Chronic illness

As well as the problem of the illness itself - the medical issues - having such a diagnosis can have profound effects in a person's life and sometimes in the way they are seen by others. It can also affect one's sense of identity, the way we understand ourselves. It is something that needs managing with all the skills that you may have used in managing your working life.

You may be asking yourself:

• Should I give up my job? What about the future?
• Could I communicate better with family and friends?
• Can I improve the relationship with my doctor?

and at a deeper level wondering

• am I still the person I thought I was?
• can I be valued when I'm not being useful to people or at work?
• how can I keep from letting this take over my life?

Doing things to help yourself can include:

• Balanced activity (both physical and mental) with rest, aiming always to stop before getting too tired. Adjust to the new constraints the illness gives you, without becoming too passive.
• Including fun in your life, even though there may be things you can't do easily any more.
• Practising relaxation and calm breathing
• Connecting with other people in a similar situation.

Recently mindfulness meditation has been shown be helpful in managing longterm pain or anxiety.

In her most recent book Living with Longterm Illness   Frankie Campling covers these topics and more. She provides telephone support for people with long term conditions, so has real experience of the issues faced.