Life has a habit of throwing curve-balls. One minute everything can be fine, the next you are struck down with an illness. This can have a devastating effect on you and those around you for obvious reasons. But there are some methods and strategies that can help you through these hard times. These things can actually help you recover quicker too.
Acceptance
The first thing to do is to accept that in life, there are things you can’t change. If you fight the idea that you are ill, for example, then it will take you longer to take the help that is offered to you, and it will take a toll on your mental health as you know deep down you are not well. So, you need to take some time out and accept that you are ill. As soon as you do this, it will feel like a release. You will immediately start being able to build up your mental state from a position of your physical reality. Acceptance is something that everyone should practice, whether ill or not. You need to be able to cope with life changes, so be aware that nothing is set in stone.
Research and learn
Knowledge is power. If you can understand the illness that you have, what is going to happen, and how this will affect you, you will have less nasty surprises. You will be able to develop coping mechanisms for the eventualities. In addition, you may be able to find out about some treatments and cures that you would not know any other way. Your body is your own and can’t expect the doctors to know everything. If you have breast cancer, because it can happen to men too! You may want to go for some proton therapy for breast cancer. Go to the doctors with a wealth of information and be proactive in your own recovery.
Allow yourself moments of weakness
You do not need to be strong all the time. Illness will affect every single person differently. For example having a good cry every now and again will not do you any harm. In fact, it could well be therapeutic. It will be part of the process to go through the emotional rollercoaster, don’t fight it, allow it to happen and build yourself mentally through it.
Keep active
Being active can mean many different things. It does not necessarily mean running a marathon. Depending on your illness, you can decide what this means. It could be simply reading a book, or playing sudoku, or a walk in the park. The idea is to do things to break the monotony of thinking about being ill all the time.
Talk to people
It may be an idea to join a support group, as whatever you have, you can be guaranteed that there are hundreds of others out there who are going through the exact same thing. You will be able to bounce ideas off of each other, advise on new treatments and possible cures. You can laugh together, cry together, and share the experience. Illness is a part of life, unavoidable. You can use the illness to make yourself stronger.
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