The untreatable disease, also known as chronic disease, can arise unexpectedly, most often having a negative and overwhelming impact on a person's life.
It is not easy to live with the need to take medicines all day or with the need to need help to carry out daily tasks, but to live better with the disease there are certain physical and mental attitudes that can be of great help . So, some tips that can help you get along better with the disease can be:
1. Face the problem and know the disease
Getting used to the disease and coping with it can be the first step in learning to live with the disease. Many times we tend to ignore the disease and its consequences, however this only postpones the inevitable and ends up causing more stress and suffering in the long run.
So being alert about what's going on, thoroughly investigating the disease, and looking at what treatment options are available are attitudes that can make all the difference by helping you cope. In addition, another option is to contact other people who also have the disease, because their testimonies can be enlightening, comforting and of great help.
The collection of information about the disease, be it through books, the internet or even to specialists, is an important part of the acceptance process as it helps to understand, understand and accept the disease. Remember and accept that your life has changed, but it is not over.
2. Find balance and well-being
Finding balance is critical after accepting the disease, because although the disease may compromise lifestyle and physical abilities, it should remember that your mental and emotional abilities have not been affected. For example, you may not be able to move an arm, but you can still think, organize, listen, worry, smile, and be friends.
In addition, you must also integrate in a balanced way any changes in your lifestyle that the disease can bring, such as medication, daily care or physiotherapy, for example. Although the disease can change most circumstances of life, it should not control your life, your thoughts and your emotions. Only in this way and with this thought will you be able to find the right balance, which will help you to live healthily with the disease.
3. Regain control of your life
After facing the problem and finding balance in your life, it's time to regain control. Start by finding what you can no longer do, and make decisions: if you still can and should do or want to continue doing it, even if it means doing it differently. For example, if you stop waving one of your arms and can no longer tie the laces, you can choose to stop wearing sneakers or shoelaces, you can choose to ask for help from someone who does it instead or you can choose to learn to tie the lace only with one hand. So you should always set (reasonable) goals that you think you can achieve, even if it takes some time and requires some dedication. For this will give a sense of accomplishment and help restore self-confidence.
Thus, it is fundamental not to live focused only on the disease, but to bet on activities that you can play and that give you pleasure, such as listening to music, reading a book, taking a relaxing bath, writing letters or poetry, painting, playing a musical instrument, talk to a good friend, among others. These activities help both the body and the mind as they promote relaxing and pleasurable moments that help you live better and reduce stress. In addition, remember that friends and family are always good listeners, with whom you can talk about your problems, fears, expectations and insecurities, but remember that the visits are not just for talking about the disease, and it is therefore important to draw a time limit for talking about it.
Learning to live with illness is a delicate and time-consuming process that requires a lot of effort and dedication. But the important thing is to never lose hope and believe that over time, the improvements will be visible and that tomorrow will not be as difficult as today.
