If you cannot accept or change your stress, think about what you can do to help yourself feel better physically, mentally, or emotionally.
  • Ask for support from people you trust, such as friends and family.
  • Take good care of yourself:
    • Be active and exercise regularly. Good physical health helps you deal with long-term stress and helps to prevent physical illness.
    • Develop self-soothing skills, such as meditation, positive self-talk, yoga, or listening to music.
    • Eat a healthy diet.
    • Get enough sleep.
    • Keep following your normal routines.
    • Treat yourself when you feel stressed, such as by getting a massage or taking a hot bath.
    • Avoid overeating, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking, or using drugs.

Medicines

  • Make it your goal to take part in all treatment decisions (shared decision-making). Ask about possible side effects of medicines that your health care provider recommends, and tell him or her how you feel about having those side effects. It is best if shared decision-making with your health care provider is part of your total treatment plan.
  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • Do not skip any dose of medicine.
  • Do not stop taking any of your medicines before you ask your health care provider if it is safe to stop.
  • Refill your prescriptions before you run out.

Relationships

Having a chronic disease can be difficult for you and for your loved ones. It is important to realize that your loved ones, especially your spouse or significant other, may also be feeling stress. Your loved ones may:

  • Worry about you and about seeing you in pain.
  • Need to talk with someone about their feelings related to your illness. They may benefit from a support group for caregivers.
  • Take on the role of caregiver to you. In some cases, this may make you feel angry or you may feel like their care is taking away from your self-care.
  • Need clear guidelines from you about how they can be most supportive. Ask them for what you want, such as having their company or being left alone.

How to recognize changes in your condition

  • Educate yourself and your family members about your chronic disease. Know what symptoms to watch for, and work closely with your health care team.
  • Ask your health care provider what physical and emotional changes need to be reported to him or her. These changes vary based on your specific chronic disease. Some common things to tell your health care provider about include:
    • Sudden weight gain or loss.
    • Shortness of breath while at rest.
    • Loss of appetite.
    • Feeling tired all the time.
    • Emotional changes, such as depression or anxiety.

Where to find support

Finances

If you are taking medicine, you may be able to get the generic form, which may be less expensive than brand-name medicine. Talk to your health care provider to see if this may be an option for you. Some makers of prescription medicines also offer help to patients who cannot afford the medicines that they need.

Community resources

Talking to specially trained people about your condition or emotions can greatly benefit you. Sources for getting this help include:

  • Your health care provider.
  • A support group for people living with a chronic disease.
  • A spiritual leader.
  • A counselor.
  • Community services that are committed to your chronic disease. Organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association, and the Epilepsy Foundation may have more information about these services.
  • Your community council on aging.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • You have trouble sleeping or have a change in sleeping patterns.
  • You feel sad, down, or depressed more often than not, every day for more than 2 weeks.
  • You lose interest in activities that you normally enjoy.
  • You lose your appetite or notice changes in your appetite.
  • You have difficulty concentrating.
  • You find yourself worrying about the future often.
  • You have headaches, back pains, and abdominal pains.
  • You are worried about your alcohol or tobacco use.
  • You feel irritable or you cry for no reason.
  • You feel powerless.

Get help right away if:

  • You have thoughts about hurting yourself or others.

If you ever feel like you may hurt yourself or others, or have thoughts about taking your own life, get help right away. You can go to your nearest emergency department or call:

  • Your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.).
  • A suicide crisis helpline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. This is open 24 hours a day.

Summary

  • Living with a long-term (chronic) condition can be physically and emotionally challenging. It is important for you to have an active role in your treatment and your physical and emotional self-care.
  • Educate yourself and your family members about your chronic disease. Know what symptoms to watch for, and work closely with your health care team.
  • Having a chronic disease is hard on you and those you care about most. It is important to realize that your loved ones may also be feeling symptoms of stress.
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