The last few months have been a challenge in the autoimmune disease department of my life. I don’t always remember that dealing with them daily is demonstrating resiliency. A coach colleague reminded me that I embody resiliency. Huh, sure don’t feel like I embody resiliency. I feel more like a whiney whingey woman. A good blog topic for resiliency.
I’d like to forget I have three autoimmune diseases, Psoriatic Arthritis, alopecia areata and now IBS. I’ve lived for over 21 years with Psoriatic Arthritis and the medications to keep it in check and live in medical remission of symptoms for several years. I coped, took good care of myself and took my meds. I certainly didn’t feel resilient. More like I refuse to let this stop me living my life. Little did I know that remission was as good as life was going to be.
My autoimmunity took a turn in 2018 beginning with menopause. That started the unraveling of my remission and began the new stage of resiliency practices. It’s been a journey of new issues, problems and diagnosis every couple of years. I’m so tired of it all and would like to just give up. However, the little engine that could inside voice says, “ keeps me going. I’m a resiliency coach good grief you have to be resilient. You know how to do this…do it…don’t give up. “
My latest symptom of my psoriatic arthritis has been cracked bleeding feet & lesions on my hands. It’s called palmoplantar psoriasis – another way this disease presents itself. Augh. No fun and there is a lot of why me and whining that occurs behind closed doors. However, I keep choosing to show up and do what I can.
I wanted to share resiliency tips for dealing with illness, disease and especially autoimmune disease in hopes they may be useful for someone.
Tips for Resiliency with Illness & Autoimmune Disease
1.Be informed
a.Get the fact and learn about it
b.Information is part of gaining control and understanding your disease
2.Options - treatment, alternative or no treatment
a. Knowing what options are available and the impact of those treatments
b. Is no treatment or alternative treatments an option?
c. acupuncture, chiropractic, holistic, other...
3.Question
a.Ask lots of questions of your treatment team
i.What is this for?
ii.Why this particular ____?
iii.What will this do short term & long term?
4.Advocate
a.For yourself – what do you need? Sleep, food, diet, exercise…
b.Be an advocate for others
5.Get support
a.No one has to do this alone – my mantra
b.Enlist a support team outside of your family
c.Join a support group
6. Don’t give up on life
a.What can you alter so you can still do things you enjoy?
i.Slower pace, walking, hydrating well, diet, exercise
7.Self-compassion
a.How can you be kind and gentle to yourself?
b.What would make you feel good this week?
I hope you and yours are well and keep healthy. May you never have to deal with long term illness or autoimmune disease. If you do or know someone who is – may you find help and keep asking those questions. The next story of this journey will be about my journey for solutions with palmoplantar psoriasis and a poem I wrote to help me work through the emotions that go with this.
I would be honored to support to build your resiliency or other skills. Please reach out and contact me. I love supporting my clients to get up and bounce back and live boldly. I have space for three clients as I’ve had three “graduate” to live their bold lives.
Click here to reach out to me or set up a 30min discovery call.
Peace, and blessings,
Teresa – Grateful for health insurance & people to remind me I am resilient
Teresa Q. Bitner, M.Ed., PMP, ACC - Resiliency, Change and Loss Coach
Partnering with those who have been knocked down my life and want to build resiliency and move forward and live a bold life.
[email protected]
www.boldfulfilledlifecoach.com
Author of Soul Love: How A Dog Taught Me to Breathe Again &
The First Days Widow Journey
I’d like to forget I have three autoimmune diseases, Psoriatic Arthritis, alopecia areata and now IBS. I’ve lived for over 21 years with Psoriatic Arthritis and the medications to keep it in check and live in medical remission of symptoms for several years. I coped, took good care of myself and took my meds. I certainly didn’t feel resilient. More like I refuse to let this stop me living my life. Little did I know that remission was as good as life was going to be.
My autoimmunity took a turn in 2018 beginning with menopause. That started the unraveling of my remission and began the new stage of resiliency practices. It’s been a journey of new issues, problems and diagnosis every couple of years. I’m so tired of it all and would like to just give up. However, the little engine that could inside voice says, “ keeps me going. I’m a resiliency coach good grief you have to be resilient. You know how to do this…do it…don’t give up. “
My latest symptom of my psoriatic arthritis has been cracked bleeding feet & lesions on my hands. It’s called palmoplantar psoriasis – another way this disease presents itself. Augh. No fun and there is a lot of why me and whining that occurs behind closed doors. However, I keep choosing to show up and do what I can.
I wanted to share resiliency tips for dealing with illness, disease and especially autoimmune disease in hopes they may be useful for someone.
Tips for Resiliency with Illness & Autoimmune Disease
1.Be informed
a.Get the fact and learn about it
b.Information is part of gaining control and understanding your disease
2.Options - treatment, alternative or no treatment
a. Knowing what options are available and the impact of those treatments
b. Is no treatment or alternative treatments an option?
c. acupuncture, chiropractic, holistic, other...
3.Question
a.Ask lots of questions of your treatment team
i.What is this for?
ii.Why this particular ____?
iii.What will this do short term & long term?
4.Advocate
a.For yourself – what do you need? Sleep, food, diet, exercise…
b.Be an advocate for others
5.Get support
a.No one has to do this alone – my mantra
b.Enlist a support team outside of your family
c.Join a support group
6. Don’t give up on life
a.What can you alter so you can still do things you enjoy?
i.Slower pace, walking, hydrating well, diet, exercise
7.Self-compassion
a.How can you be kind and gentle to yourself?
b.What would make you feel good this week?
I hope you and yours are well and keep healthy. May you never have to deal with long term illness or autoimmune disease. If you do or know someone who is – may you find help and keep asking those questions. The next story of this journey will be about my journey for solutions with palmoplantar psoriasis and a poem I wrote to help me work through the emotions that go with this.
I would be honored to support to build your resiliency or other skills. Please reach out and contact me. I love supporting my clients to get up and bounce back and live boldly. I have space for three clients as I’ve had three “graduate” to live their bold lives.
Click here to reach out to me or set up a 30min discovery call.
Peace, and blessings,
Teresa – Grateful for health insurance & people to remind me I am resilient
Teresa Q. Bitner, M.Ed., PMP, ACC - Resiliency, Change and Loss Coach
Partnering with those who have been knocked down my life and want to build resiliency and move forward and live a bold life.
[email protected]
www.boldfulfilledlifecoach.com
Author of Soul Love: How A Dog Taught Me to Breathe Again &
The First Days Widow Journey
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