Chronic Illness can really throw people off track. It can make people think that others are better experts than they are. It can get in the way of managing normal challenges involved in growing up. But the people that know best how to get life back on track are the people living their lives. You are the experts.
I’ve learned a lot from working with children, young people and parents over the years. I’d really like to share some of these ideas. And I’d really like you to join in and share your ideas to help others who might not yet recognise that they are the experts in their own bodies.
Some of the things I’m planning to blog about
- Getting on top of a good nights sleep
- Giving the problem a name
- Identifying your resources and how to use them
- Finding new solutions to old problems
- Living with your parents (for teens)
- Living with teens (for parents)
- Managing your medical team
- Weighing up the pros and cons of change: its your choice
- Giving depression the boot
- Kicking anxiety into touch
- Managing medication
- Getting back to school
- Mindfulness for beginners
- Ways to stop putting things off
- Managing exam stress
- Choosing the future you prefer to live
- Finding a safe place to stand
- Burnout – noticing it and getting past it
- Acceptance and living in the moment
I’d love to hear from you. What bothers you the most about school, family life hospital visits. Just let me know.
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Welcome to blogging!
Burnout would be another good one to cover. I’m suffering badly today with really not wanting to do anything about the mess that is our diabetes right now. Practical tips to get through the bad patches would be very helpful.
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I’ll do this one first then.
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Oh, and acceptance. Took me forever to accept diagnosis, and I’m still not sure I’m there 2 years in. Accepting ‘bad’ numbers rather than constantly trying to fix the root cause, when there often isn’t any way to fix it. In fact I know I still don’t have that one down. Still think there’s something I must be doing wrong, and if I can just find it, all my problems will be over. Coming to terms with a lifetime of not getting it quite right is a tough ask.
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That’s another really important topic. I’m staggering around the set up at the moment but I’ll get there.!!!
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My 10 year old asked me last night if her diabetes is for life… Perhaps you could look at ways to answer difficult questions?
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Thank you Meg This is a great topic and one I’d be very happy to blog about. Keep your eye out – I’m going to blog about the questions people have asked first –Burnout is coming up this week
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Balancing denial and positivity? I think we want to foster positive attitudes but denial can look like that even to an adult experiencing it and it makes bad news harder to handle at times? On the giving the problem a name, I’ve read something that say it’s important not to call it ‘my disease’ or it creeps into your identity. Sleep and medical team are so important!
I wish I had been encouraged to exercise more as a youth with illness. I’m only discovering the benefits now. I think when there is pain and youthful health we neglect that, but with illness not doing something physically can culminate in the inability to do it younger.
Great ideas!
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Thanks Paula – I’ll add these ideas to the list
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